2015 Subaru WRX STI revealed

This is the all-new 2015 Subaru WRX STI - a four-wheel drive, four-door-only widebody, with 305 horsepower and 290lb ft, revealed at this year's Detroit motor show.

And whatever your views on its EVO-esque styling, there's no doubt that it looks pretty bloody promising. Chiefly because Subaru's managed the unthinkable - it's stopped making the STI's innards look like a mid-nineties minicab. There are ‘soft-touch' materials for the dashboard, door trim and center console armrest, and a 4.3-inch LCD screen for your music, nav, and vehicle data. Hell, you can even spec a Harmon Kardon stereo.

All of that squidgy niceness sits on a completely new, stiffer chassis and - predictably - symmetrical all-wheel drive running gear. And for the first time, an STI's available with clever torque vectoring technology alongside the usual three-stage drive modes.

Thankfully, the woolly steering common to the old Impreza's been looked at, too. It's been replaced with a quick rack, which is just 2.5 turns lock-to-lock. The engineers have tuned the system for more feel as well. Bravo.

Subaru's also promised that our other major Impreza complaint's been fixed. The old gearbox has been graciously scrapped, and the 2.5-litre engine's now bolted to an all-new reinforced six-speed manual. Buy the launch edition (limited to 1000 units) and the manufacturer will chuck in a short-throw shifter, too.

We have more good news. It's coming to the UK, and it'll start at £28,995. Which is only £2,500 more than a BRZ. With rather a lot more power on tap...