Subaru Showcases the Ultimate Snow-Ready Performance Car at 2009 SEMA Show
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Just in Time for the Holidays, a 400-Horse (-powered) Sleigh
CHERRY HILL, N.J., Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The Subaru WRX STI, when equipped
with proper tires, is capable of impressive all-weather performance. But when
even snow tires are not enough, Subaru offers a solution - a 400-hp WRX STI
equipped with a snow tracks system, as showcased at the 2009 Specialty
Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) Show at the Las Vegas Convention
Center, Nov. 3-6.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091102/PH03936 )
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080325/SUBARULOGO )
Starting with a rally-prepared 2009 WRX STI, Subaru Rally Team USA's technical
partner, Vermont SportsCar, built the one-off 400-hp TRAX STI envisioned by,
and built for, DC Shoes co-founder and SRT USA driver Ken Block. The WRX STI
TRAX is ready for the half-pipe, with a Yakima FatCat 4 Snowboard Rack up top,
a Yakima Landing Pad rack base and DC Shoes XFB-C Snowboards. Naturally, there
is a custom matching sleigh to go with it.
With the exception of the Mattracks rubber track system, the car is
rally-prepared and similar in specification Block's #43 SRT USA competition
STI. Starting with a stock 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI, Vermont SportsCar
stripped the car's interior bare, lightened the shell and then fully
seam-welded it for added strength, also installing a multipoint roll cage
manufactured from T45 steel. Major differences from the stock STI include the
addition of lightweight carbon/Kevlar RECARO SPA ProRacer competition seats
with the Head and Neck Restraint System (HANS), carbon fiber door panels and
an onboard fire suppression system.
Under the hood, the ultimate Subaru snow machine sports a 2.5-liter,
4-cylinder, turbocharged and intercooled STI engine tuned with a MOTEC M800
ECU. The engine, which kicks out approximately 400 hp and 400 lb.-ft. of
torque, is teamed with a KAPS 5-speed close-ratio dog-engagement gearbox and
the Subaru programmable DCCD (Driver Controlled Center Differential) all-wheel
drive system. Employing custom machined hubs, the drivetrain - which has been
dropped three inches - is mated to Mattracks 105M1-A1 rubber track conversion.
The car also features Group N competition rally dampers made by EXE-TC.
And Now for Something Completely Different
The WRX STI TRAX can bring four more friends along for the fun with its
one-of-a-kind custom sleigh. Constructed with hand-laid fiberglass using
sandwich-core construction, the sleigh runs on custom built steel skis with
torsion bar suspension. Yakima FatCat 4 snowboard racks carry Qty 2 DC XFB
Snowboards.
Protected beneath the padded roll bars are four heated and embroidered leather
RECARO Speed seats with Sabelt 4-point harnesses. For music on the slopes, a
marine grade water resistant Alpine digital media receiver is coupled with
marine grade Kicker speakers and a 10-inch subwoofer. The rear of the sleigh
features a large cooler and a grab-bar for towing snowboarders. Cup holders
and LED lighting finish off the interior.
The sleigh also features a carbon fiber dashboard, center tunnel cover and
rear-cooler cover. Tucked into a glovebox within the carbon fiber covered
dashboard are two Viosport POV.1 camera systems. One camera lens is
flush-mounted within the dashboard to film passengers, and the other is
mounted high on the roll bar to record action around the sleigh.
About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries
Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and
distributes Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive vehicles, parts and accessories
through a network of nearly 600 dealers across the United States. Subaru
boasts the most fuel efficient line-up of all-wheel drive products sold in the
market today based on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fuel economy
standards. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero- landfill production
plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. is the only U.S. automobile
production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National
Wildlife Federation. For additional information visit www.subaru.com.
Contact: Dominick Infante
Subaru of America, Inc.
856-488-8615
dinfante@subaru.com
Jessica Tullman
Subaru of America, Inc.
310-352-4400
jtullman@subaru.com
SOURCE Subaru of America, Inc.
Dominick Infante, +1-856-488-8615, dinfante@subaru.com, or Jessica Tullman,
+1-310-352-4400, jtullman@subaru.com, both of Subaru of America, Inc.
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