Private Fleet Car Review: 2015 Subaru Impreza WRX STi Premium
It’s an icon, a brawny and chest beating icon. A Wheel Thing revisits the Subaru WRX STi, with a “proper” (read as manual) gearbox and that velcro/superglue/limpet grip.
Subaru says its all wheel drive system is “all for the driver” and that’s evident in the way the WRX STi is set up. There’s absolutely no doubt its all paw grip is part of why it’s in the Legends corner of cars you must drive, but there’s more to it than simply getting each wheel driven. There’s 221 kW at over 6000 revs from the 2.5L boxer four, but, more importantly, 407 Nm at 4000, with a noticeable rocket launch to the back, thanks to 330Nm suddenly on tap at 2500 rpm. That’s enough to see one hundred kilometres per hour in 4.9 seconds.
Tech Talk: Kilowatts/Horsepower and Torque
When you’re shopping for a new car, there should be a list of things that are important to you. Nowadays it’s how many USB ports or bottleholders but in the past it was about the “donk” and how many “neddies” under the bonnet. Before Australia went metric and still how the U.S. measures power, there’s horsepower. Metrification uses kilowatts and then there’s this mysterious thing called “torque”…
Horsepower, by its very name, measures output or work done in comparison to horses. Scottish engineer, James Watts (whose name also gives us part of the other measure) adoptedthe unit’s measure in the late 18th century with: Horsepower (hp) is a unit of measurement of power (the rate at which work is done) in order to compare the output of steam engines to draft horses. That was subsequently expanded to compare to other types of engines like turbines and electric engines.
Catching Suspects
You know, there’s heaps of cool technology that will be used (if not already in use) in the automotive scene. Yes, there’s all the on-board safety wizardry that helps to keep you and others safe on the road. And, there’s Voice Control, satellite navigation and other infotainment systems on-board a lot of new cars. But what is pretty amazing is some of the new technology that Police will use for catching, say, a car thief.
Catching car criminals or even any criminal travelling in a car seems like a tough job and is all about speed, right? Well actually, there might be an easier way. Here is some of the high-tech ways for catching a suspect that Police can or will employ.
Private Fleet Car Review: 2015 Subaru Impreza 2.0L S CVT
Subaru’s Impreza has been a staple part of their line up for nearly two decades, with the range giving birth to the WRX, WRX STi, Forester and XV models. A refresh was given to the Impreza in 2015 which was more of a gentle overhaul of the interior than a major rethink, as a major redo is due for 2017. A Wheel Thing’s first car for 2016 was the 2015 spec Subaru Impreza-S with the 2.0L naturally aspirated engine and CVT. 
Sitting at the top of the three model range, starting at $22990 driveaway, the S is set at just under $32000 and comes loaded with sunroof, cruise control, satnav and touchscreen, Bluetooth, leather seats, dual zone aircon and the 2016 model also gets push button start/stop and heated seats.
Under the gently sloping bonnet is their tried and tested boxer engine, breathing through a single exhaust pipe, with a modest 110 kilowatts (6200 rpm), 196 Nm of twist (4200Nm) and is connected to the now famous all wheel drive system via a constant variable transmission, complete with paddle shifts and six programmed gear points. Fuel is flexible, with a minimum required octane number of 90, filling a 55 litre tank.
Subaru’s fuel figures are quoted as (for the CVT) 6.8L/8.9L/5.6L per 100 on the combined/urban/highway cycles with emissions said to be 157g/km of CO2, a EURO5 standard. A Wheel Thing’s test cycle finished on 7.8L/100km in a predominantly urban cycle. Acceleration is quoted as a somewhat leisurely 11.2 seconds to reach 100 kilometres per hour. Bluntly, it’s much easier and more efficient to use the paddle shifts if a quick getaway is needed with a low torque engine. Hit the go pedal, climb to about 3500-4000 and blip the shift…much quicker. A Wheel Thing has not been a supporter of CVT’s with low torque power plants since they first came to wider public attention in the latter half of the noughties.
Level 2, 9 Help Street