Japanese cars have drastically evolved over the years. When they were first introduced to the US market, they were small, disposable, underpowered vehicles. They were perfect for people getting hit hard by the Oil Crisis of the 1970s. Over the last thirty years or so, Japanese cars became extremely agile and powerful. Among these all-time great Japanese cars stands the Impreza.

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The Impreza is one of the most popular sports cars to ever come out of Japan. There are several things people forgot about the Subaru Impreza, such as the fact that there are tons of limited editions Imprezas that are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. If there is one thing that is well-known, it is the fact that the Impreza is one of the best Japanese cars to modify.

10 Big Butt

The Impreza is known for being one of the ultimate JDM cars. Though JDM may have a negative connotation, the Impreza is nothing like a Honda Civic. When modified, the Impreza can become a real street racer capable of annihilating the fastest muscle cars.

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This is the sort of modified Subaru Impreza that looks incredible. In fact, it's rare to stumble upon a Subie that looks this mean. This widebody time attack GC8 Impreza is fitted with a modified turbocharged EJ23 that produces 555 hp and 441 lb-ft of torque. That is excellent for a compact sports car.

9 JDM's Finest

The Subaru Impreza comes in a station wagon version, which may be somewhat puzzling to the vast majority of car fans. To hardcore JDM fans, the Impreza station wagon is a great alternative to the more popular sedan version. A nicely modified Impreza wagon can end up looking even better than the sedan.

A nicely modified Subaru Impreza wagon is by definition "dope." When equipped with an aftermarket exhaust, a nice set of rims, and a lowering kit, the car can turn out to be a real head-turner. This particular Subie may have received some work on its Boxer engine, but the back information is sadly unavailable. It sure does look good, though.

8 Time Attack

Japanese cars are often looked upon as rice rockets. To be fair, the vast majority of Japanese car owners have not grown out of the Fast And Furious custom style, which is quite cringy in 2021. It has been 20 years for crying out loud. Get on with the program. Stickers and huge wings are only acceptable on cars that produce over 500 hp.

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Racing is the ultimate purpose of a sports car. This Impreza WRX STi was modified to become the type of car that would beat the clock. Thanks to a myriad of modifications, the engine produces 800 hp to the wheels. This Subie should be dubbed the "Jagermeister," given the fact that is driven by Mark Jager.

7 Everyday Subie

It is not rare to see souped-up Subies roaming the streets. In fact, areas such as the San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles County are prone to have modified Subies left and right. Some people might find it annoying, but gearheads will appreciate some of the work seen on the vast majority of them.

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Widebody kits are known for giving cars the extra aggressiveness they may need. Though Rocket Bunny or Liberty Walk are some of the most popular Japanese companies providing body kits, Battle Aero is not far behind. This STi is the living proof that a tastefully designed body kit can turn an everyday Impreza into a monster.

6 Stealth

The latest Impreza is quite impressive. The non-WRX STi version is disgustingly slow and unattractive, however, the sportier version is a street-legal race car. When heavily modified, these cars can become true supercar slayers. It is well-known that Subaru earned its stripes thanks to its multiple successes in World Rally Championship. This Impreza is something else.

This 1000 hp Subaru WRX STi will simply knock your socks off. Overly powerful Subies are a dime a dozen nowadays. A far cry from the very first modified Impreza WRXs from the early 1990s. Though it is fair to assume this Impreza STi is not street-legal, it is still the sort of cars gearheads would love to take on a closed road.

5 Ford Impreza

The Boxer engine is one incredible powerplant. The one designed by Subaru can be modified to produce over 700 hp, which is quite impressive for a four-cylinder engine. It is another reason why people looking for a sensible sports car tend to settle for the Subaru Impreza.

The Boxer engine is a great engine all around. However, it may not suffice for the craziest gearheads out there. This particular Subie's engine bay was fitted with a 302ci Ford V8. The powerplant's power is transmitted to the wheels thanks to a Ford five-speed manual transmission. This drift Subie is a great race car.

4 Japanese Eye Candy

Most people love the Impreza WRX for its performance, and of course its look. The turbocharged 2.5L EJ25 four-cylinder engine produces enough power to propel this agile ninja down a curvy road. It is often believed that the Impreza WRX "Bugeye" could use a bit more aggressiveness.

This Subie is sick. There is no other way to describe it. The matte red wrap is simply gorgeous. Combined with the CCW wheels and the lettered tires, this lowered Subie is the definition of JDM cool. It is unclear how much the wrap and wheels combination costs, however, the result is mind-blowing.

3 Zoom Zoom

A 2012 Camaro SS is great. A 6.2L V8 cranks out 426 hp. The BMW M3 of the same year produces 414 hp. Impressive. There are many much more powerful cars out there. This range of cars is usually reserved for a very exclusive clientele. Cars with 600 hp and up can be a rich people thing. Look at Ferraris.

The 2012 Subaru Impreza WRX STi is originally equipped with a turbocharged 2.5L four-cylinder engine that cranks out 359 hp at 6,000 rpm and 290 lb-ft of torque at 6,000 rpm as well. This highly modified Subie produces 650 hp. Though the car does not look overly modified, its engine was given the right treatment to easily put a muscle car to shame.

2 Power & Looks

Stanced cars are not the best trend to ever come out of Japan. Some gearheads cannot wrap their mind around the fact that perfectly well-functioning cars are being turned into unpractical vehicles. There are however some stanced cars that look really sick. This Subaru is the prime example.

"Another stanced Subie" some will say. True. It is another stanced Subie, but it looks good. This is the sort of modified Subaru Imprezas gearheads cannot stop staring at. On top of looking exquisite, this Impreza is quite powerful. With a power output of over 500 hp, this Impreza combines both power and looks.

1 White Devil

The Subaru Impreza WRX STi is pretty much a street-legal race car, or at least can be turned into a race car. The car was developed with sporty driving in mind. It was never meant to be driven from Point A to Point B without triggering an adrenaline rush. This particular Subie is out of this world.

This white on white Subie looks like it could complete the Rally of Monte Carlo with ease. Equipped with a plethora of modifications, this Texan STi was sold for $22,500. That is quite cheap for a car of that caliber. The interior, though fitted with a roll cage, looks as if it was coming from a very high-end sports car.

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