The Subaru WRX STI has the most recognizable wing on the market. Along with its flat-four engine, permanent all-wheel drive, and gold wheels, it’s part of the car’s identity. So when Subaru releases an STI variant with an entirely different rear, it feels a bit like a disturbance in The Force. The new Japan-only S208 features a simple decklid lip, giving the S208 an aftermarket look.
This is not the first time we’ve seen this type of package. The S208 is a follow-up to the S207 we saw back in 2015, and it has undergone a similar group of changes. Developed with Subaru Tecnica International (STI), the S208 is the company’s performance flagship and features alterations to the engine, suspension, aerodynamics, steering, and weight of the vehicle.
Unlike the U.S.-spec WRX STI, which uses a turbocharged 2.5-liter boxer engine, the S208 has a tuned turbocharged 2.0-liter version. Thanks to a new ECU, it makes 324 horsepower and 319 lb-ft of torque compared to our STI’s 305 horsepower and 290 lb-ft of torque. Additional upgrades include a performance muffler that decreases back pressure, a toggle switch that sprays water into the intercooler, and a low-pressure-drop air cleaner. In the name of weight savings and a lower center of gravity, the S208 features a carbon-fiber roof panel, an element that will be available in the United States on the upcoming WRX STI Type RA. The S208 also adds a mesh grille, a front underspoiler, a side bumper bezel...