Car and Driver: Subaru Announces STI-Fettled XV Crosstrek, Impreza Wagon

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Subaru’s XV Crosstrek can be more than a granola-mobile for taking your kids to organic yoga, it seems. The automaker is preparing a spiced-up version of its homely tall hatchback festooned with high-performance goodies from its in-house STI tuning arm for the Tokyo Auto Salon—think of it as Japan’s version of the SEMA aftermarket show. Subaru plans to display it alongside the BRZ-based STI concept from the 2015 New York auto show, as well as a new Levorg (Impreza station wagon not sold in the U.S.) concept also decked out in STI bits. 

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Can’t swing a flight to Japan? Allow us to summarize the new concepts, the Levorg STI and the XV Crosstrek STI. Photos are forthcoming, but Subaru describes the Levorg as having STI-brand 18-inch wheels, a special front fascia, and a two-tone red-and-black interior. Performance enhancements include “STI-tuned” dampers, and . . . so far that’s all.

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• Subaru STI Performance Concept: More STI is Coming-
• Subaru Impreza Sedan Concept: It Is What It Says It Is-
• Subaru XV Crosstrek Research: Full Pricing, Specs, Reviews, and More-

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The Crosstrek STI is of far greater interest, anyway, since it’s the only model—besides the BRZ/STI concept—that has an ice-cube’s chance of making it to the U.S., were Subaru to build it at all. That task wouldn’t be terribly difficult, either: The regular XV Crosstrek is little more than an Impreza hatchback with extra ground clearance, and the Impreza shares a great deal underneath with the turbocharged WRX and WRX STI sedans. But before your thoughts turn too rosy, Subaru has curiously decided to base its XV Crosstrek STI concept off of the hybrid Crosstrek (the normal Crosstrek is pictured up top). From what we understand, the concept has no power-enhancing upgrades, only “STI sports parts” that improve the ride quality and stability, according to Subaru.

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Much more likely than us being sent the Levorg or even an XV Crosstrek STI—hybrid or otherwise—is an increase in STI accessories and parts availability stateside. When Subaru debuted the STI concept in New York, the fanfare was accompanied by a promise that more STI parts and models would follow. We think an STI-modded Crosstrek would be cool, but we’d take a few choice STI parts, too.

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