The good news for Subiephiles is a very limited edition of 125 WRX STI Special Edition models will be available in Aspen White paint with spec C JDM wheels next spring before the Special Edition becomes another STI trim level. The bad news is the car won’t be getting an upgrade from the 305 hp and 290 lb-ft of torque that a regular STI produces. Instead, the Special Edition gets a variety of suspension stiffening components to improve handling.
Upgraded components are borrowed from the Japanese spec C model and include: a 1-mm thicker rear stabilizer bar, 16-percent stiffer front springs, 29-percent stiffer rear springs, and stiffer rear subframe bushings. The other changes to the Special Edition include halogen headlights instead of the typical HIDs, a single-disc CD player with four speakers instead of a six-disc/10-speaker system, manual air conditioning, and body color side mirrors.
After the first 125 cars roll off the assembly line covered in Aspen White paint, any of the usual STI paint colors will be available on Special Edition cars. Pricing for the 2010 Subaru WRX STI Special Edition will be announced next week at the 2009 Los Angeles auto show. Be sure to check back with Automobile Magazine online for all the latest news and photos from the show.