Subaru Cosworth Impreza STi CS400 (From Basingstoke Gazette)

SO IMPREZ-IVE

3:41pm Friday 17th December 2010 in Cars

A relatively small importer of cars to Britain, the Japanese four-wheel drive specialist was held in particularly high regard by performance cars fans, chiefly because of its Impreza WRX and STi saloon models.

Boasting outrageous standard performance, cutting edge drive-trains and easily tuned engines, these high performance Imprezas also offered four-door practicality, relatively cheap ‘bang-for-buck’ purchase prices and the street-cred that came with a successful rallying history.

However, the model has not proved as popular with high performance fans since the switch to a hatchback, rather than a saloon design.

Subaru’s answer has been to tweak the line-up – offering the WRX STi model as a saloon to appease fans and removing the Impreza name from the high performance models, making them a sub-brand in their own right. But not before having one last play with the hatchback model.

The Cosworth Impreza STi CS400 will prove a rare sight on the roads. Only 75 are being crafted for the UK market and with that exclusivity comes an exclusive price tag. Just shy of £50,000 in fact.

But then, it’s a very special vehicle. The Cosworth Impreza has not merely been breathed on by the high performance engineer, it’s received a comprehensive going over. Power is up 33 per cent over the WRX STi, with 395bhp from a four-cylinder unit, and 62mph is reached in 3.7 seconds. It pips its nearest competitor, the Mitsubishi Evo FQ400, to the post, and will give a Lamborghini Gallardo costing three times as much a run for its money.

The power delivery is impressive. The model’s four-wheel drive system features a 50-50 split as default, launching the car with an initially startling ferocity. It’s a little slower to build at lower rpm, but from 3,500rpm the engine really starts to pull, whipping its way through the six-speed transmission.

The intelligent four-wheel-drive minimises wheel-spin from standing starts, but also bolsters grip through the corners. It takes a lot to provoke under-steer; far too much corner entry speed to be advisable. On a demanding country road the nose will simply tuck in time and time again. On track, the Cosworth Impreza ought to be unshakeable. Get it wrong and 355mm front brakes will bring the car to an abrupt halt. And, in time-honoured Impreza tradition, all of this is delivered from a practical, useable base. Fuel economy is actually not too frightening; the five-door layout with a decent boot is in place. Inside is a slightly more lavish interior with leather bucket seats and aluminium, but nothing to make popping to the supermarket an ordeal.

Sure, interior quality is not up there with high performance Audis or BMWs that will cost similar sums – but the Subaru will retain bragging right-on performance.