Subaru STI

[Shadow277]

Looks like a real fun car. From what Forbes has stated, a 400hp AWD car will be a Mustang killer both on the strip and road course. Even for those with bolt ons making 500whp, I do not think that will be enough. So what do you all think of these newer cars catching up to Camaros and Mustangs? Seems like a repeat of 5th gen Mustang a while back.

Motortrend citing Forbes:
https://www.motortrend.com/news/2021-subaru-wrx-sti-fa24-engine-details-report/

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[Mustang_Lou]

STI's currently have what 305hp? Are you talking about a future STI model maybe? Post a link up.

 

[Flimflamman]

It's a rumor as far as I know. 400 awhp 360 awtq

To be honest, they (Subaru) have some catching up to do. The STi starts at about the same as a base GT, and has been lugging around the EJ25 for quite a long time. Good engine that responds well to mods, but it's old mill.

 

[Shadow277]

STI's currently have what 305hp? Are you talking about a future STI model maybe? Post a link up.

It's in the OP now but here it is for you:
https://www.motortrend.com/news/2021-subaru-wrx-sti-fa24-engine-details-report/

 

[Shadow277]

It's a rumor as far as I know. 400 awhp 360 awtq

To be honest, they (Subaru) have some catching up to do. The STi starts at about the same as a base GT, and has been lugging around the EJ25 for quite a long time. Good engine that responds well to mods, but it's old mill.

Technology has come a long way since the 80s. More efficient and powerful engines. I think Sunaru can do it. It'll eat my poor Rustang.

 

[Mustang_Lou]

Let's hope they keep the unequal length headers for that classic boxer rumble … the new WRX went equal length in the name of a few extra HP but sounds crap in comparison. I'd take the sound over the few HP any day.

 

[Schwerin]

Japanese always been good making great power from small motors, Sadly their best cars were not in the US for a long time. While were were all impressed with the 93 Cobra and Corvette ZR1 with 5.0 and 5.7L, they had AWD cars with 2.6L making easily over 300 wheel and much better handling and build quality.

While we were amazed with our 390HP from a supercharged 4.6L v8 they had a 2.5 making 300.

As much as I love American v8's the Japanese IMO have always been ahead of us in quality and big power from smaller engines. It wasn't till recently that we caught up, and Ford was at front of that compared to Dodge or GM have been.

I've often wondered how a race of factory fresh Supra Twin Turbo R, R32 GT-R, 93 Cobra R and ZR1 would turn out.

 

[Shadow277]

I'm a JDM fan for that same reason. Lightweight, nimble, efficient. I drew this fantasy that JDMs will always corner better. This Mustang surprised me.

 

[Schwerin]

I'm a JDM fan for that same reason. Lightweight, nimble, efficient. I drew this fantasy that JDMs will always corner better. This Mustang surprised me.

My theory about that is Japan had the 278HP rule. Even if they added power over that they could not advertise it. It seems most their top end performance cars were 300-320 HP for a number of years, nearly 15 years. Since they couldn't rely on power numbers for sales they had to use other things. So they focused on build quality, engine durability, handling, and MPG while the US was still only really looking at HP and 1/4 times. I don't think they took handling as a serious quality in a performance are until maybe late 90's. Before then it was purely secondary.

Same for the compact market. While we were boasting our 2.0 with 146hp, and 2.4 with 150hp, Honda was running the game with the 160HP 1.6L Civic Si and 170hp 1.8L... both a 8-10 year old engine already. When they did use a larger less advanced engine it was a cost cutting to save money to allow for an LSD(200XS/Sentra SE-R) or AWD(2.5 RS).

 

[Shadow277]

My theory about that is Japan had the 278HP rule. Even if they added power over that they could not advertise it. It seems most their top end performance cars were 300-320 HP for a number of years, nearly 15 years. Since they couldn't rely on power numbers for sales they had to use other things. So they focused on build quality, engine durability, handling, and MPG while the US was still only really looking at HP and 1/4 times. I don't think they took handling as a serious quality in a performance are until maybe late 90's. Before then it was purely secondary.

Same for the compact market. While we were boasting our 2.0 with 146hp, and 2.4 with 150hp, Honda was running the game with the 160HP 1.6L Civic Si and 170hp 1.8L... both a 8-10 year old engine already. When they did use a larger less advanced engine it was a cost cutting to save money to allow for an LSD(200XS/Sentra SE-R) or AWD(2.5 RS).

I think with Japan and to a lesser extent Europe, most roads are windy and fun cars like an Si or Miata are perfect for that. Here in the U.S. (especially west) roads are straight for miles at a time. Having a GM 409 or a Ford 302 is ideal. Why worry about the corners if roads stretch straight farther than you can see?

Before anyone says I'm silly, the Army sent me all over the country and out of country like Italy, Germany, Ireland, etc. In Japan, I alot of videos I have seen are windy roads so I've drawn my conclusion from experience.

 

[Schwerin]

I think with Japan and to a lesser extent Europe, most roads are windy and fun cars like an Si or Miata are perfect for that. Here in the U.S. (especially west) roads are straight for miles at a time. Having a GM 409 or a Ford 302 is ideal. Why worry about the corners if roads stretch straight farther than you can see?

Before anyone says I'm silly, the Army sent me all over the country and out of country like Italy, Germany, Ireland, etc. In Japan, I alot of videos I have seen are windy roads so I've drawn my conclusion from experience.

Youre not wrong, but those countries do have places like the Autobahn too, BMW and MB have out handled American performance cars for years I think it wasn't till the 2010 refresh that Mustangs with the Performance Pack were on par with BMW's. Japan also has a couple nice highways. Atleast one long enough to top 200MPH. If I remember the automakers agreed to the HP limit voluntarily, it was a gentleman's agreement to prevent a Power war which they knew lead to unsafe driving as they nationally only had a speed limit of like 65MPH. Not much lower than the US had at that time. I think it was like 60-65MPH limit in most of the US, maybe even as low as 55-60 in the late 80's. They wanted to encourage more enjoyment at lower speeds.

 

[Shadow277]

In Japan, manufacturers would lie about power and put lower HP numbers than what a given car could actually do.

 

[shogun32]

In Japan, I alot of videos I have seen are windy roads so I've drawn my conclusion from experience.

Japanese roads are narrow but the actual problem is parking - it's hard to come by and you frequently have to make contortions to get in/out of your spot be it "garage" or street. Owning a S550 in Japan in the neighborhoods I used to live in would be a challenge assuming the car would even fit - ie can't get the door open. And yes their roads outside the city proper tend to be very curvy because they wind up and down mountains or along the shore line.

If you had an over 2.0l engine you were 'rich' or at least unusual. We had several Mark2's (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Mark_II) over the years as the family car and a couple of "roller skates" (eg. Honda City) for runabout or commuting duty when we had the luxury of 2 parking spots, one over the neighborhood sewer, and one perched precariously on the edge of a 'cliff'.

 

[Fuse]

I wonder if they can fit that new engine in the next generation of BRZ/GT86? Or even a slightly detuned version of it. I can only dream I guess.

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