By Derryn Wong

AUTHORISED SUBARU DEALER MotorImage has announced sales of its newest Subaru Impreza WRX variant, known as the ‘STI A-Line’.

Aimed at customers who want to access the performance of Subaru’s quickest and arguably most famous performance car, the Impreza WRX STI, without having to shift stick.

It replaces the regular six-speed manual transmission with a five-speed automatic unit that comes with a manual override option.

The 2.5-litre turbocharged boxer engine makes the same peak power, 300bhp, but torque has been revised from 407Nm down to 350Nm.

Consequently, 0-100km/h time increases from 5.2 seconds to 6.1 seconds. Top speed remains an electronically-limited 180km/h.

Subaru’s all-wheel drive system is obviously preserved, but the new car gets a ‘VTD AWD’ or variable torque distribution all-wheel drive, instead of the regular STI’s driver-controllable centre differential equipped one. It also loses the Brembo brake units for unbranded items.

The A-Line version gains a powered driver’s seat and an exclusive pearl white colour option and retails for $118,500 with COE.