Cosworth Impreza STI CS400 revealed

The power and guile of Cosworth’s long history in Formula One is being infused into the Subaru Impreza.

The result is a turbocharged 395-hp demonic hatch with bolstered brakes and suspension pieces for truly performance-driven enthusiasts: It’s called the Impreza STI CS400.

Here’s the rub: Just 75 copies will be made--exclusively for Great Britain. And they’re all right-hand drive.

But why dwell on that. Let’s imagine the possibilities and dive into the technicalities, which are worth knowing.

Cosworth uses its own turbocharging technology to boost output from 296 hp to 395 ponies, and maximum delivery is available at the lower threshold of 5,750 rpm (6,000 rpm was required for the stock version.) The engine is also fortified with high-performance pistons crafted in the same manner as Cosworth F1, heavy-duty cylinder studs and a higher-pressure oil pump. The turbocharger also gets a new compressor design.

These upgrades allow the CS400 to hit 62 mph in 3.7 seconds and run the quarter-mile in 12.75 seconds. Top speed is limited to 155 mph. The six-speed manual transmission gets carbon synchromesh for the top three gear ratios. The car rides on all-wheel drive with a 50/50 torque split as the default stetting that can be varied according to the situation.

The chassis was reworked with Eibach coil springs with Bilstein inserts. Ride height was lowered 10 millimeters in front, and larger ventilated disc brakes were added in front with six-piston calipers. Inside are Recaro seats and piano-black center stack and trim accents.

Again, the CS400 isn’t set to come to the States. But if it did, it would cost the equivalent of better than $61,000.

By Greg Migliore