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Video: 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Attacks The Nurburgring

 
3 1,598 views Jun 9, 2010
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2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI at the Nurburgring

HI-RES GALLERY: 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI at the Nurburgring

Subaru has released footage covering advanced research and development carried out at the Nurburgring in Germany, in which a 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Sedan has set a new record at the legendary circuit. The latest addition to the ever-growing Impreza lineup has achieved Subaru’s fastest-ever lap time around the 13 mile Nordschleife with four-time World Rally Champion Tommi Mäkinen behind the wheel.

Mäkinen’s best time was a reasonable 7m 55 seconds, a full four seconds faster than Subaru’s previous best time, set back in 2004. To put that in perspective, that’s also four seconds faster than the 556 horsepower Cadillac CTS-V and a second faster than even the Porsche Panamera Turbo.

Subaru has been using the Nordschleife course at the Nurburgring since 1992 for advanced research and development, plus tests of the latest 2011 model year Impreza WRX and WRX STI models.

Available for the first time ever in both four- and five-door wide-body designs, the new STI rates the same 305 horsepower and 290 pound-feet as last year, as the primary improvements are made to the suspension, which is retuned for even sharper handling, and lighter 18 inch alloy wheels.

The suspension tuning is borrowed from the 2010 WRX STI Special Edition, a tauter, JDM Spec C-based tune that cuts body roll and increases lateral G forces that can be held. The ride is also lower, with new pillow ball bushings up front and stiffer bushings out back to improve feel as well as changing camber and toe. Thicker anti-roll bars are also added front and rear. The new 18 inch wheels are 17.6 pounds lighter than the previous versions collectively, hugely reducing unsprung weight.

First sales of the 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI will start this summer.

[Subaru]





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Comments (3)

  1. By  Jesse Posted: 6/10/2010 1:32pm PDT

    hey, i think the racer could have had a faster time around the track. If attention is payed to his shifting, the driver does not ride out gears to get the ultimate engine power. If rpms were kept highter up with this boxer four, the turbo would respond with a more potient, quicker spool response. Giving the driver cred, he rips it up! But bet, 2-3 seconds could have been shed. badass car btw ftw!
     
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  2. By themishmosh Posted: 8/3/2010 9:02am PDT

    LOL Jesse... you trying to teach Tommi Mäkinen how to drive?
     
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  3. By T Shifter Posted: 12/31/2010 8:40pm PST

    Temp. was ranging from -1C to 2C that day, pretty cold and wet. Jesse was sensitive, he didn't really need to use the 6th gear (only a few seconds at 2 different locations, and the RPM dropped down to 5k a few times). That means the STi could do even better on a dry day with temp. above 25C with different tire compound/set up. Impressive!
     
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