2015 Subaru WRX STI Preview: 2014 Detroit Auto Show

You can’t have a new WRX without a matching STI model, and the 2015 Subaru WRX STI comes hot on the heels of its lesser sibling’s introduction in Los Angeles.  The WRX STI adds even more performance to an already potent compact sedan package, along with additional styling flair to appeal to the boy racer crowd.  Not as over-the-top as past versions of the STI, the new Subaru seems to continue the maturation of the WRX lineup aimed at pushing it further up-market.

What’s New for the 2015 Subaru WRX STI:

• Torque vectoring
• Limited production Launch Edition
• Borrows platform from redesigned WRX
• Wide-body styling
• Enhanced suspension tuning
• No more hatchback

New 2015 Subaru WRX STI: Styling and Design

The 2015 Subaru WRX STI does not stray far from the template laid down by the WRX just a month or so ago: a mild wide-body take on the sedan’s shape, along with the requisite tall wing stuck to the rear deck.  Subaru had already prepared us for the similarity in styling between the base WRX and the WRX STI with the previous generation of the car, but there will no doubt be complaints that the STI is too similar to its more affordable sibling.  Subaru is making a special ‘Launch Edition’ available in WR Blue with gold BBS rims, which will be limited to 1,000 examples during a three month window of opportunity.

There will be no hatchback version of the STI produced.  As with the WRX, Subaru elected not to dilute development dollars by building two body styles for the automobile – an unusual decision given that sales between the sedan and the hatch have historically been split 50/50.

New 2015 Subaru WRX STI: What’s Under the Hood

The biggest surprise from the 2015 Subaru WRX STI is the decision to retain the previous year’s 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder instead of replacing it with the WRX’s more modern direct-injected 2.0-liter turbo engine.  Still rated at 305 horsepower and 290 lb-ft of torque, the WRX STI’s mill remains yoked to a six-speed manual transmission (albeit one that’s been upgraded for smoother shifting).  All-wheel drive remains standard with the sedan and active torque vectoring now comes free of charge.

New 2015 Subaru WRX STI: Features and Technology

Further separating the 2015 Subaru WRX STI from the plain-old WRX is the car’s active center differential, which can be controlled from within the car to fine-tune power delivery from the all-wheel drive system.  The car also features Brembo brakes as well as three driver-controlled modes (Auto, Sport, Sport Sharp) which are not available with the six-speed WRX (although the WRX with the automatic transmission offers something similar).

New 2015 Subaru WRX STI: What Autobytel Thinks

The 2015 Subaru WRX STI will undoubtedly continue the tradition of track-ready excellence firmly established by past versions of the automobile.  Whether it will capture the imaginations of longtime Subaru fans is another question, as the lack of arresting styling and the decision to carry-over last year’s drivetrain is a disappointment.  A missing hatchback will also no doubt push some buyers out of the fold.  The bottom line on the WRX STI? A (hopefully) affordable performance machine that may have a tough time up-selling base WRX customers.