Whether it’s on the rally circuit or with virile youngsters behind their TV game consoles, in the world of all-wheel drive monsters, the battle is always between the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and the Subaru Impreza WRX STI.
Even though the mighty Evo has been proven to have the technological edge, there are a number of hardcore WRX STI owners who are flying the Subaru flag high. And none more so than Nick, who is the owner of this slightly scarred white STI.
Let’s cut to the chase: Nick’s WRX STI churns out an estimated 600bhp at the crank and close to 855Nm of torque.
Compare this with the figures of the Porsche Gemballa GTR650 EVO Avalanche (650bhp and 950Nm of torque) and you will realise that this car is not a supercar chaser but an eater, because the supposed “supercars” will have to be revving at their engines’ redline to try and keep up with its
big-winged behind.
The cost of the mods that have gone into his car would have easily bought Nick a nice 1.6-litre family sedan – except he obviously didn’t do that.
Nick takes part in one-eighth mile drag sprints held at the Kallang car parks and he has garnered quite a few awards.
Back to the car: Pop open its carbon fibre bonnet and you don’t have to be a WRX STI aficionado to be blown away by the amount of kit here.
The humongous Garrett GT35R turbocharger and web of customised piping will tell you that this is one seriously powerful car.
Running a front-mounted intercooler set-up, the standard 2.5-litre engine has been strengthened with Cosworth-forged pistons, camshafts and valve springs. And complementing them are the Autobahn intercooler, Zage wastegate and blow-off valve, customised K&N intake, Deatsch 1000cc
injectors and Walbro fuel pump rated at 250 litres per hour.
With the engine in such a highly modified state, an Ecutek flash ECU and HKS EVC were installed and tuned to keep everything running in harmony, to churn out awesome power and torque.
Despite its prodigious outputs, driving this car is as easy as A-B-C. (Or should that be W-R-X?)
Clutch action is slightly heavy, courtesy of the Cusco twin-plate job. But it works like a treat when chugging through standard 6-speed manual gearbox at speed.
Add in the Cusco Zero 2R coilovers, 1.5-way LSD, strut bars, arm and stabiliser bars, and this car lives for both the lengths of straight tarmac – where it can stretch its legs – as well as bendy roads, where its all-wheel drive prowess can work magic.
Keeping things safe at all times is a superbly powerful braking set-up anchored by an AP Racing 6-piston callipers at the front, ably backed up by Exzess steel-braided hoses and performance brake pads all around.
Conceived for real performance, Nick’s WRX STI is no pretty poster boy – it has battle scars to prove it. Look closer and you will see the duct tapes, scrapes and cracks all over the car. All hail Nick.
THE LIST
+ Engine/Electronics
> ECUTek flash ECU
> HKS EVC
> Apex’i auto timer
> Garrett GT35R turbocharger
> Cosworth forged pistons
> Cosworth camshafts
> Autobahn front mount intercooler
> Deatsch 1000cc fuel injectors
> Aquamist water injection kit
> Apex’i N1 exhaust (LTA-approved)
+ Undercarriage
> Cusco Zero 2R coilovers
> Cusco front/rear strut bars
> Cusco front/rear stabiliser bars
> Cusco front 1.5-way LSD
> Cusco twin-plate clutch
+ Wheels/Brakes
> AP Racing 6-pot brakes
> Exzess brake pads
