Litchfield Imports has revealed its new Type 20 Impreza, its quickest model yet.
The company has already built a strong reputation with previous generations of tuned Subarus, and the new Type 20 uses the smaller 2.0-litre petrol engine fitted to Japanese-market Imprezas. It’s fitted with a twin-scroll turbocharger, Milltek exhaust and custom induction kit.
Litchfield has also tweaked the ECU to improve economy and claims to have sharpened the Impreza’s handling with a different power steering system and revised chassis set-up.
The result is an Impreza packing 395bhp - an increase of 70bhp over the fastest official Impreza, the 2.5 WRX STI 330S. Peak torque has also been increased; the Type 20 offers 375 lb ft at 3,500 rpm.
“You can never have too much power,” company boss Ian Litchfield told Autocar. “The 2.0-litre Japanese engine lends itself very well to improvements.”
The Type-20 will be marked out with a larger front grille, STI lip spoiler and quad exhausts. It also gets lighter 18-inch alloys which save 1.5kg per wheel.
Litchfield claims a 0-60mph time of 3.9 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 165mph.
The Type-20 will cost £36,995, but a range of upgrades to enable owners to bring existing Imprezas up to similar levels of performance will also be made available.
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Re: Litchfield reveals hottest Impreza
I'd be interested to see how it compares to Autocar's new long term Evo. Hatch doesn't seem to have yielded much WRC or sales success (in the UK, at least). It would be nice to be able to choose between the body styles, fuel types and transmissions across the Subaru range.
That said, on the basis of the Type 20's performance figures and improved looks, I want one.
Re: Litchfield reveals hottest Impreza
I'm still not 100% sure on the hatch body, but it is starting to sound like the Impreza's of old! Mr Litchfield you have my full respect, and if I were living in the UK, would be signing for one tomorrow!