The Subaru WRX STI is back! This is the limited edition, 300bhp S210 prototype

Good news: the Subaru WRX STI is back! Bad news: Subaru's only building 500 of them! While we miss the days when Subaru launched a limited edition Impreza every two weeks, this is at least a step in the right direction: the very new and very limited ‘S210’ series.

It’s still a prototype for now, but we know it’s based on the Japan-only WRX S4 ‘STI Sport R EX’. The more aggressive frock is inspired directly by Subaru’s current N24 racer, and includes a more serious carbon rear wing, sleeker aero kit and beefier arches. Mandatory installs for any hot Scooby.

Beneath the brawnier face is a retuned version of the turbocharged 2.4-litre boxer-four, treated to new air intakes and pre-turbo ducts to push around 300bhp (plus 277lb ft) to the road via a [shudders] CVT ‘box. And since this is a Subaru, it’ll have no issues maintaining that figure on the worst surfaces known to man. Yes, we’re side-eying you A12.

The S210 also gets reworked suspension with new dampers, coil springs and stabiliser bushes, while Brembo discs and calipers are tasked with stopping the 1.6-tonne yob mobile. And how good do those skeletal frame bucket seats look inside?

It’s launching this spring... and only in Japan, by the looks of things. Oh well.