Subaru WRX STI gains a giant wing, dashes hatchback hopes

Expectations were riding high when the Subaru WRX concept was unveiled last year, and enthusiasts played the sad trombone when seeing it in tepid production form at the LA Auto Show this past November. But with images leaking of the STI version ahead of its official unveiling, there weren’t too many surprises when the company showed off the higher-performance Rex at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show.

While the standard WRX saw a mild 3 horsepower increase from the previous version (to 268), the STI still delivers 305 horsepower from its 2.5-liter turbo boxer engine. As you’d expect, there’s a wing in the back, and the cast 18-inch wheels fill out the wheel wells a bit more. Subaru promises sharper and more aggressive handling compared to the standard WRX, bolstered by the torque vectoring system that can put the brakes on the inside wheels when cornering.