Subaru Celebrates 30 Years Of STI With New Type RA-R

Jul. 19, 2018 7:01 PM ET by Jared Rosenholtz / 12 Comments

Of course, it's only for the Japanese market.

Last year, Subaru released a limited edition version of the WRX STI called the Type RA. It was limited to just 500 units, and cost nearly $50,000 - that's if you could get the car at sticker price, because most dealerships were charging a markup for it. Now Subaru is celebrating the 30th anniversary of STI's establishment in 1988 with another special edition of the WRX STI. This one will also be limited to 500 units for the Japan market only - it's called the WRX STI Type RA-R.

Subaru says the focus of the Type RA-R was "light weight, speed, and, enjoyment" in the pursuit of "running, turning, and stopping." To that end, the Type RA-R saves 30 kg (66 lbs) of weight compared to previous Japan-only versions of the STI called the 208 and 207. To go along with the weight savings, the 2.0-liter EJ20 Boxer engine has been tuned to produce the highest output amongst all STI models: 324 horsepower.

This means the Type RA-R has 14 hp more than the similarly rare Type RA, which uses an older 2.5-liter engine. Subaru was able to eek extra power using a performance shroud, which enables the intercooler to work at its maximum cooling efficiency. A performance exhaust system with lowered back pressure was also added, and contributes to higher engine output and more direct response. The Type RA-R rides on unique dampers and coil springs developed just for this car, so it should be pretty quick around a track. Subaru says the Type RA-R will be available starting on December 17, 2018, but if you want one outside of Japan you are out of luck.

Subaru Celebrates 30 Years Of STI With New Type RA-R

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Subaru Celebrates 30 Years Of STI With New Type RA-R

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