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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday December 12, 2007 - 29 Subaru's Impreza WRX STI takes performance to a new level of sophistication By Jime Robinson OAKVILLE BEAVER See the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI and two automotive axioms come to mind. Racing improves the breed. And, if it looks right, it is right. Everybody has seen those electric blue Subaru World Rally Championship (where the name WRX comes from) cars hurtling through the air in the forest or scuttling around hairpin turns at speeds faster than the limits on Canada's highways. Much, and I mean much, of that expertise gained in building those cars and winning three championships along the way has found its way into the very special STI version of the already fast Impreza WRX tested on these pages earlier this year. STI stands for Subaru Tecnica International, the ultra high-performance arm of Subaru. Build basically by hand, the STI takes a production WRX and enhances everything from the engine, drivetrain and suspension and even the interior. Carmel Valley Rd in Northern California is a like a giant, 20-mile-long corkscrew with hairpin after hairpin punctuated by short straights that give you just enough time to catch your breath before the next set of twists and turns. With more electronic and mechanical wizardry than any other road-going car I can think of, the driver is presented with the ability to change the engine mapping and torque distribution at will. With the turbo at full song and the differential set for full sport I kept getting faster, braking later and turning sharper with every gear change and turn of the wheel. I was in "the zone," meaning I was in full control and everything around me was in full clarity. This has only occurred to me once or twice before and it was always the car, not me, that made it happen. The STI begins with three differentials, a helical limited slip diff at the front axle and a TORSEN (TORque SENsing) diff at the rear. At the centre is the Driver Controlled Centre Differential (DCCD) version of Subaru's famed Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive. The DCCD is probably the best system of its type you can buy on any car regardless of price. The driver has a choice of three automatic performance modes as well as no less than six manual differential locking settings. For the first time, the DCCD integrates the pitch and yaw and traction control systems in three driver selectable modes. It sounds confusing (and it is) until you play with it The 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI is the fastest and best handling road-going car ever from the company that has won three World Rally Championship crowns with a lot of the knowledge learned along the way incorporated into the overall design. Photo by Jim Robinson over a variety of terrains and road surfaces. Like Subaru Rally Team driver Petter Solberg, you will find yourself reaching for the DCCD toggle on the transmission tunnel to make changes. This is not a gimmick, but a system similar in concept to what Solberg uses in a race and one you can use to get the utmost from this splendid car. Now just to confuse you a bit more, there is also the Subaru SI-Drive that lets the driver chose between three engine response curves via a rotary knob also on the transmission tunnel. The choices are Intelligent for economical highway cruising, Sport for more spirited motoring and Sport Sharp for when things get serious. These modes are displayed on the instrument panel. I found myself sticking with Sport and the DCCD set on the centre setting for a 50:50 torque split. Later, I went for Sport Sharp with the DCCD set on the first of three automatic setting for more bias to the front for the sharp hairpins on Carmel Valley Rd. On Highway I on the way to Monterey, I toggled in Intelligent and with torque biased to the rear for surprisingly comfortable cruising. It's hard to explain but, in practice, it's actually simple to use. It takes some experimentation, but once a driver gets used to the feel and feedback, the results would be truly satisfying to one who can appreciate what this machine can do. Continued on Page 32 CREDIT PROBLEMS? · Bankrupt (Discharged or Un-discharged?) · In credit counselling or proposal? · New Immigrant/Refugee? · Too Young/Too Old? · No established credit? APPROVED QUICKLY - CONFIDENTIALLY NEED WHEELS? WE CAN HELP. IF YOU ARE EMPLOYED WE CAN HELP! Specialists in Automotive Financing. Your circumstances. Your rate. Rates from 8.9% to 29.9% O.A.C. Some down payment may be required. RE-ESTABLISH YOUR CREDIT TODAY! carloansapproved.ca or call Dave Watson 1-866-385-9250