Subaru UK Upgrades Impreza WRX & STI with Free Prodrive Performance Packs

Starting from this month and until the end of June, Subaru's Impreza WRX and STI Type UK will be offered in Britain with a bunch of performance upgrades worth over £3,200 at no additional cost.

The free items for both models include the Prodrive Performance Pack, which increases output and further improves acceleration, and new 18-inch alloy wheels and tires.

The Performance Packs, developed in conjunction with Prodrive, add a recalibrated ECU and a high-flow sports exhaust system. On the Impreza WRX, output rises from 230HP to 265HP, and torque from 320Nm to 390Nm, while on the STI, from 300HP to 330HP and from 407Nm to 470Nm, respectively.

With these upgrades, the Impreza WRX accelerates from 0 to 62mph (100km/h) in 5.9 seconds (standard WRX: 6.5 sec) and the STI in 4.8 seconds (standard STI: 5.2 sec).

In addition to the free performance upgrades, the Japanese firm has also reduced the retail price of the WRX by £95.

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SPIED: 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Spec C Sedan Scooped at the 'Ring

The new 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI sedan was officially revealed at the New York Auto Show earlier this month, but our spy photographers have captured the Japanese maker's big-winged saloon testing at the Nurburgring.

At a first glance, it appears that the car is nothing more than the European specification version of the high-performance sedan.

However, a closer look reveals small but important differences clearly suggesting that the STI seen here may very well be a prototype for a limited edition Spec C model.

These include the blacked out alloy wheels, gold colored brake calipers (quite possibly "brembo"), fog lamp covers and the front lip spoiler, all of which were not shown on the New York Show car but are standout features on the JDM Impreza STI Spec C hatchback (see here).

If Subaru follows the same recipe with the five-door Spec C, then the sedan variant should also boast other performance upgrades including a tweaked engine with a recalibrated ECU, revised suspension and steering systems, beefier tires and a different limited slip differential along with a lightweight aluminum hood, laminar window glasses and a downsized battery.

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Subaru Impreza WRX STI Spec C Homologated for FIA Group N

Subaru may have pulled the plug on its World Rally Championship team run by Prodrive at the end of 2008, but the Japanese carmaker is trying to keep a connection with the sport.

Today, the automaker announced that its Japanese market Impreza WRX STI spec C successfully completed the vehicle homologation process and received the official Group N Homologation certificate from FIA.

As a Group N vehicle and in contrast to the Group A all-out competition production-derived cars, the Impreza WRX STI spec C features limited modifications compared to the standard specification model that include enhanced engine and chassis performance as well as a lighter body.

The WRX STI spec C Group N will have its racing debut at the Rallye Deutschland of Production World Rally Championship that takes place in Germany on August 22.

*The car shown in the pictures is the road-going version of the JDM Subaru Impreza WRX STI spec C

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NY Show: Subaru Revises 2011 Impreza STI and Presents New Four-Door Sedan Variant

[Updated with 'live' pics from the show] For the first time ever, Subaru is offering its top-of-the-line Impreza WRX STI in two body styles with the return of the four-door saloon model that's aimed directly at the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X.

In addition to the new sedan model that's distinguished by a large rear wing, the 2011 Impreza WRX STI features a series of improvements including revised suspension tuning, lighter 18-inch wheels and cosmetic tweaks.

Up front, the revised Impreza WRX STI hatchback gets sharpened bumper corners and wider, blacked-out fog lamp nacelles, a newly designed front grille with black base and blacked-out wing highlights.

The 4-door sedan model also benefits from newly designed wider rear fenders stretched out on the side beyond the tail lamps.

Inside, the 2011 MYs feature dark cast metallic trim panels and a new audio system with single-disc CD player, Bluetooth audio streaming and hands-free calling, iPod control capability, a USB port, 3.5mm aux. input jack and XM/SIRIUS satellite radio.

To further improve handling, Subaru reworked the Impreza WRX STI's suspension. Aside from the lower ride height, the 2011 models also feature new pillow-ball bushings in front and stiffer bushings for the rear subframe.

Both the front and rear suspension systems now employ higher-rate springs and thicker front and rear stabilizer bars than the 2010 model (21 mm vs. 20 mm in front and 19 mm vs. 18 mm in rear), while spring rates have increased by 15.6 percent in front and 53 percent in the rear.

The 2011 Impreza WRX STI sedan and hatchback models are scheduled to go on sale in the U.S. later this summer.

[NY Show photos by Phil Alex]

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