Underneath the chassis is a set of very choice Ohlins DFV adjustable coilovers with Eibach springs, a suspension setup that will run you an arm, a leg, a black-and-tan mini-dachshund, and the last will of your grandmother, if applicable. It's an expensive setup that can only be coupled by equally expensive and equally dope wheels in the form of 19x9.5 Prodrive GC-014i wheels with Bridgestone Potenza RE050 tires. If anything, this STI is ready to sling you from the driveway of your house to the front door of a Mitsuwa supermarket in the most fashionable way. Inside the car is no different than the rest. L'aunsport customized the interior with Kevlar yellow Recaro seats, custom 33pi replica steering wheel, al'Mat flooring, and a WRC custom replica shift knob. They spared no expense in making sure the exterior and interior looked and felt like a WRC whip. Of course, the only notable difference would be the engine. But at least the stock motor of the Impreza WRX STI is nothing to scoff at. It's sure as hell faster than Project Car's CRX or your uncle's lollipop-powered Saab.
All-in-all, I liken the look of the WRX STI to a bowl of Natto, a traditional Japanese food made with fermented soybeans. At first, you'll spit it out like a professional porn star, and after more tastings and peer pressure, you'll grow to like it, look for it in every Japanese menu you come across, and swallow it whole like, well, a professional porn star. The new STI is exactly like that, and the peer pressure comes in the form of these crazy Japanese tuners like L'aunsport, who continually strive to create the ultimate WRC-inspired Imprezas, in spite of the fact that Subaru withdrew from WRC. They keep hope alive and most importantly keep me in check the next time I decide a car is just too ugly for my taste.
Fast Facts
2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI (GRB-A)
Owner: L'Aunsport
Hometown: Noda, Chiba City, Japan
Daily Grind: Rally Custom
Under The Hood: P555 WRC GRB single exhaust; STI header
Drivetrain: STI transmission, clutch, LSD
The Power: 413hp @6000rpm
Stiff Stuff: Ohlins DFV complete kit adjustable coilovers with Eibach springs
Rollers: 19x9.5 Prodrive GC-014i wheels with Bridgestone Potenza RE050 265/30-19
Outside: L'aunsport WRC Custom 2008 show model, front bumper carbon-fiber clip, side skirt, rear bumper carbon-fiber diffuser, carbon-fiber rear hatch wing with stop lump, carbon-fiber door mirror cover, carbon-fiber hood, carbon-fiber I/C hood, lightweight hood damper (carbon red), '08 aero scoop, '08 GPS and camera case kit, spring antenna (AM/FM), silver carbon sticker, racing dummy hook (red), six stars pink emblem
Inside: WRC custom café Kevlar yellow Recaro bucket seat, custom 33pi replica steering wheel, Prodrive Rapfix boss, paddle shift (dummy), al'Mat, non-clutch coupler, WRC custom replica shiftknob
Props: Domo arigato, Mr. Roel Roboto for being such a pimpo
WWW: launsport.com, wordsling.com
By Henry Dekuyper
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