A Rally-Ready Subaru WRX STI
For a lot of people, the Subaru WRX STI will be more than enough to satisfy their rally urges (actually, for the vast majority, the WRX will suffice!). However, if you want to take your racing to the next level, the STI simply won’t cut it. It may have 305 horsepower and 290 pound-feet of torque, but that’s not enough to win a race through wooded trails at breakneck speed.
This is why Subaru will offer the WRX STI NR4, which is specifically built to participate in international rallying in the NR4 class according to the FIA’s latest rules.
So how is this car different from the production-ready STI?
First of all, it’s less powerful: it loses 20 horsepower, but gains 120 pound-feet of torque! In rallying, low-end power is important, and that’s exactly what this engine delivers. The manual transmission is also new: instead of the stock six-speed unit, there is now a Hewland five-speed; it may lose a gear, but it is way more resilient to punishment.
There is a pair of limited-slip differentials (up front and in the back) while the one in the center is electronically-controlled.
Of course, there is also a full roll cage, AP Racing brakes, Öhlins shocks and an antilag system to keep the turbo primed even when the car is standing still.
If you want one, know that there are a few drawbacks: first of all, the car isn’t street-legal (not a big surprise for a competition vehicle, but still). You will then have to pay around $203,000 to get behind the wheel of the WRX STI NR4.
