Motorists will be able to get their hands on a World Rally Championship (WRC) lookalike vehicle when Subaru makes its Impreza WRX STI available next spring.
British drivers will be able to enjoy the "hardcore" model, which features a new 2.5-litre turbo boxer engine delivering 300 PS, as well as multi-link rear suspension.
The unit is wider than the previous STI at 1.8 metres, giving it a ground-hugging stance that makes it look imposing and a force to be reckoned with.
Enthusiasts will be able to see the car up-close when the manufacturer debuts in at the Tokyo Motor Show later this month.
"The new WRX STI will be the perfect addition to a new range of Imprezas which are appealing to a wider, more mainstream audience," said Subaru managing director Lawrence Good.
Motor sport fans around the world were shocked last month when former Subaru WRC driver Colin McRae was killed in a helicopter crash.
The brand new Subaru Impreza is an "icon reborn", according to its manufacturers.
Available in a number of different engine sizes, the car now sports a five-door body and all-wheel drive, with prices starting from £12,495 on the road.
According to the company, these features offer safety and handling benefits along with improved practicality. This car will be available from September.
In addition, new engine technology will see higher performance but also better fuel economy, although a turbocharged option will become available next year for those who prefer a bigger kick.
The firm said: "Subaru’s aim is to compete more directly in the European market with rivals such as the Honda Civic, VW Golf and Mazda 3 while offering the added safety and traction advantage of symmetrical all-wheel drive."
In racing, the Subaru Impreza team are currently leading the Osram Rally, driven by Visser du Plessis, Superwheels reports.
The New York Motor Show begins this week and a new version of the Subaru Impreza will be among the introductions at the event.
Fans of the brand may be surprised to hear that the new model will arrive in hatchback form, abandoning the characteristic saloon style the Impreza has become synonymous with.
In the UK the new model will be available with a choice of naturally aspirated 1.5- and two-litre engines, with a 2.5 turbo expected in 2008.
While it is sure to be one of the features at the New York show to attract the most attention, the Subaru is not the only new model that will be on display in the Big Apple, with updated versions of the Audi TT, BMW Z4 Coupe, Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder and Lotus Exige all on show.
There will also be a range of eye-catching designs and innovations on exhibit, in the form of a number of concept cars.
The Chevrolet Camaro Convertible, Chrysler Nassau, Ford Interceptor, Jeep Trailhawk, Lexus LF-A and Honda Accord Coupe will be among the conceptual creations on display at the Jacob Javits convention centre in New York.
Responsibility towards the environment will not be ignored, however, with alternative fuel propositions such as the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Saab BioPower Hybrid being represented.
The 2001-02 model of the Subaru Impreza has been named the top performance car in the Auto Express reliability and satisfaction survey 2007.
Subaru’s whole range also performed well in the poll, coming in sixth, with over 93 per cent of current owners saying they would buy another car from the automaker.
These results reflect positively on all aspects of Subaru’s production, as the 30,000 readers who responded were asked their opinions on every aspect of car ownership, from reliability to running costs.
Lawrence Good, executive director of sales and marketing for Subaru, described the survey results as "excellent news", particularly as they follow the manufacturer being named as the ‘best franchise opportunity’ by the Institute of Transport Management.
"We are fortunate in having such loyal owners who appreciate Subaru’s legendary reliability and driver satisfaction," Mr Good added.
"There are some exciting new models just around the corner so we look forward to expanding our appeal to a wider audience while retaining all the strengths which have made Subaru such a powerful brand."
The Impreza is Subaru’s best-known and arguably its most popular model, but the automaker also makes the Forester, the Legacy, the Outback and the Tribeca.
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