Subaru today announced the release of the 2008 Liberty GT tuned by STI—I thought it best to italicize, lest the name cause confusion—featuring a slather of upgrades from the boffins at Subaru Tecnica International (STI).
First off the upgrade rank is a boost to the power, offering 194kw at 6000rpm and 350Nm of torque at 2800rpm. This marks a sweet increase from 184kw and 339Nm respectively. To capitalise on the power gain, the Liberty GT tuned by STI comes with the requisite STI suspension upgrades.
Lead by a set of Bilstein shock absorbers and unique damping ratios, the STI-tuned GT offers a flatter ride with a dramatically improved stroke and linear control.
Take your x-ray glasses to the rear, and you’ll find a suspension built around partial ball bearing-jointed bushes, which act to suppress suspension friction, achieving high lateral rigidity that can’t help but improve its handling and road-holding ability. Combined with a set of STI springs lowering the car by a further 5mm, this is one well-spec’d Liberty. But oh, that’s not all.
Visually, there’s a uniquely styled front grille, and a couple of tuned by STI badges to let the regular Joes know where you’re coming from. To top off the stylistic points—and add a dollop of performance functionality—there’s a front lip and rear boot spoiler to suppress lift, improve aerodynamics, and increase stability for high speed shenanigans (which, of course, happen only at the track). And at the EPA-interested end, there’s a sports muffler with STI-embossed tips.
Step into the office, and your backside’s greeted by a set of leather and alcantara front seats, emblazoned with a cherry red STI logo. Offering a considered balance of firmness and suppleness, they provide support for the weekend warrior and reduce fatique for anyone driving on Sydney roads. There’s also an eight-way power driver’s seat with memory settings.
Continuing the special sports treatment is the speedometer and door sills, both loaded up with the STI logo (lest you forget).
The Liberty GT tuned by STI is available in both sedan and wagon form, and is armed with either a traditional six-speed manual transmission or a five-speed SPORTSHIFT automatic box. It’s yours in any colour you want, as long as it’s black (or silver, grey, or white).
Only 250 editions will be made.
Recommended retail pricing:
Manual sedan $65,990
SPORTSHIFT automatic sedan $65,990
Manual wagon $67,990
SPORTSHIFT automatic wagon $67,990
Dealer delivery and statutory charges are additional.
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Very nice but where’s the New Subaru “Brumby” Ute?
with equal power and less torque than the mazda3 mps, Idon’t see the justification for paying nearly double the price, even if it’s only 250 units.
But saying that, I must say the liberty is the only car that deserves to stand side-by-side with the lancer for smart, good looks and styling.
yeah where’s the brumby sti!
I like the look of it.
The Mazda3 MPS is a hot hatch, not a family sedan. Its a different market. You could build a PRB Clubman powered by a Haybusa engine for $30K and it’d be faster than the Mazda3, but somehow I don’t think it’ll poach sales.
Not to mention you’re somewhat less likely to torque steer off the road into a ditch in the wet in this car…