The Subaru Levorg STI Sport Prototype Is A Delicious Piece Of Forbidden Fruit
The Subaru WRX and WRX STI wagon ceased to be a thing many years ago. That makes the prospect of the Levorg in its 296bhp turbo form rather appealing - at least it would be if Subaru actually bothered bringing it here. Instead, the UK market has to make do only with the naturally-aspirated version, which by all accounts isn’t awfully good.
Now, Subaru is busy teasing an all-new Levorg in prototype form, and it’s just spawned an STI Sport variant. Handsome devil, isn’t it?
Whether or not it’s packing the same 2.0-litre turbo engine as the outgoing Levorg STI, we’ve no idea - there’s a notable lack of detail to go with Subaru’s Tokyo Auto Salon announcement. We do know that the standard prototype is fitted with an all-new 1.8-litre N/A flat-four - could Subaru have plans to boost it? We’ll have to wait and see.
We do at least know the Levorg STI Prototype is - incredibly - Subaru’s first-ever car to sport adaptive dampers. We’re not quite sure how that’s happened when some manufacturers have been using them for the best part of two decades, but hey, good job Subaru!
Subaru says that the dampers work together with its new ‘Drive Mode Select’ system (again, a first for the company), which also alters the characteristics of the all-wheel drive system, the steering and the drivetrain.
All of this sounds lovely, but we’re unlikely to ever see the production version of the STI Sport on sale in the UK, and we’re not expecting the Levorg to make it to the USA in any form. A shame.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
The problem with the Levorg (aside from its obviously silly name) is that Subaru was extremely effective at alienating its entire customer base with it. Who still buys Subaru? Correct, enthusiasts and old people. It’s only available as a wagon, which old people don’t buy these days. Enthusiasts, who’d happily buy a Subaru wagon, don’t want a CVT, which is the only transmission option for it.
That’s entirely fair. But I hate the ‘enthusiast’ argument.
‘Enthusiasts’ don’t buy these sorts of cars so development isn’t going to weigh towards them.
Arguments I employ are.
Ia the car on your drive new? No? You have no bearing on the market place.
Most places with snow sell a ton of Subaru’s. New England, Pennsylvania, etc. I can only vouch for those though as I am state side. I know the wagon would do very well in Maine (where I’m from). Except I agree and that doesn’t quite outweigh not selling it else where because my wife from Georgia hadn’t even heard of Subaru before we started dating.
Have to disagree a bit. A lot of “young” people drive Subarus here in MI. I’ve seen an increase in the ownership of people 20-30 and a large increase in the 30+ demographics (in 10 year subgroups up to 60 and the 30-60 year old range as a whole). And this area has historically been die hard anti-import forever. Subaru sales are up and have been for the past 12+ years.
Why are we unlikely to ever see the production version of the Levorg STI Sport offered for sale in the UK?
I dunno but sadly they pulled the WRX early here and the Levorg sold poorly I think, so :(
I’m lucky to say that my grandfather had one for a bit though, decent car with some curious design decisions :)
Kinda want it
I know it’s still a prototype, but there is a hood scoop. On an N/A-powered Subaru. Must be overheating or what? Jokes aside, I think a properly turbocharged 2.0-litre Levorg STI could easily compete with cars like Audi S4 or similar in terms of performance. Subaru only needs to wake up just like Toyota did with their GR line. Hands up who remembers the BE Legacy GT-B E-tune II Touring Wagon!
Awesome! But damn… that looks like a Toyota avensis with some trd bits on it 😬
Will it come to europe?