FIRST DRIVE: 2015 Subaru WRX STI

March 8, 2014
Story By
Jonathan Wong

The back roads of “any town, USA” are the perfect testing grounds for a car as refined and quick as Subaru’s 2015 STI – that is, if you don’t happen to be anywhere near a proper racetrack. And by no means are we encouraging any of you to go and do such naughty things to these poor, desolated stretches of concrete; that would be “wrong”. But the STI is hypnotizing, beckoning you to punch the gas, mash those gears, and perhaps laugh at those who happen to cross your very path – all very naughty things. Naturally, these are righteous qualities about the car that Subaru probably secretly knows will come into play, and precisely the reason why they gave me the keys for a full day of driving at and surrounding a little playground we’re sure you familiar with: Laguna Seca.

As you enter the (in)famous race course, the mind tends to drift off in a few different ways: mentally driving the proper line, plowing down the corkscrew like you have a million other times in Gran Turismo, whether or not there are helmets big enough to secure a head that’s as large as mine (and if there are clean head socks to boot) and trying not to do anything really stupid, like going off track.

Walking through the pit garages, our group is greeted warmly with a full battalion of fresh STIs, all ready to take the course by full force. Before we can, we hear a loud exhaust penetrating the air and reverberating around the track; the race car producing such harmonious sounds, while unfamiliar at first, becomes crystal clear as it makes its way down the front straight and past the stock STIs...

This was a special preview of Subaru Japan’s race car, which is being prepped to compete in the SP3T class of the upcoming 2014 24 Hours of Nürburgring endurance race this coming June. Built last November, the car is powered by a turbocharged EJ20 (since the 2.5L EJ-series is deemed too large of an engine by class restriction), but has been tuned to produce 350hp on a stock turbo and fortified internals. Most of its original sheet metal was replaced with carbon fiber – in fact, the only part of the car that isn’t is the roof. Sadly, we weren’t allowed to take it for a test spin or ride shotgun; only members of the team, and it’s a single-seater. But Subaru was more than happy to oblige for a few sessions in the stock STI.

Subaru's race entry for this year's Nürburgring competition is this track-prepped '15-model STI.

350hp turbo EJ20. Having driven the 2015 WRX just prior to the STI, I already knew going in that the driving experience was something that had improved dramatically since the previous generation models. Both cars were now much smoother feeling than their predecessors, easier to control and gave a greater sense of confidence while driving at full capacity. Improving the chassis balance was more of a priority than minimally increasing power, so instead of the turbo FA20 that comes in the WRX, the STI sees the same 2.5-liter EJ25 BOXER motor as it did before, is still turbocharged and produces 305hp and 290lb-ft of torque. The manual gearbox is 6-speed-equipped, and on Launch Edition models, comes with a special STI short shifter.

The new SI-DRIVE feature (Subaru Intelligent Drive) gives the driver the ability to customize the car’s driving characteristics with three selection modes: Intelligent (good for daily driving), Sport (quicker throttle response and more linear acceleration) and Sport-Sharp (even quicker throttle response with engine mapping that helps put power down sooner); for most driving situations, Sport proved to be a good all-around setting and compromise of the other two modes.

As mentioned earlier, balance and sporty handling are paramount for the 2015 STI, and as such, Subaru’s engineers went through great strides to stiffen all the essentials, such as the springs, dampers, crossmembers and more; its structure is also much stronger, and because of this has given the car the kind of steering response rivaling the Porsche 911. It’s a solid ride but nowhere near being obnoxious, and is so refined it makes it feel like you’re hardly driving something so race-like. In standard trim, the STI comes with 18-inch wheels but the Launch Edition and Limited models come with forged BBS alloys (gold for the Launch Edition). On the streets, the car retains all of its sportiness but can be sedate when it needs to be. The hillsides of Monterey are not your average public roads, and as such, those naughty things were just all too easy to get into; winding roads, long straights stretching through acres of farm land and no cops – heavenly. If only these places were more easily accessible…

Signature STI monster rear wing. Obviously, this is a complete redesign, and as such the STI has a brand-new look and is much more aggressively styled when compared to the WRX because of the signature STI treatment, which includes a different hood, fenders, bumpers, headlights, trunk spoiler, rear diffuser and LED taillights. The interior is also a vast improvement; it’s got more room, comes equipped with a new 3.5-inch gauge cluster LCD screen with various display functions and a 4.3-inch center console LCD screen that highlights the rear camera display, audio information (for non-navi models), VDC traction control operation and our favorite, a boost gauge (a first for both the WRX and STI in 2015). Audiophile much? Limited models receive a premium harmon/kardon audio system that packs plenty of bass alongside a power driver’s seat and power moonroof.

What really intrigues me about the 2015 STI is its huge potential for improvements. I love modifying my cars, and with the rich tuning history that Subaru has experienced with its WRX/STIs over the years, I can only see these becoming faster (thanks to the EJ powerplant and little need to do heavy parts development), adding even better handling with the right suspension upgrades and meaner looking (Voltex anyone?) than ever. The 2014 Nurburgring racecar kick-started the revolution, and I can’t wait to see how tuners bring it up another notch.

Stock and non-stock, side-by-side.

SPECS: 2015 SUBARU WRX STI

ENGINE 2.5L EJ25 BOXER, turbocharged/intercooled with SI-DRIVE Engine Performance Management system POWER 305hp at 6,000rpm; 290lb-ft torque at 4,000rpm; 14.7psi max boost DRIVETRAIN 6-speed manual with Symmetrical AWD and Driver Control Center Differential (DCCD); mechanical/electronic limited-slip center diff; helical limited-slip front diff; TORSEN limited-slip rear diff SUSPENSION front inverted struts with 24mm stabilizer bar; rear double-wishbone with 20mm stabilizer BRAKES Brembo Performance Brake System with 13” ventilated disc/4-piston calipers and 12.4” ventilated rear disc/2-piston calipers WHEELS/TIRES 18x8.5” cast alloy (standard); 18x8.5” BBS forged alloy (Launch Edition and Limited models) FUEL 17/23/19 (city/highway/combined mpg)

FIRST DRIVE: 2015 Subaru WRX STI

SPECS: 2015 SUBARU WRX STI

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