Cosworth Subaru Impreza news - Scooby gets scrappy - 2010

Just when you thought the epic Evo-Impreza War (casualties to date: innumerable) had at least reached the state of cordial negotiations, Subaru has gone and stoked up the flames again by announcing that it will release the 395bhp Cosworth Impreza STI CS400 this June.

Last year, Mitsubishi released the Evo FQ400, a 403bhp turbocharged loon that ruthlessly crushed the fastest Impreza, the relatively sedate 325bhp STI 300.

But the STI CS400 looks set to the fight right back to Mitsubishi. Though Subaru hasn't yet announced exactly what Cosworth has done to extract all that extra power - though a new exhaust, bigger turbo and revised ECU would be a safe bet - we know it'll flatten 62mph in 3.7 seconds, a fraction faster than the FQ400.

Subaru says this will make the CS400 ‘one of the most accelerative all-wheel-drive hatchbacks ever', which we think means, ‘It's going to be reet fast, innit'.

The CS400 will get a new brake package including six-pot callipers and 355mm discs at the front, and features revised suspension too. Just 75 will be built, and though prices are yet to be announced, don't forget that the FQ400 weighs in at a hefty £50,000.

TopGear has already elbowed its way to the front of the long, long queue for a first drive in the CS400. We'll let you know how it compares to the mad Mitsu as soon as we get behind the wheel. Let battle recommence...

Sam Philip