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#3524171
http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/28740 ... es_uk.html

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Subaru has imported its last WRX STI to the UK, with no plans to reorder any from Japan. It means that once current stock levels sell out, the performance saloon – until recently called the Impreza – will be absent from British showrooms for the first time since its introduction in the early 1990s.It marks the end of one of the most iconic modern performance cars, and one which has gifted us some spectacular special editions – the 22B, RB5, RB320 and P1 among others – as well as some famous rally victories, cementing British rally heroes Colin McRae and Richard Burns in World Rally Championship history books. ‘We have to react to the market conditions’, a Subaru spokesman told us. With annual sales quoted as around 250, it’s clear the STI’s high CO2 and relatively low levels of luxury no longer make it competitive against increasingly upmarket and more environmentally friendly hot hatchbacks such as the VW Golf R and BMW M135i.
Subaru does say there are stocks that should last until late spring 2013, however, suggesting around 100 WRX STIs remain in Britain. But with the latest standard Impreza not sold in the UK and a performance STI relation not appearing on the horizon, it would seem to be the end of an icon. The firm will instead concentrate on its SUV sales – with the XV, Outback and Forester remaining on sale – while the BRZ rear-drive coupe, which is twinned with the Toyota GT86, currently has a waiting list and Subaru UK is pushing for bigger stock levels in 2013. ‘We’re not forgetting our performance heritage entirely’, our source insisted.



After deciding to stop importing their best selling car the WRX a few years ago then introducing the ill fated hatchback version Subaru have not decided to give up on the UK performance car market entirely! Mind you, to be fair after I driving the last one I was fairly unimpressed. I'm not surprised in the current climate with given the thing costs £500 a year to road tax and does 15mpg that they're finding it tricky finding punters willing to part with £30k+ for a new one.

It's a bit of a shame as the next generation model looked quite promising. Hopefully they'll change their minds by the time that comes out though I worry how long Subaru are going to last in the UK........

Long time ago I had and Ep3 for 220k kilometers in[…]