Subaru UK Has Axed The WRX STI And We're Devastated
Subaru UK is halting sales of the WRX STI… because, sadly, it isn’t really making any. It puts an end (again) to a long tradition of Impreza and WRX STI sales that goes back to the mid-1990s.
We write this with heavy hearts. We’re big fans of the WRX STI not just for the incredible, physics-bending way in which it can tackle B-roads and small race tracks, but because it was, and is, something a bit different.
Unlike the homogenised European fast hatchbacks, many of which have more power, more digital technology and more comfort, the WRX STI is a car with genuine character. Its flaws make the driving experience richer; and what a driving experience it offers.
Anyway, the decision has been made, owing to recurring poor sales. Heavy depreciation and more fuel-efficient rivals have made the WRX STI vastly more expensive to buy on finance and keep on the road, and people just aren’t taking the plunge.
The model’s time in the UK will be ended with a 150-unit run of WRX STI Final Editions. The engine stays the same; a 2.5-litre boxer four-pot sending 296bhp and 300lb ft to all four wheels, all the time.
It gets bigger, more powerful Brembo brakes, though, inside wheels that have been enlarged to house them. Yellow calipers will look amazing against the traditional Subaru blue paint.
Inside, red seat belts and red contrast seat stitching are standard. Heating has been added to the front seats as well, while the dashboard of this limited-edition car is crowned by a 5.9-inch multimedia display. It brings with it DAB radio and a reversing camera.
Bi-function LED headlights light the way, able to use the same diodes for both dipped and main beams. They have a cornering function, too, which gives crucial extra visibility when you’re hooning around bends at night.
The price is £33,995, and we’d bet more than a couple of these will find their way into collections, never to turn a wheel in anger. If only we had the money, we’d buy one ourselves… but we’d drive it just the way it was built for.
Honestly, we feel like we’ve had a bereavement in the family. The WRX STI is one of those cars that gets under your skin. You come to love it, at any cost. We’ll miss it.
Comments
Why why why is people in the uk always get the short end of the stick when it comes to cars
Because we sit on the opposite side so it’s really expensive to convert
Top 10 anime deaths
A moment of silence please
Well that’s unfortunate.
F’cking Subaru. First they don’t bring the hatchback WRX back. Then, they make bullshit BRZ STi with no power increase (not even 30 horsepower, for the love of God). NOW THEY AXE THE WRX STI. Seriously? Who is calling the shots at Subaru, anyway?!
As a matter of fact, this gives me an idea,
Well, Mitsubitchshit is much worse
The BRZ is still a great car. A higher-powered variant would be nice (at the very least a 5-10hp bump to offset the extra aero creating more drag).
Hey at least they (hopefully) wont pull a Mitsubishi and slap the WRX STi name on some crossover
Americans be like
Every Subaru guy in the UK right now:
They are preventing STI’s from spreading (I’m sorry)
Bahahahahahaha
So cruel…yet so hilarious…
Haha!
This deserves more recognition
It doesn’t surprise me that the sales have slumped so much. When the current generation of STi’s came out in 2015 the engine was already pretty old and inefficient compared to its rivals. Since then the Focus RS and new Golf R came out that offer more power and in many ways better handling while also being more efficient. Instead of killing it off, Subaru should just replace it with something that is actually competitive in its segment. (Cue the Subaru fanboy downvotes)
(Subaru fanboy here) I couldn’t agree more. Ever since they dropped out of the WRC, the STI has just gotten bigger, heavier, and just more boring. I believe if they made it smaller, lighter, and gave it the FA motor, it would sell just as well as any of the competitors, if not better.
RS is gone globally next year too
Exactly this. If the engine had been more exciting then they wouldn’t have lost so many sales to other marques. Simply put it didn’t offer enough of a performance edge to dissuade people from buying more comfortable and equally quick Golf R’s.
I think that those boxer engines will hardly ever be as efficient as the 4’s that current hot hatches use.
Besides, the lack of evo’s has made this car a one man show and that didn’t help.
Subaru is a much smaller company than Ford or Volkswagen. There isn’t much they can do to compete with those world class companies.
Poor englishmen.
Kek