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What is it?

It’s the Subaru Impreza Litchfield Type-20, a Subaru Impreza STi made to go faster. But with a bit of a difference.

Specialist importer and tuner Litchfield’s Type-20 is based on the Japanese domestic version of the Impreza and it’s meant to compete with the fastest variants of Mitsubishi’s Evo X. It generates 394bhp.

Because the Type-20 is based on the Japanese Impreza rather than the UK one, it has a 2.0-litre engine rather than a 2.5.

Nice review Matt. Its funny you mention the shortcomings of the Uk Sti, in the latest evo Barker compares the uk sti 330 to the old 22b and the 22b walked all over the new car! Something about it lacking precision and feel. I wonder if Litchfeld really have brought precision and feel back to the Impreza- as indeed its been a long time for them. 

Sounds like a comarison is brewing between the Litchfeld and the Gt-R! No ones mentioned this yet, but isn't the Gt-R too big for many b-roads? Might this honed Impreza be better able to stay on a wet narrow road than a bohemoth? Aren't supercars getting to big?

thanks, JL

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 Yes I do. I clicked what do I do now? 

I've gone weak at knees...I really want one. This sounds more like the STi's of old.

Having not really kept up with the whole Impreza story recently, why did they go to the 2.5 engine for the UK market?  Was it emissions related or was there another reason?

TegTypeR:

Having not really kept up with the whole Impreza story recently, why did they go to the 2.5 engine for the UK market?  Was it emissions related or was there another reason?

Yes the reason was due to emissions. The same thing happened with us in Oz, in particular with our market Legacy. As well as the 3.0R we had the GT which when I get my car was the 2.0 litre Turbo. It was then dropped for 9 months while the 2.5 engine was engineered to the car. For ages the GT was outselling the 3.0R but after the new engine came out, the flat six is now the more popular engine.

Don't get me wrong the 2.5 Turbo is a cracking engine (sorry Teg I don't mind forced induction), but is missing some of the character of the old 2.0, in particular with the ease of tuning, and of course, the boxer burble.

And the 2.5 is supposed to be more refined.