If you've ever had trouble trying to find a car that's just as good at clipping apexes at your local circuit as it is at taking the dog to the vet, then look no further: Subaru's Legacy STI S402 could be just the thing you need.
After a lengthy teaser campaign, Subaru have finally released specs and pictures of the S402, which comes in either sedan or wagon flavour. This ain't no badged-up trim package either: the differences between the S402 and the regular Legacy are rather substantial, with significant changes being made to the engine, suspension, braking and styling - all of which are intended to increase the car's sporting prowess.
Let's start with the engine. It's Subaru's ubiquitous EJ25 2.5-litre flat-four, which in S402 trim belts out a respectable 210kW and 392Nm with some help from a low-restriction exhaust, twin-scroll turbocharger and AVCS variable valve timing. It's not enough to worry your average WRX STI, but it's still a very handy increase over the 190kW offered by the standard Legacy.
The suspension and chassis are perhaps the most comprehensively modified parts of the S402. Bilstein dampers and springs stiffen up the ride and provide a drop in height, while most suspension links now use pillow balls (rose-joints) instead of the standard squishy rubber bushes. Front and rear suspension tower bars are standard on the S402 and do much to eliminate chassis flex over bumps and during hard cornering. Monstrous 6-piston Brembo calipers grip the front rotors, while two-piston Brembos work the rear. The rotors themselves are of a two-piece floating design, which promotes even pad wear and consistent force during "spirited" driving and tyres are sticky Bridgestone Potenza RE050As in 235/40R18. STI have also chosen to fit a 13:1 steering rack to drop the amount of turns from lock-to-lock, a clear sign of the S402's sporting pretensions.
The exterior of the car hasn't escaped STI's touch either. The front guards have been widened by 20mm each side, while an STI aero kit helps differentiate the S402 from the cooking model Legacy. Those that plan on eventually tracking their S402 would be pleased to note that a dry carbon front splitter is also part of the package, and according to STI does much to improve stability and high-speed cornering. Forged 18-inch BBS rims look great while also reducing unsprung weight. Dry weight is 1490kg for the sedan, and 1520kg for the wagon.
Now for the catch. Like most of these hi-po special editions, the Legacy STI S402 is for the JDM-only. Not only that, but there'll only be a limited run of - you guessed it - 402 cars. Prices start at JPY 5,355,000 for the sedan, and the only gearbox available is a 6-speed, which suits us just fine. The S402 goes on sale on June 27.
Subaru's dedicated S402 site is here, however those with an irrational fear of Kanji should look away - it's entirely in Japanese. However, If you just want to look at some pretty pictures we've got you covered: Check out our new-fangled gallery below.
[Source: Subaru Technica International] [Images courtesy of Subaru] zum Original
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