30 years in the making and Subaru’s STI brand is still on steroids, with a huge enthusiast following that dates back to 1988 where it all began. In celebration of such a milestone, Subaru Mzansi’s technical team have come up with a unique STI halo model dubbed the Diamond Edition30 with just a few numbers to go on sale!
The Diamond Edition30 performance sedan development project was a project that followed along the footwells of a similar project that Subaru had embarked on 14 years ago when the stimulating Edition STi was launched in South Africa only, with only 15 special edition versions of the 195kW/343Nm WRX STi models solely developed for a celebration of 15-years of STi.
30 years down the line and the birth of yet another iconic model aimed at becoming a ‘talking point of STi fans’ has come to life. The outcome…? A more aggressively performing machine with a unique styling edge.
Let’s start with the styling. Stand out elements of the exterior design includes a 20mm wider stance over the standard model, an all-round body kit finished in the same High Viz yellow hue that adorns the Brembo brake calipers. The kit lowers the car by 10mm at the front adding to the sportier stance and gives the Diamond Edition30 a unique, stand-out presence. Upon each vane of the spoiler kit, sits a small yet distinct stainless steel STi badge, high gloss black 30 Diamond Edition badges on the sides of the rear wing, hawk-eye LED Daytime Running Lights; the large bonnet intercooler scoop at the front and rear-spoiler, 19inch 245/35 R19 rubber on darkened, lightweight, aluminium Y-design alloys. Also new on the MY2019 WRX STi are rear fog lamps for added visibility in poor conditions.
Diamond Edition30 interior detailing include new Facet-Designs on the driver and passenger dashboard inlay with an exclusive numbered panel on the driver’s side. Infotainment features include a an optional 7-speaker, 440W Harmon Kardon power speaker system, with the 7.0-inch Touch Screen Infotainment System with 6-speaker CD and Bluetooth hands-free functionality with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto applications offered as standard.
At the core of the Diamond Edition30 is its increased power and performance credentials. Both these traits have been achieved through the revision of a number of mechanical and technical updates that the limited edition model has benefited from.
What has been done? Well for starters, the Diamond Edition30 gains an increase in power through a remapping of the car’s Electronic Control Unit and the fitment of a performance exhaust system, fitment of a new STi engine brace for increased stabilization and balance, upgraded Brembo braking system that features 6-pot calipers at the front + 2-pot calipers at the rear. All these traits allowsed for a power increase of up to 260kW and 464Nm from the same 2.5litre,high-boost turbocharged Boxer® engine powering the standard model. The 0-100km/h sprint is now capped at 5.03sec (0.7sec quicker) with a top speed of 255km/h. all enthusiasm is channelled through the maker’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system coupled with an electronic multi-mode Driver Controlled Centre Differential (DCCD) via a 6-speed manual transmission.
Only 30 units of the Subaru Diamond Edition30 Sedan model will be made available in Mzansi with the possibility of all units being already sold.