Car Trends Magazine

New Prodrive-developed Performance Packs (PPP) are now available for the ’06 Model Year turbocharged Impreza 2.5 WRX, WRX STI plus the latest Forester 2.5 XT manual. All kits are available from any Subaru dealer for £1,700 including VAT and fitting and do not affect the standard vehicle warranty. All also pass full UK Type Approval regulations for noise and emissions.

The extra power and torque are achieved by re-programmed Electronic Control Units (ECU) plus the removal of the rear catalytic converter, fitment of a high-flow catalyst and sports silencer. The Impreza WRX STI also has a new high-flow fuel pump.

Impreza 2.5 WRX STI With Prodrive Performance Pack

Figures for the latest Impreza 2.5 WRX STI with PPP show power leaping to 320 PS (316 bhp) at 6,000 rpm instead of 5,600 rpm and torque now at 332 lb ft at 3,700 rpm instead of 289 lb ft at 4,000 rpm.

This is sufficient for the 0-60 mph time to drop from 5.0 to 4.8 seconds with 0-100 mph in 12.2 as opposed to 12.5 seconds.

The 30-50 mph time in 4^th gear is reduced from 4.8 to 4.3 seconds, with the 50-70 mph time in 5^th gear coming down to 4.3 instead of 5.1 seconds. At higher speeds the 80-100 mph time is now 6.3 instead of 7.6 seconds.

Impreza 2.5 WRX With Prodrive Performance Pack

The new Impreza 2.5 WRX with PPP produces 270 PS (266 bhp) at 5,700 rpm and a massive 310 lb ft of torque at only 3,000 rpm – an increase of 74 lb ft at 600 rpm lower.

The result is a 0-60 mph time reduced from 5.9 to 5.3 seconds and 0-100 time of 13.9 instead of 14.4 seconds.

Meanwhile, 30-50 mph in 4^th gear comes down from 5.0 to 4.0 seconds with 30-50 mph in 5^th in 4.7 instead of 6.6 seconds.

Forester 2.5 XT Manual With Prodrive Performance Pack

The ’06 MY Forester 2.5 XT manual with PPP sees power leap to 260 PS (256 bhp) at 5,600 rpm with 300 lb ft at 3,000 rpm – an increase of 64 lb ft at 600 rpm lower.

With PPP, the Forester 2.5 XT manual reaches 60 mph in 5.3 instead of 5.9 seconds and 100 mph in 13.9 as opposed to 16.0 seconds.

The 30-50 mph time in fourth gear is now 4.2 instead of 5.5 seconds with 50-70 mph coming up in 5.0 instead of 7.3 seconds.

Competitive Prices

Prices for the turbocharged Impreza and Forester ranges continue to be highly competitive – backed by three year/60,000 mile warranty, 12 years’ anti-corrosion cover and three years’ paintwork warranty.

The latest Impreza 2.5 WRX starts at £20,945 OTR for the saloon with the Impreza 2.5 WRX five-door costing £21,445 OTR.

Topping the Impreza range, the saloon-only WRX STI Type-UK is priced at £27,040 OTR with the special-edition WRX STI spec.D listed at £28,540 OTR.

Meanwhile, the lowest-priced turbocharged Forester is the 2.5 XT which costs £22,040 OTR.

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