Subaru to launch diesel Impreza WX STI
There's oil in that thar Impreza STI...
Author: Chris Barker
Published: 22 February 2008
And for good reason. One conjures up visions of wild commotion and voluminous rapidity; the other, something men shod in correctional footwear like to discuss the merits of over a pint of something called 'mild'.
Thats until now. According to some industry moles Subaru is planning a rather more than temperate diesel version of its rally-bred 4WD STi Impreza that should be available shortly after you've replaced your current calender.
With the advent of the 2.0 litre flat-four cylinder diesel boxer - a world first - found in the upcoming Legacy Sport Tourer set to join the engine ranks of the existing Impreza engine parade this September, Subaru's chin-stroking engineering geniuses have given the strongest hint yet that a tuned version of this could be used in an STi set-up. 148bhp would then suddenly, and upsettingly for some, read 180bhp.
Close to 300 torques could be offer, while trips to the pumps will be more sporadic than ever, with 45mpg flagged up as initial figures.
With the Boxer diesel engine being significantly more compact than the STi's petrol block, this is seen by technical-folk as a workable proposition from a performance slant. This is chiefly due to the fact that the turbocharger would be strapped to the underside of the engine, and therefore attached directly to the catalytic converters to lower the centre of gravity.
The diesel powerplant weighs no more than the current engine, yet would make real inroads into economy. Not something that normally bothers the eagerly pleased faces of your average STi pilot, but Subaru are sniffing around potential gains in the lucrative fleet market.
This is because emissions would be dramatically cut by nigh on 40%, taking the 243g/km CO2 dispatching from the petrol engine to an almost none existent 155g/km in the diesel.
Which naturally would pleasingly effect Subaru's existing road tax burdens. Clever stuff.
Scooby set to snack on drops of the black stuff?
Subaru’s new Boxer Diesel engine will appear for the first time in both the new Forester and Impreza at the 2008 Paris Motor Show in October.
The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has called on the Chancellor to vary the duty level on diesel and petrol to ensure that the pump price of the two fuels remain roughly the same.
1,086 Subaru Imprezas descend on WRC-determining Prodrive’s HQ, securing a new Guinness World Record feat whilst marking a memorable tribute to the memory of Colin McRae.
Subaru turned up at British Motor Show with new special edition brood of high-performing Imprezas. The highly volatile WRX-S, unpredictable WRX STI 330S and sinister omen that is the WRX STI 380S concept. Be scared.
New car registrations in the UK in June fell 6.1% to 209,190, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
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