Latest news with #Subie
Miami Herald
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Subaru fans in the Philippines get a WRX wagon with STI gear-for free. Meanwhile, U.S. buyers are still waiting for any sign of an STI comeback.
For years, the Subaru WRX STI has been a symbol of accessible performance – it's a rally car for the streets, packed with turbocharged power, all-wheel drive, and just enough edge to keep purists and tuners excited. More than just a badge, STI has become a cultural icon, wrapped up in car meets, snow-covered backroads, and a healthy dose of WRC nostalgia. And yet, here we are. The WRX STI has been officially gone from US showrooms for quite some time now, with no confirmed return. The legendary EJ engine retired, the six-speed gone quiet. And if you were hoping for a wagon variant to make a comeback, forget it. Meanwhile, in the Philippines, buyers are driving off the lot in brand-new WRX sedans and wagons fitted with STI kits – for free. No, it's not a full STI powertrain. But the upgrades – front and rear spoilers, diffusers, STI-badged shift knob, and rally-style trim – transform the already capable WRX into something that looks the part. It's the closest anyone's come in years to an STI wagon, and it's being handed out as part of a limited-time promo for the first 14 buyers. After that, it will be available as an accessories package for an undisclosed price. This is the kind of car American fans have been asking for since time immemorial. The combination of turbo power, utility, and STI DNA made it a unicorn. Since then, enthusiasts have been left patching together their versions, swapping parts, chasing that perfect blend of speed and practicality that Subaru once offered straight from the factory. And now, just as the STI nameplate goes quiet in the US, it's showing up – at least in spirit – elsewhere, looking sharp and ready to run. What stings isn't just the availability. It's the fact that the STI badge means something. For American fans, it's tied to Subaru's dominance in rally, to the raw, analog feel of a performance car that never needed to shout to be heard. It was the underdog that overachieved. So to see a WRX wagon, dressed in STI gear and rolling out with no extra cost, feels like salt in the wound. Yes, this is jealousy talking, but Subie fans will understand. Subaru built a legacy with the WRX STI. And while the future may be electric and quiet, especially with the Japanese automaker focusing on soft-roaders recently with the new-generation Outback and all-new Trailseeker, it's hard not to look back and miss the days when the sound of a boxer engine and a flash of cherry red trim meant you were driving something special. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Subaru Driver Plows Up Maine Ski Slope
Read the full story on Backfire News A Subaru driver decided to try out the symmetrical all-wheel-drive system in his 2022 Impreza by driving up a ski slope in Maine. As a result, he caused tens of thousands in damage and proved once again there's nothing as insufferable as a Subaru driver hellbent on proving how capable his vehicle to the Oxford County Sheriff's Office, 33-year-old Jesse Bates of Mexico, Maine took his car for a little joyride up one of the Sunday River Ski Resort's slopes in the early morning hours of March 9. Not only did he leave deep ruts in the slope, probably from when his symmertrical all-wheel-drive and all-season tires couldn't handle the lack of traction, he also reportedly crashed into the scan gates, damaging the expensive equipment. Deputies were able to figure out who was responsible for the damage, although the sheriff's office didn't say how. We do know Bates has had dealings with the law before, so perhaps they already knew his propensity for trying to show off what his Subie can do. That brings us to our next point: the destructive power of Subaru drivers who can't admit they don't drive a Jeep. While Wranglers, even heavily modified ones, have their limits off-roading, in our personal experience on trails, it seems at least a subset of Subaru drivers genuinely feel their vehicle has essentially none. Or they feel their limits meet or exceed that of modified Jeeps. While that behavior can sometimes be funny, and sometimes it's annoying when they get stuck and block a popular trail, in some instances it's dangerous and destructive. What this guy was trying to prove driving up a ski slope in the wee hours of the morning only he can answer. But we do know not only did he damage the slope and scan gates, he wrecked his car pretty badly. Please, Subaru drivers, know the limits of your ride and stop trying to constantly prove you have some hardcore off-roader. It's okay to not. Image via Subaru, Oxford County Sheriff's Office
