Found this posted on the Autoweek website today:
"Subaru’s U.S. arm may not be saying when the performance STi version of the WRX Impreza sedan will arrive on these shores, but sources inside Subaru Tecnica International in Japan tell us to look for a June 2003 showroom debut.
Less certain are specifics on horsepower and price on the non-U.S. version of the STi. STi sources say U.S. emissions requirements and lower octane fuel will likely cut into the non-U.S. output of 276 hp, so we’ll stand by the 261-hp estimate we’ve heard for STi’s turbo four.
As for price, in Japan, the bad-tempered street machine starts at about $26,000, while in the United Kingdom it’s more like $40,000. Our sources say the U.S. price will come in somewhere just under the U.K. price. For 2004, the first full year, Subaru projects 4000 sales in North America. "
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Now granted this is just another unsubstantiated rumor, BUT it is very disturbing. 260 some odd HP and just under 40k. No way, I can get an imported Euro Spec Evo 7 for 36.5 that would blow that away. Subaru really needs to set the crack pipe down if this is their plan. Maybe this is how they plan to meet demand, make the product so un-special that there is very little demand to meet. I am looking for something that rocks out of the box. I do not want to have to spend 5k more to get what I want and then have no warranty.
"Subaru’s U.S. arm may not be saying when the performance STi version of the WRX Impreza sedan will arrive on these shores, but sources inside Subaru Tecnica International in Japan tell us to look for a June 2003 showroom debut.
Less certain are specifics on horsepower and price on the non-U.S. version of the STi. STi sources say U.S. emissions requirements and lower octane fuel will likely cut into the non-U.S. output of 276 hp, so we’ll stand by the 261-hp estimate we’ve heard for STi’s turbo four.
As for price, in Japan, the bad-tempered street machine starts at about $26,000, while in the United Kingdom it’s more like $40,000. Our sources say the U.S. price will come in somewhere just under the U.K. price. For 2004, the first full year, Subaru projects 4000 sales in North America. "
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Now granted this is just another unsubstantiated rumor, BUT it is very disturbing. 260 some odd HP and just under 40k. No way, I can get an imported Euro Spec Evo 7 for 36.5 that would blow that away. Subaru really needs to set the crack pipe down if this is their plan. Maybe this is how they plan to meet demand, make the product so un-special that there is very little demand to meet. I am looking for something that rocks out of the box. I do not want to have to spend 5k more to get what I want and then have no warranty.
