Upgrades to power, handling, aerodynamics and driver engagement will make the 2019 Subaru WRX STI S209 not only the first exclusive STI for the U.S. market, but the best performing one as well. The S-line STI ‘s have to date always been sold exclusively for the Japanese domestic market, starting with the S201 in 2000 through to the S208 in 2018. Now the US gets it’s very own S-line in the form of the S209, a car which will only be sold in the US, and undoubtedly become very desirable.
Drawing inspiration from the WRX STI Nürburgring Challenge racecar, the S209 wears expanded wide-body exterior panels extending the width of the car by 1.7 inches. The exta width accommodates wider front and rear tracks with 19 x 9-inch forged BBS alloy wheels wrapped with 265/35 Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT600A tyres. these tyres have been developed exclusively for the S209 by Dunlop, and form a major factor in the cars ability to achieve over 1g of lateral grip whilst cornering. Suspension enhancements come from specially developed Bilstein dampers with stiffened coil springs, a 20mm rear stabilizer bar and pillow-type bushings for the front/rear lateral links. Reinforcements have been made to the front crossmember and rear subframes incorporating the technology used in the Nürburgring Challenge racecar.
