Subaru, the producers of the blue and gold rally icon that's gained the attention of the petrolhead community worldwide through love and respect. Remembered fondly due to legends such as Colin McRae and Richard Burns who wielded Impreza’s through World Rally Championships with great success. From the flat-out gravel stages and enormous jumps of Finland to the winding mountain pass of the Col de Turini, Subaru created a machine that dominated, winning both the Manufacturers Championship and the Drivers Championship three times.
Subaru launched in 1958, founded the STi brand in 1988 and released the haloed 22B in 1998, the best Impreza ever made…or is it?
It’s ok, we hear your gasps, this must be blasphemy even questioning whether the 22B is the greatest Impreza. However there is another, rarer Impreza that deserves a shot at the title. With no further a do the model in question is the Subaru Impreza WRX STi Spec-C Type RA-R (Deep breath). It may have a long name but theres nothing lengthy about how it covers ground.
In case you wondered, RA-R stands for ‘Record Attempt – Racy’. Yes, really. And racy it is!
So what’s so special about this model? For a start it was never sold in the UK or anywhere else outside of Japan for that matter, only treating the Japanese Domestic Market. Running the 2.0 EJ20 engine from the Japan-only STi S204 limited edition, Twin Scroll Turbo and unique ECU. The RA-R produces 316bhp & 318lb ft with linear power between 2000-8000rpm. This means the in-gear acceleration is outrageous, coupled to Subarus infamous Symmetrical All Wheel Drive System, the speed and grip this car generates is astonishing. Given the right driver, over a moorland road we can’t think of anything that would keep up!
As proof of just how fast this Impreza is, this Tsukuba Best Motoring video shows how it stole three tenths off an NSX-R and annihilated the other Japanese metal. It's that good!
Other features include reduced soundproofing, thinner glass, a lighter battery and even a thinner roof. The steering was quickened. The brakes were made bigger with huge Brembo six-piston callipers. The suspension was overhauled too, even lower than a Spec C, with STi aluminium pillow-ball lateral links with bushings'. To top it off the 8.5x18” STi wheels are wrapped in bespoke 235-section rubber. Everything was ramped up to create the most intense and rewarding Impreza for the driver.
Plus this car is RARE! Only three hundred were ever made, of which 50 were finished in 'Sport Yellow'.
Other colours were Pure White and WR Rally Blue Mica.
When new the RA-R cost 4,284,000 Yen (£29,000). So going back to the original question, does the RA-R deserve the 22B’s crown as the greatest Impreza, from a purist perspective absolutely. If you're wanting an Impreza that will wow you every time you drive it then this is the car for you. Dynamically it’s far more advanced than the 22B being nearly a decade younger. With it being near impossible to get a 22B for less than £150,000, RA-R values are also increasing, offering a more affordable investment opportunity...
Money no object there will be people who would rather have a 22B which is understandable, coming from the McRae era but with cars in today's world becoming more alike there is definitely a character within the RA-R which won’t be replicated...
If you'd like to enquire on rare and collectable Impreza variants, get in touch here...
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