Youngtimer Thing: Subaru Impreza, Colin McRae’s bomb

Subaru Impreza has achieved 30 victories in the World Rally Championship.

In the 1990s, it was not overpriced at the time.

The original model is now hard to find.

A classic line, a minimalist interior, an air intake on the hood … But in fact it is a real sports car, serious, without fuss, which became the queen of meetings in the 1990s: Subaru Impreza GT Turbo. But why do we like that example so much? Quite simply, because it is a special homologation, three times rally champion between 1995 and 1997, no less than 30 victories in the world championship, a real winning machine.

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Named “Sportswoman of the Year”

Being a true auto icon in the world of rallying, the Subaru brand was little known on the old continent. It was in 1991 that the manufacturer hired Scottish racing driver Colin McRae as an official driver. The first Impreza, with a length of 4.35 meters, was in the pipeline in 1992, but it was only launched in France at the Paris Motor Show in October 1994. It became the Grail at Subaru in the 1990s.

In 1995, Subaru Impreza won the title of “sports car of the year” by Échappement magazine, very important for all car drivers. And at that time, the car was not too expensive: about 150,000 francs (36,349.50 euros today), the price of the Megane Coupé, which however had 60 horsepower less. In fact, all lovers are completely gathered in this car. His popularity on the slopes shook an entire generation, and even allowed him to be the title of many video games of the time. In short, an unexpected story that can surprise more than one person when you don’t know the animal.

And his current rating?

And it must be said that it has an absolutely magical formula with its four-wheel drive and its turbocharged flat-four cylinders. It develops 217 horsepower, and thanks to its drive wheels, turns are passed without incident … A real machine built for rallying. Its spoiler, its air intake, its rims … Everything is a little in “you have seen it”, but Subaru above all improves all these characteristics to make the car more efficient in the demonstration, to be sure that it is made to win the race .

Today, original Subaru Impreza models are becoming increasingly difficult to find, if not rare. And for good reason. Once a car is bought, lovers rush to prepare it by modifying certain components (wheels, exhaust, adding temperature and pressure control devices, etc.). Their price is now estimated between 15,000 and 23,000 euros, depending on their style and condition. Finally a very cheap price for a three-time rally champion car.

Carsis every Sunday at 10:05 am on TF1.