The Subaru WRX STI S209 was almost called the 25B



[ad_1]

A Subaru WRX STI S209 test mule with the 1998 Subaru WRC rally car at Fuji International Speedway.
Photo: Aaron Brown / Jalopnik

The Subaru WRX STI S209, which recently unveiled its success on the track, has adopted the company's leading S-line brand, but has even taken a step forward thanks to the near-renaissance of a similar name. at 22B.

On the 30th anniversary of the company organized by Fuji Speedway at the beginning of March, during the prototype prototype production of the STI-built S1999 S209 model, in early March, I and other journalists have noticed something particular in the car. There was a scratched plate on the center console under the gear lever, as usual, but instead of reading "S209", the plate of this test mullet was replaced by "25B".

Huh!
A picture: Aaron Brown / Jalopnik

Yes it is true. 25B. You know … like the Subaru 22B of the late 90s, ultra-legendary and ultra powerful.

Preview of the miniature article
The Subaru Impreza 22B was a crazy monster that could never arrive today

If you are in the United States and you are a fast Subarus fan, you should consider yourself lucky. Very…

Read more Lily

When I asked about the inadequacy, Subaru explained that it was planning to give the name "25B" to the new model, but felt that it would be more appropriate for S & # 's 39, stick to the S-line naming system. Subaru's Yoshihide Yano North American planner seemed a little tired when we noticed the strange plaque, but he explained that the decision had been made by superiors who were worried about how the car would be sold in America.

A Subaru WRX STI S209 exhibited next to an Impreza 22B at the Detroit Auto Show in January 2019.
Image: Justin Westbrook / Jalopnik

"[Subaru] frames discussed [what] this car must be called … because it's the first American car [from STI]Yano, a commercial planner for Subaru in North America, told Jalopnik.

Yano would not explain more than that why the company moved away from the "25B" mark, except to explain that this was what Subaru had used for internal development purposes.

Subaru spokesperson Kiino added a little clarity in a follow-up email.

"Given the history of limited edition models of STI (22B followed by models S201 to S208), it made sense to name the next car in order, the S209, all the more that the car is reserved for the United States and that the American STI fans have been asking for an S model for years, "Kiino told Jalopnik in an e-mail.

Does this mean that the S209 is the spiritual successor of 22B, the only true Subaru god? Sure. May be. Subaru at least thinks so, or did, but not enough to tell Americans.

[ad_2]

Source link