Subaru introduced the new Impreza a few months ago at the Los Angeles Auto Show and is now trying to spice up the hatchback with an assortment of STI bits. Unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon, this concept is painted in Sunblaze Pearl and looks a bit more aggressive thanks to a refined body kit. Remember, this is not a full STI version as Subaru Tecnica International has just started working on an upgrade for the sixth generation model.
The most obvious change has been made at the rear where the Impreza 2024 has dual mid-mounted exhaust tips giving it a sportier look. This JDM-spec car uses STI branded black wheels and has been equipped with a roof-mounted spoiler with a new design. Also at the rear, the bumper has gained a pair of wings to make the compact hatch look more muscular.
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You’ll also notice beefier side skirts finished in a glossy black finish for pairing with other STI add-ons, including a front spoiler lip and trim pieces above the fog lamps. That’s all for now as Subaru has said nothing about possible hardware changes. Sportier suspension setups are likely in the works, and ideally, some additional oomph is planned.
As a refresher, the US-spec 2024 Impreza has a base 2.0-liter engine making 152 hp (113 kW) and 145 lb-ft (197 Nm), but you can upgrade to the 182 hp (136 hp) 2.5-liter engine. kW) and 178 lb-ft (241 Nm). Subaru says the Japanese version relies on a 2.0-liter hybrid powertrain, both featuring all-wheel drive and a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
For now, this is just a coy attempt from STI to instill some oomph into the newest Impreza. New parts are being developed, and we expect Subaru’s performance division to plan some mechanical upgrades to keep up with these visual improvements. With no STI version of the WRX in sight, the hot hatch will fill that void.
