1998 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS Coupe

A PEEK IN THE PERFORMANCE ATTIC – PART FIVE

Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) stores performance vehicles important to its history near its headquarters in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Visiting this collection of vehicles is like walking through a museum or someone’s attic full of important keepsakes.

A WHITE SUBARU IMPREZA^® WRX^® STI^® RA BUILT IN 1996 NUMBERS AMONG THE SUBARU PERFORMANCE VEHICLES STORED IN ITS "MUSEUM." BUILT FOR RALLYING, THIS JAPANESE–SPECIFICATION IMPREZA WAS USED TO HELP INTRODUCE THE AUTOMOTIVE PRESS TO AMERICA’S 1998 IMPREZA 2.5RS COUPE.

1996 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX TYPE RA

The Impreza WRX Type RA model was brought to America in 1997 to show journalists the performance potential of the Impreza. The car was one of two used by SOA during press events that introduced the 1998 Impreza 2.5RS Coupe.

The RA in the model designation stands for "Rally Applicant." These were the equivalent of today’s Group N cars that compete in the Production World Rally Championship.

Subaru rally drivers Peter "Possum" Bourne (see the Origins article in Drive Performance Version 1.1 here) and Chad DiMarco (five–time champion for Subaru in SCCA Performance Rally) were on hand to give demonstration rides in the two Japanese WRX Type RA cars. One was the WRX RA Version 2 shown here, and the other was a WRX RA Version 3.

The right–hand–drive WRX Type RA Version 2 has no air conditioning or radio — deletions made in the effort to cut curb weight. Its turbocharged and intercooled engine produces approximately 260 horsepower and 201 lb–ft of torque. One feature is a water spray that helps cool the intercooler mounted under the hood scoop.

The press event took place at Pacific Raceways (known then as Seattle International Raceway) in Kent, Washington. Afterward, the WRX was passed along to a number of journalists for in–depth driving impressions and tests.

ONE LAP OF AMERICA™ — 1999

The WRX Type RA came into the hands of Dave Coleman and Josh Jacquot of Sport Compact Car magazine. They gathered sponsors and took the car on a different kind of test by entering it in the 4,180–mile 1999 Michelin^® One Lap of America. After 14 events in seven venues, the car placed 3rd in class and 15th overall out of One Lap’s 102 competitors.

The Type RA originally had been equipped with an RS-type wing, which is now missing. During One Lap, Coleman and Jacquot traded the trunk lid with that wing for one without, to help lighten the car.

THE SECOND TYPE RA

Just as the featured Type RA Version 2 had a distinguished history, so did the Version 3. It contributed its engine, transmission, and electrical components to an SOA project that surprised everyone — the Subaru ST–X concept vehicle. A forerunner of the Baja^®, the ST–X promoted the Subaru qualities of utility, performance, and innovation.

For more about the ST–X, see "A Peek in the Attic" in Fall 2006 Drive magazine here.

STAR OF THE DAY

Although the Type RA was never imported, the car that it helped to introduce — the 1998 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS — made a tremendous impression. Priced less than $20,000, the two–door 2.5RS Coupe was a performance value.

Available in Rallye Blue Pearl (limited production) and three other colors, the 2.5RS featured a 2.5–liter SUBARU BOXER engine, sport suspension, 205/55 R16 tires on 16–inch gold wheels, STi–type spoiler, and other unique equipment. The 2.5RS model foreshadowed the American introduction of the WRX model for 2002 and the WRX STi for 2004.