1998 SUBARU IMPREZA 22B STI SPECIFICATIONS AND DIMENSIONS

A PEEK IN THE PERFORMANCE ATTIC - PART ONE

PERFORMANCE CARS HOUSED IN THE UNOFFICIAL SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. (SOA) “MUSEUM” REFLECT THE COMPANY’S RICH HERITAGE IN MOTORSPORTS.

The limited-production 1998 Subaru Impreza 22B STi commemorated 40 years of Subaru vehicles and celebrated Subaru winning the WRC Manufacturers’ Championships in 1995, 1996, and 1997.

SOA maintains a large storage room that is something like an attic. Important things are put away there until needed. The production, concept, and performance vehicles resting under dustcovers are important for their contributions to Subaru history, so this room feels a lot like a museum.

When their covers are removed, the performance cars cause pulses to quicken and bring back rushes of memory. Numbering among them are Impreza World Rally Championship (WRC) cars from the 1990s, a Bonneville Nationals record-holder, a limited-production Impreza 22B STi Coupe, and the Indy Car World Series Subaru SVX PPG Pace Car.

THE LEGENDARY IMPREZA 22B STI COUPE

To many, the most exciting vehicle in the room is the 1998 Subaru Impreza 22B STi. Except in video games, this two-door homage to Subaru rally success hasn’t been seen by many enthusiasts in the United States. Even so, it has piqued the interest of a generation of gamers by its overwhelming presence in their virtual races. In a country that has little awareness of the WRC, those who have raced within the context of the games are well aware of Subaru, the 22B, and Colin McRae.

As good as the 22B STi is on-screen, however, it’s even more impressive in the real world.

LIMITED PRODUCTION, MAXIMUM DESIRE

Fuji Heavy Industries and Subaru Tecnica International built the 22B in a cooperative effort to commemorate 40 years of manufacturing Subaru vehicles and celebrate the Subaru World Rally Team winning the WRC Manufacturers’ Championships in 1995, 1996, and 1997.

Production of the 22B was limited. Four hundred were built for Japan and 24 more for the United Kingdom and elsewhere around the world. Three more cars – all numbered 000/400 – went to then Subaru World Rally Team driver and 1995 WRC Driver Champion Colin McRae, co-driver Nicky Grist, and Prodrive principal David Richards. (Prodrive manages the Subaru WRC effort.) Most reports claim that unlucky car number 13/400 was not built, but others say that it’s the one in the SOA attic.

The 22B sold out immediately – in anywhere between 30 minutes to 48 hours of its release, depending on the report.

ROAD VERSION OF A WRC RALLY CAR

Based on the domestic Japanese 1998 Impreza WRX STi Type R version 4 Coupe, the 22B featured a hand-built wide body. Its standard wheel arches were cut out and replaced by housings that added 80 mm (3.15 in) to WRX body width. Other external features included a blue pearlescent paint replicating that of the World Rally car, functional hood scoop, water injectors to cool the intercooler, and a tall, adjustable wing on the trunk lid.

The engine was a bored-out version (2.2 liter) of the standard 2.0-liter WRX horizontally opposed four-cylinder with an intercooled turbocharger. The added displacement contributed significantly to mid-range torque, making the torque curve almost flat from approximately 3,200 rpm up to 6,000 rpm. In published driving impressions, journalists puzzled over the car’s actual power output. Some claimed that it had up to 350 and even 380 horsepower, where Subaru published horsepower at 276. This was the contemporary cut-off for horsepower by “gentlemen’s agreement” among the Japanese manufacturers.

All-wheel drive with a Driver Controlled Center Differential (DCCD) was the foundation for the drivetrain. The performance-oriented drivetrain and chassis components included inverted Bilstein struts, Enkei springs, BBS wheels, ventilated brakes (16" front and 15" rear), and viscous limited-slip rear differential. The close-ratio five-speed manual transmission was operated by a twin-plate, ceramic-and-metal competition clutch. All 22B models were right-hand drive.

NOT FOR THE TIMID

The 22B was configured for serious driving. Journalists wrote of it being brutally fast, and its firm suspension along with AWD grip enabled lateral acceleration measured at 0.96 g by a Car and Driver test. Even now, few performance cars are capable of that type of cornering.

Smooth shifting via the competition clutch demanded full concentration. This was not the kind of car for commuting in heavy traffic. Most writers indicated the driving experience was intense.

The WRX 22B STi drove and rode like a Subaru rally car, as it was intended to do. Each one of the limited-edition cars was a little different, and they remain extremely desirable today.

THE 22B IN THE ATTIC

The 22B in SOA’s attic was one of three WRX vehicles brought to the United States to help prepare for the launch of the 2002 WRX. The three were circulated among key members of the automotive press to generate interest in the WRX, which was not available at that time in the North American market. Positive responses from enthusiasts prompted SOA to proceed with safety and emissions certification.

The next issue of Drive Performance will feature another performance vehicle stored in the attic. See the Subaru production vehicles stored in the attic at www.drive.subaru.com.