2000 Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS Sedan - Rally Car for the Street
What is it about this car that stands the hairs on the back of the neck on end? Is it the daunting hood scoop or the functional air vents that flank it? Is it the aggressive front spoiler with the largest multi-reflector fog lamps in the industry? Or is it the way the little sport sedan performs?
The Impreza 2.5 RS takes only a moment to launch from a standstill to the other side of a busy thoroughfare. Cars coming from the left, more coming from the right and the all-wheel drive bites down hard, rain or shine, vaulting the little sedan across the road within milliseconds. Mere mortal two-wheel drive vehicles would be left behind, still spinning their wheels.
The full-time AWD system in the RS automatically distributes power between its front and rear wheels when traction is needed. Manual transmission models have a viscous-coupling locking center differential while automatic transmission models have an electronically managed continuously variable transfer clutch. The 2.5 RS has a viscous limited-slip rear differential as well.
The lusty sound of the 165 horsepower, 2.5-liter, 16-valve, SOHC boxer engine with die cast aluminum-alloy block and aluminum-alloy cylinder heads, hints at what's in store. There's no need to rev this little mill up to its limit, as short shifting makes use of the 166 lb ft of torque, willing and waiting from 4000 rpm. Power comes on immediately, due in part to sequential multiport fuel injection with dual spray injectors.