In looking at my hit stats, it’s become apparent that the pictures I posted of the 2015 DGM STI are very popular, so I’m going to post some photos of the STI in CWP (Crystal White Pearl).
UPDATE: I’ve also added more STI photos into galleries (by color). I’ve posted about them here.
I found these on Google Images. If these are yours, let me know and I’ll give credit, but at least a few of them are from reviews on Mazda Raceway.
Ever had statistical questions about the Subaru WRX and/or STI? Cars101.com can educate you.
The site even has pictures of various options on the cars.
I haven’t checked yet, but I believe that the site may even cover many more makes and models.
What I’m currently reading is the 2015 WRX/STI section.
http://www.digitaltrends.com/car-reviews/2015-subaru-wrx-sti-review/
UPDATE: I’ve also added more STI photos into galleries (by color). I’ve posted about them here.
I posted this one mainly because they include pictures of a DGM (dark grey metallic) 2015 STI. Those are not commonly found in pictures. I think the coloring is awesome, especially with the silver BBS wheels. Note that this is not a Launch Edition — those are only in blue (WRB – world rally blue) with gold BBS wheels (as well as a slew of other interior options).
From Motoring.com.au:
http://www.motoring.com.au/news/subaru/impreza/wrx-hatch-still-a-chance-42559
Don’t give up hope for a hatchback version of Subaru’s new WRX just yet.
That’s the message from WRX Project General Manager, Masuo Takatsu, who told motoring.com.au at this week’s Australian launch of the fourth-generation model that a five-door body style was still under consideration.
I shared a very similar article back in Feb regarding Subaru possibly working on a hatch version. The more news we hear of this, the stronger the possibility that this isn’t just a rumor. Me? I’m not a hatch guy but I’ve no problem with a hatch version existing, as long as it doesn’t water down the platform as a whole (divided attention does tend to make for a less focused product).
Also note that the article talks mainly of the WRX. I’m not sure if this will trickle to the STI variant.
This is the best 2015 STI review I’ve seen yet.
Why? Because it’s an honest review that explains where the real improvements are and how those real improvements translate into a great track experience. It discusses things such as the stupid comments about the lack of a hatch…it discusses that issue with tact. It discusses the active torque vectoring and shows a great example of how such tech helps drivers on track (there’s video footage of it kicking in when a driver is overshooting the apex of a corner).
I really liked how the three guys discussed the car and how they were rational when discussing the differences between the STI and WRX. They gave solid feedback on why the STI was the overall better buy (not better value buy).
I highly recommend watching this video if you want see an unbiased and frank review.
So Motor Trend got ahold of a 2015 STI and had just enough time to test the car’s sprinting capabilities. The results?
13.1 @ 104.4 MPH in the 1/4th mile & 0-60 in 4.6 sec
Uhm. That is damned quick (and fast, regarding the 1/4th mile trap speed). That is really quick and fast for 305 HP.
Regarding the article itself, it sucked. The article writer, Jonny Lieberman, promotes himself as a WRX guru but I really don’t think he knows all that much. His reviews are never really technical and is almost always subjective (as well as WRX-biased). He always compares the STI with the WRX (or the WRX with the STI). The WRX is not an STI competitor, so I don’t know what his beef is with the fact that the STI is more expensive. It should be more expensive…it is clearly the tool to have when it comes to a track-focused car. Sorry, but the WRX is not going to cut it on the track (it never has)…not without major upgrades, at least. But if you’re settling for a WRX and it’s good for you, then that’s good, but it is not the end-all-be-all of the Subaru line-up, no matter how you hash it. I think most people try to justify their cheaper purchase by saying things like, “well, an STI is $8K more than an WRX…an STI has things I won’t need or use daily”. They typically don’t understand that the $8K is giving you a whole different experience.
Jonny kept harping on the fact that the STI needed 50 HP more. Really? Why? Because that’s what BMW and Ford does when developing new models? It doesn’t *NEED* an extra 50 HP. Subaru make a stock STI run 13.1 at 104 MPH without extra power….that’s a good thing. Just because Mercedes makes a 350 HP turbocharged 4-cylinder vehicle doesn’t mean that Subaru should. Mercedes is the ONLY car maker that’s generating 350 HP out of a blown 4-banger, and that car is very close to $50K. Making such HP from such a small engine is NOT cheap and it’s not cheap to ensure the engine doesn’t grenade (the CLA45 AMG runs an insane amount of boost to make that power, too). The 50-HP argument is ridiculous.
In fact, Jonny talked about the STI itself or even it’s competition, which isn’t a WRX or CLA45 AMG. The article was highly subjective. Why the hell do I want to hear his thoughts on the car if they’re jaded…I’d rather hear about the car itself, which I can form my own opinions about. I don’t think that Jonny even drove the car. I think he wrote about someone else’s experience but filled in the gaps with his “50 more HP” and “the WRX does the same thing but at a cheaper price point” rants. It’s obvious he didn’t drive the car (not for review purposes, at least).
This isn’t the first article where Jonny was too subjective. There’s nothing worse than a writer who can’t stay subjective if his life depended on it. I’m soooo glad I let my Motor Trend subscription lapse, because it only takes one writer to ruin the whole bunch of writing that MT does (IMO).
I think the 2015 STI offers extreme potential for it’s price range. A 2015 Golf R is NOT going to be able to offer that level of performance…the new Golf R is a great step forward but I highly doubt it’s going to run a 13.1 quarter-mile or 4.6 0-60…they didn’t come close to that in the debut review estimates, either. There is no other car out there (besides the 2014 Evolution) that will match the STI when it comes to price-to-performance, because the STI offers a LOT of performance for what’s pretty much chump-change. They’ve also improved on every single STI owner’s complaint. None of that can really be argued with, even if the engine is the same unit that has been used the last 9 years.
I think MT needs to let Jonny find a different job, because he’s not good at creating a good read. He whines too much. There was hardly anything he said that was good about the car. Usually when I evaluate something, I try to think of three good and bad things about the product. Jonny did none of this and went on an immediate “WRX is better” bend. That is sad. I might just skip over MT’s full review of the 2015 STI if I find that Jonny wrote it.
From The Fast Lane YouTube Channel:
The 2015 Subaru WRX STI is a Rally race car that you can drive on the street and even more importantly use as your everyday ride. If you are ready to geek out on the STI….this is the video for you. If you love Power Point presentations that go into the smallest details…..this is the video for you. Ready or not here’s another TFLcar exclusive video that tells you more than everything you ever wanted to know about the new Subaru WRX STI.
Video topic: Bucky Lasek picks five speed demons to go on a ride they’ll never forget, in one unforgettable car. Which car is it? The 2015 WRX!
The video is also linked here.
So, I discovered a recent review of the 2015 WRX by Jalopnik. It was an ‘okay’ review…read as a bit amateurish, IMO. There were a few comments I didn’t like (I left responses), such as, “this car looks boring” when they were discussing the Detroit Auto Show debut. When all you have to do is look at cars on display, that whole day can be boring, no matter what you’re looking at.
The review is here. I linked it because I’ve linked many others as well, but to be honest, this really wasn’t an exceptional review…it’s not that the car was “boring”, but more that the author’s comments weren’t really descriptive. They really didn’t test anything about the car…they just drove it around in snow for a week and commented on that experience. Meh…that’s not what I look for in reviews.
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: