The Subaru Impreza 22B is a two-door sedan with a potent 2.2 turbocharged engine. It was a widebody version of the STi and featured flared fenders taken from the rally car, extra vents on the engine hood, and a unique front bumper.
To celebrate its third consecutive title in the FIA World Rally Championship, Subaru produced the Impreza 22B. The vehicle debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1997, badged as the WRCar-STi. It was a response from the company after the FIA thought rally cars started to resemble Le Mans-style racers rather than showroom-based vehicles that the public could use.
Even though it resembled a road-going WRC vehicle, it wasn't a replica. Differences included smaller bonnet vents, a larger rear wing, and reshaped wheel arches matched to the 17-inch BBS alloys.
Subaru replaced the carbon fiber found in the WRC vehicles with conventional steel. Additionally, the vehicle was 80 mm wider than a typical coupe, thanks to the flared arches, and the movable rear wing was large, even by STi standards.
Subaru produced the 22B in a limited number, with 400 units sold in Japan, 16 going to the UK, and five to Australia. Sadly, the company didn't offer the vehicle in the United States. The marque painted all 22Bs in a unique metallic blue color paired with golden wheels.
Let's find out more about the Subaru Impreza 22B.
The 22B Has A Powerful Engine And Delivers Great Handling
Under the hood, a 2.2 turbocharged engine produces 300 hp at 6300 rpm and 267 lb-ft at 3200 rpm. However, some owners claim that the engine can produce up to 380 HP. According to Subaru, the 22B can accelerate from 0 to 100 mph in 13.1 seconds and finish a quarter-mile in 13.5 seconds at 101 mph.
Its four-wheel-drive configuration plays a large part in producing those amazing performance numbers. At the time, not many cars could rival the 22B, and only its Japanese counterparts, like the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and the Nissan GT-R, were able to be on par with the vehicle.
There are also performance upgrades that are particular to this model. An iconic European and Asian hood scoop fed air to an intercooler, cooling the vehicle during high-temperature activity. However, its American counterpart, the 2.5RS hood scoop, is entirely for show.
According to Subaru, the 22B can make its way around a skid pad with 0.96 g lateral grip, while a 1998 Porsche 911 produces 0.93 g. However, those stats are only meant for the roads; when it comes to off-roading or rougher terrains, the 22B becomes a different beast.
The Impreza 22B Is Rare And Expensive
Subaru produced the 22B in a limited number, making its price shoot up in auction sites. The vehicle's MSRP was $41,600, but now you can find one selling for around $100,000. An auction back in the summer of 2020 on Bring A Trailer attracted a lot of attention after one of the models sold for $312,555.
Another auction happened this year at Silverstone Auctions; the vehicle went for $211,655. This beauty maintained its original features and still sported its plastic rear seat protection. Furthermore, it had its protective paper stickers still on the headlamps.
If you don't want to spend over $500,000 on a Subaru, 22Bs with more mileage now cost roughly $115,000 in Japan. However, the Subaru is unquestionably cooler and may be cheaper than a Nissan GTR.
The 22B Isn't The Only Iconic Subaru Vehicle
Subaru has a history of making incredible vehicles; they have produced cars with excellent off-road handling, good gas mileage, and top-tier modification capabilities. You might think the company has only manufactured iconic sports vehicles, but they've also built great SUVs.
One of their best vehicles is a two-door sports car called the Impreza P1, which stands for Prodrive One. Subaru produced 1000 units and gave these beauties a sizeable bump in power over standard Imprezas. They equipped the car with a turbo four-cylinder that produced over 276 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque.
Subaru based the P1's design on the Impreza WRX STi Type R, and it was unique because it featured AWD. Also, it had a chassis better suited to European roads and wasn't symmetrical. The turbocharged engine allowed the P1 to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 155 mph.
Another iconic vintage is the SVX; it was the first sports car that allowed Subaru to make its name in the sports car segment. The SVX was ahead of its time with a window-in-window feature that many fans criticized, but nowadays, many cars have this feature.
It had a wedge shape design and a 3.3L boxer six that produced 230 horsepower; however, the four-speed automatic transmission that powered the engine limited its potential. The boxer six allowed the vehicle to reach 60 mph in 7.3 seconds with a top speed of 143 mph.