Enthusiasts asked, and Subaru listened. The Japanese carmaker has announced plans to build a STI-tuned variant of the Levorg, an Impreza-derived station wagon sold in a number of global markets.
Technical specifications haven’t been published yet, but it’s not too far-fetched to imagine the hot-rodded Levorg will borrow its engine from Japan’s version of the WRX STI. If our assumption is correct, the wagon will land with a turbocharged and direct-injected 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 308 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 311 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. Subaru’s hallmark all-wheel drive system will of course come standard, but what remains to be seen is whether the turbo four will be bolted to a six-speed manual transmission, or to a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Moving out of the engine bay, the Levorg will receive a full body kit made up of a more aggressive-looking front bumper, side skirts, flared fenders, and an air diffuser built into the rear bumper. Subaru’s dark teaser image also suggests the wagon will gain a roof-mounted spoiler. All told, the Levorg STI will share more than a passing resemblance to the Levorg STI Concept that was shown to the public earlier this year at the Tokyo Auto Salon.
The performance treatment will continue inside with sport seats for the front passengers, and a STI-specific instrument cluster. Out back, it will be just as practical as the standard model thanks to a generously sized trunk.
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The Subaru Levorg STI will make its full debut in the coming weeks. Now, for the bad news. The standard Levorg isn’t offered in the United States, and Subaru has previously made it clear that it’s not planning on returning to the compact wagon segment anytime soon. That means there’s virtually no chance of seeing the Levorg STI land on our shores.
