| Powered by a 280-bhp 2.0-liter turbo flat-four, the WRX
could easily accelerate from 0-100 km/h in little more than six seconds.
What's more, its full-time all-wheel drive system kept it glued to the
road in almost all weather conditions. Then came the hotter Impreza
WRX STi, tuned by Subaru Tecnica International. It sported bigger
spoilers, bigger brakes, and featured a switchable differential and aluminum
hood.
Then came the latest iteration the WRX STi-22B. This is a replica of Colin McRae's (now Richard Burns') Impreza WRC rally car. At its heart is a 2.2 liter turbo flat four (naturally) which Subaru says produces 280 bhp. On paper, that is. That's the maximum that can be claimed by any Japanese manufacturer, by tacit agreement. The actual figure is closer to 350 bhp. The larger capacity makes more torque available at a lower rpm, much of accessible at a wide rev band, from 2800 to 5200 rpm. This former econobox can outrun a Porsche 911. 0-100 km/h? About 4.5 seconds. What can your car do in 11.9 seconds? This one can run from standstill to 160 km/h. The blistering acceleration is only part of the story. The all-wheel drive system ensures obedient and confident handling. The suspension is fitted with Eibach springs and Bilstein shocks, and track has been widened to fill out those bulging fenders. Fat 17-inch Pirelli P Zeros wrap around those gold magnesium wheels. The 22B points accurately into and out of bends at almost unbelievable speeds. Even supercars like 911s and Ferrari F355s will grow smaller and smaller in the 22B's rear-view mirror. It's not quite lonely at the top, though. The 22B has for company the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI. Mitsubishi has campaigned in the WRC for many years-its Galant VR-4 enjoyed some success in the WRC, and no doubt added some fire to the image of the whole Galant range. The VR-4 was a bit too large and heavy to be ideal of rallying, so Mitsubishi then turned to the Lancer to be its frontliner.
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