There's also this awesome video to see it in action as it doesn't so much drift around the snow drifts as it plows through them.

Reader Lars, who goes by the handle "GRID," designed this incredibly awesome concept of the STI. It's simultaneously realistic in ways normal automaker concepts hardly ever are, while being effortlessly aggressive. The sight lines might leave something to be desired, but we can practically picture ourselves on a desolate gravel road out in the boonies, bombing through the countryside at unsafe speeds.

[GRID]

It's a testament to Subaru engineering and the benefits of aftermarket safety upgrades. The car was outfitted with a harness bar and safety harnesses along with the flashier stuff like a carbon fiber nose, but the driver is probably thanking his lucky stars he'd installed the safety bar. We're glad this Subaru gave its life to save its occupants. Details below:

I got a call from my buddy at 1:30am this morning, I assumed it was drunk dialing and went back to sleep. I guess I was wrong. Apparently when he swerved to miss a deer (NOT SUPPOSED TO DO THAT!!!) the rear end came off the ground, hit a tree, flipped twice, took out a stop sign and another tree. Thanks to a harness bar his and his passengers lives were spared (they walked away). He's a lucky SOB.

(Hat tip to Ed!) [also via FinalGear]

The STI will compete with the 200+ car field in the SP3T class (2.0-liter, turbo) with a fairly stock car. The upgrades, besides the obvious safety equipment, include a flexible tower bar and other new chassis and body-stiffening components. The company hopes to take this know-how and put it into future modes. Additionally, they hope to win their class.

STI, Impreza to contest Nurburgring 24-hour race

This May, SUBARU Tecnica International (STI) heads to the Nurburgring circuit for the "37th ADAC Zurich 24 Hour Race" (24 Hours of the Nurburgring) with an originally tuned version of the Impreza WRX STI aiming for a class victory.

The ADAC Zurich 24-hour race takes place at the course of 25.378km in total, and is the largest endurance event in the world, with more than 200 cars participating, familiarized by European manufacturers who enter every year. STI particularly and practically uses 20.832kms "Nordschleife" (also called "Old Course"), known as intensively severe course, as a proofing ground for STI developed vehicles. STI's objective to participate this event is to collect data and verify technical know-how, and also to learn out of this race for future STI vehicle development. STI's vehicle development is focused on further enhancing the unique ride quality which can be characterized by the theme, "Strength and nimbleness".

The participating car is Impreza WRX STI built and tuned exclusively by STI, adopting "Flexible Tower Bar", along with a variety of original chassis and body stiffener and components. Modifications also include weight-reduction and safety equipment installation.

The car will participate in the SP3T class (for turbo-equipped machines with an engine displacement of 2.0litter). STI will conduct the team management for this race, supervised by Hideharu Tatsumi (STI's General Manager of Vehicle Experiment Division), while racing the car are four highly experienced professional Japanese drivers.
Entrant name : SUBARU TECNICA INTERNATIONAL(STI)
Participating car : SUBARU Impreza WRX STI(GRB type)
Horizontally opposed 4-cylinder EJ20
2.0litter DOHC turbo / SYMMETRICAL AWD
Suspension : Front - strut, rear - double wishbone
Vehicle manufacturer : STI
Team director : Hideharu Tatsumi
(STI General Manager of Vehicle Experiment Division)
Drivers : Kazuo Shimizu, Toshihiro Yoshida
Naoki Hattori, Koji Matsuda

[Subaru via World Car Fans]

While we're huge fans of both Travis Pastrana and the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI, the two have, in this case, combined to create something incredibly horrible. To be fair, we doubt the rally star actually had much involvement with the vehicle.

The full list of specs reads like a 16-year-old's wet dream. In addition the P**sy Magnet Yellow paint complete with Tonka tire tracks, there's a carbon fiber hood, rear wing and other aero aids. Inside the custom blue interior, there's a ridiculous Kicker stereo sure to highlight the Impreza's thin body panels and passenger seat-mounted, custom yellow Xbox 360 so bad drivers can hone their mad skillz without risking other people's lives.

Under the hood there's a host of unnecessary modifications. The STI is already an extremely fast car that needs much in the way of driver confidence and little in the way of increased mechanical ability.

In fact, the real point of this car seems to be to highlight the range of official tuning parts available through Subaru dealers. We knew we preferred the plain old 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX for a reason.

The full press release follows:

Subaru Designs Custom Impreza WRX STI for Rally Champ Travis Pastrana

PRNewswire
CHICAGO

- Pastrana Won His Third Consecutive Rally America National Championship for Subaru in 2008

- Special WRX STI Fortified with SPT and STI Parts

- Carbon Fiber Hood and Rear Wing

- Custom Interior with High-Power Audio System and Xbox

CHICAGO, Feb. 9 /PRNewswire/ — Subaru of America, Inc. will show a one-of-a-kind Subaru Impreza WRX STI designed for its factory rally driver Travis Pastrana at the Chicago Auto Show, February 13-22 in McCormick Place. Subaru worked with Pastrana to create a brilliant yellow "199" liveried WRX STI to commemorate his third consecutive Rally America National Championship. Pastrana is scheduled to appear at the Chicago Auto Show to sign autographs in the Subaru booth February 14th and 15th.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080325/SUBARULOGO)

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090209/NEM137)

Winner of nine X Games Gold Medals, two for X Games Rally competition, Pastrana's street ride had to be as formidable on the road as his racing WRX STI is on the rally circuit. The Travis Pastrana WRX STI is not only a visual stunner, but also amps up performance capability of the stock production Impreza WRX STI. Vermont SportsCar, technical partner for Subaru and builder of the team's rally cars, customized the WRX STI using an array of Subaru Performance Tuning (SPT) and STI parts, along with unique custom pieces. The SPT and STI engine, exhaust, chassis and interior parts showcased on the Travis Pastrana WRX STI are available for any WRX STI through authorized Subaru dealers.

Travis Pastrana: Rally Star

Pastrana was already a motocross champion and X Games gold medal winner when he launched a rally career in 2003. He began driving for the Subaru-backed Vermont SportsCar rally team in 2004.

On August 5, 2006 Pastrana won the gold medal in the first rally car competition at the X Games and was signed to lead the new Subaru Rally Team USA in 2006. Pastrana secured his third consecutive Rally America National Championship driver's title with a win at the 2008 Rally Colorado round of the championship.

Pastrana WRX STI: Back-Road and Highway Star

Commissioned by Subaru, Vermont SportsCar started the Travis Pastrana WRX STI with a stock 305-horsepower 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI. Pastrana's new WRX STI delivers even sharper handling response than the stock model. An SPT front strut tower brace and SPT lower chassis brace help to further tighten handling response. The stock wheels and tires are replaced by BF Goodrich G-Force Super Sport A/S 275/35 ZR18 tires on Work Evolution XD-9 18 x 9-in. wheels in custom satin black. Red STI Brembo brake calipers with white "STI" decals are visible behind the spokes.

The rally-bred WRX STI exterior design lights up with custom yellow paint and graphics. The carbon fiber hood and carbon fiber rear wing are unique to the Pastrana's WRX STI. As on the stock production WRX STI, the functional hood scoop streams outside air to an intercooler. The Sport Mesh Grille is available for all WRX STI owners. Likewise, the STI front chin spoiler and the exhaust finishers are available through Subaru dealers. A set of PIAA 2100 HID driving lights and rally-spec mud flaps underscore the aggressive rally-bred design of the 5-door WRX STI.

Engine Compartment

Under its custom carbon fiber hood, this WRX STI is equipped with a number of modifications including a performance-tuned ECU and custom Down Pipe to unleash a bit more power from the DOHC 2.5-liter intercooled turbo Boxer engine. A turbo boost gauge facilitates tuning. The SPT billet aluminum battery hold-down and billet aluminum oil cap are rendered in the trademark SPT blue color.

Interior

The custom blue Alcantara interior upholstery, the trademark of the original U.S.-spec WRX STIs, is accented with Pastrana's traditional yellow piping and "199 Pastrana" embroidered logos in yellow thread to match vehicle exterior. Likewise, custom yellow stitching is used to accent the steering wheel, shifter boot and parking brake handle boot. An STI short-throw shifter provides an even more direct connection to the 6-speed manual gearbox. Carbon fiber patterned interior trim highlights the dash, doors and console. A rally map light and co-driver foot rest bring a bit of Pastrana's Subaru Rally Team USA car into his new street WRX STI.

During a rally, Pastrana listens to a continuous stream of navigation commands from his co-driver. In his new custom WRX STI, he can listen to anything he wants — loudly. The audio system is based on an Eclipse AVN 6620 navigation/DVD/CD/MP3 stereo head unit and uses Kicker amplifiers and speakers, including:

* Kicker ZX700.5 4x75 watt and 1x400 watt stereo amplifier
* Kicker RS65.2 6.5-in. component speakers, front
* Kicker RS56.2 5.25/6-in. component speakers, rear
* Kicker Solo-Baric L5 10-in. subwoofer in a custom subwoofer/amplifier enclosure

An Xbox 360 is also mounted under the front passenger seat, rounding a package that is as entertaining as its owner. Pastrana and his co-driver can play the Colin McRae DIRT video game using custom yellow controllers.

A report posted on the Finnish MTV3 network's website claims Subaru will no longer compete in the World Rally Championship in 2009. This is big news as Subaru developed much of its following and fan base by successful competing in the series with its iconic blue-and-yellow Imprezas.

If this report is correct, it would build on news earlier today of Suzuki pulling out of the WRC. Unlike Subaru, Suzuki was new to the series and therefore moving away from the series isn't as big of a deal.

Though companies like to have racing teams to show off their engineering prowess, in a bad economy it is sometimes the easiest thing to cut. This may explain why these reports are coming out so regularly. Of course, the WRC is introducing Spec-based rules for the future, but it may be too late for these two teams.

H/T to Osmo for the tip

[MTV3.fi, Photo SWRT]

(Hat tip to everyone who sent this in!) [via 0-60mag]

The image comes from Japanese magazine CarTop, and is claimed to be a hardcore Spec C testing on the Nürburgring. We're a bit skeptical because there appears to be no attempt whatsoever to disguise the car with any sort of camouflage. Real or not, the sad fact is that we may not even get the Spec C version on American shores when the rally star does make it to production.
[Nihon Car via Speedhunters]