Nother CarGuy

Subaru has decided to give enthusiasts from its home country a track-ready variant of the WRX STI, dubbed the S208 Special Edition. Seemingly taking some inspiration from the brand’s STI Type RA NBR Special, the limited-edition variant will be restricted to just 450 units throughout the country. Power for the model comes thanks to an uprated 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder which now delivers 324 hp, a 28 hp increase over other STI models. Additionally, Subaru has fitted adjustable Bilstein dampers, active torque vectoring for the rear wheels, and a faster steering rack. Visually, the S208 Special Edition immediately stands out thanks to 19-inch wheels, a small rear spoiler and a prominent front splitter. The car can be painted in World Rally Blue Pearl and Crystal White Pearl but if customers want something special, they can opt for Cool Grey Khaki with the NBR Challenge Package and also receive a larger rear wing and carbon roof. Carscoops

If there's one thing that Subaru fans can't seem to get enough of, it's more potent versions of the WRX STI. And that's just what the Japanese automaker has in store for the Tokyo Motor Show this year. Called the S208, the upgraded STI builds upon the previous S207 launched in 2015. As to how, exactly, Subaru has unfortunately only given us bits and pieces, but they look promising so far. The manufacturer says the S208 will feature a carbon-fiber roof and an as-yet unspecified power boost, to the benefit of both handling and acceleration. That sounds a lot to us like the Type RA recently introduced in America to celebrate the Nürburgring record run. That model packs a 2.5-liter turbocharged boxer four upgraded to 310 horsepower (instead of 305). Considering that the previous S207 boasted 328 hp, we'd expect the S208 to pack even more. Whatever's under the hood, Subaru will only offer 450 examples, exclusively in Japan. As with the BRZ STI Sport ...