Heritage · Special editions
Subaru Impreza special editions
Subaru, Subaru Tecnica International (STI) and Prodrive built dozens of limited Imprezas. These are the ones you are most likely to see, or be offered, in Ireland. Build numbers are the manufacturer’s announced limits; always check a car’s paperwork, plate and numbered badge before paying a premium.
At a glance
22B STI
400 built for Japan in 1998, plus 24 for export. Only 16 came to the UK officially.
Prodrive P1
1,000 built for the UK in 2000, from the Japanese STI Type R two-door.
Check the plaque
Numbered badges, paperwork and the model plate should all match.
Classic (GC8) era
| Edition | Year | Built | What makes it special |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series McRae (UK) | 1995 | 200 | Mica Blue, gold 16″ Speedline wheels, Recaro seats, uprated suspension |
| Catalunya (UK) | 1997 | 200 | Black Mica, gold 15″ wheels, Recaro seats, quickshift |
| Terzo (UK) | 1998 | 333 | Terzo Mica Blue, gold 16″ wheels, air conditioning |
| 22B STI | 1998 | 400 for Japan, plus 24 export (16 UK “Type UK”) | 2.2-litre EJ22 engine, wide bodywork, 2-door, Bilstein suspension, 17×8.5 BBS wheels |
| RB5 (UK) | 1999 | 444 | Named after Richard Burns; Blue Steel paint, 17″ Speedlines, optional Prodrive performance pack |
| S201 STI | 2000 | 300 | The only body-kitted S-series: big wing and splitter |
| Prodrive P1 (UK) | 2000 | 1,000 | Built from the Japanese STI Type R 2-door; Sonic Blue, OZ wheels, Peter Stevens styling |
New Age (GD) era
| Edition | Year | Built | What makes it special |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spec C | 2001 onward | Regular model | Lighter, more focused JDM STI. Many have been imported |
| S202 STI | 2002 | 400 | Based on the lightweight Spec C |
| WR1 (UK) | 2004 | 500 | Prodrive-modified STI, Ice Blue, 320 PS; the first UK car with DCCD |
| S203 STI | 2004–05 | 555 | STI-tuned, adjustable dampers, Recaro carbon seats |
| S204 STI | 2006 | 600 | Successor to the S203, with more torque |
| Spec C Type RA-R | 2006 | 300 | Lightweight, blueprinted engine, 320 PS |
| RB320 (UK) | 2007 | 320 | Richard Burns tribute, Obsidian Black, 320 PS |
Third generation and VA era
| Edition | Year | Built | What makes it special |
|---|---|---|---|
| 330S (UK) | 2009 | – | Prodrive-tuned UK STI with 330 PS |
| CS400 (UK) | 2010 | 75 | Cosworth-developed 400 PS STI, AP Racing brakes |
| R205 | 2010 | 400 | 320 PS hatch-based STI special |
| S206 | 2011 | 300 (plus 100 NBR Challenge) | 320 PS, ball-bearing turbo, 19″ BBS wheels |
| S207 | 2015 | 400 | 328 PS, adjustable DampMatic front dampers |
| S208 | 2017 | 450 | 329 PS, carbon roof, 19″ BBS wheels |
Buying a special edition
- Check the numbered plaque or badge matches the paperwork. Fakes and “tribute” cars exist.
- For Japanese S-series cars, ask for the export certificate and confirm the full model code on the plate.
- Original parts (wheels, seats, badges) add a lot of value: ask what has been changed.
- Talk to the club before paying a big premium. Someone has usually seen the car before.
More guides
Impreza chassis and model codes explained
Buying a used WRX or STI
Importing a Subaru to Ireland
Got a question? Ask the club
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