Daily Archives: January 19, 2014

2015 Subaru STI

So, Subaru put the STI fanbase on their heads earlier this week with the debut of the 2015 Subaru STI.

What’s the uproar? Well, it’s using the same exact EJ257 as it has the last 10 years. There’s been no power upgrades (it’s still rated the same as last year’s model), and the ringland issue will probably be carrying over.

Many people have been stating that the WRX is the better deal. I was initially disappointed when I found that the engine was a carry-over, but after thinking things through, I believe the STI might have the more trustworthy engine.

The 2015 WRX has the FA20, which is the same engine as the Forester (and BRZ, only the BRZ’s engine is NA). That engine is unproven. Sure it outputs 268 HP, but we do not know what weaknesses it’ll have. With the EJ257, we know exactly what we’re getting and know it’s weaknesses. As well, the STI still has some technology that’s exclusive to the STI — DCCD, SI-Drive, tuned suspension, robust brakes, proven 6-speed transmission, and a surplus of HP (compared to the ’15 WRX).

The torque vectoring isn’t really going to help in a track environment, though, as I’m betting it will overheat the brakes…it should be defeatable by disabling VDC, though.

This STI should be just as quick in the 0-60 and quarter-mile tests, as last year’s model, as there’s been no weight gain but the 2015 hasn’t lost or gained any power, either.

I also recorded the debut video: