Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Video: 2011 WRX STI sedan runs 'Ring in 7:55, quickest ever for Subaru

Quick: What's the fastest production sedan in the world? Does it wear a Mercedes-Benz, Audi or BMW badge? What about the Porsche Panamera Turbo or the Cadillac CTS-V? There's no doubt that each of these vehicular behemoths is capable of ripping off some fast times on a race track near you, but Subaru is out to prove that its new 2011 WRX STI sedan has the chops to keep pace with the best from the rest of the world.

To prove its point, Subaru recently sent test driver and four-time World Rally Champion Tommi Mäkinen out to the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife course in Germany with a 2011 STI test car. According to reports, the vehicle used in this testing was equipped with a few significant upgrades including a larger turbocharger that normally sees duty in the Japanese R205 model and some lightweight aluminum bits, but one thing is for certain: the 7:55 lap time is a mighty impressive result.

For those keeping track of such things, the previous best lap set by a Subaru WRX STI was in 2004 at 7:59.41 and the new mark set by Subaru – albeit with a prototype, not a production car – is quicker than any of the aforementioned competition. Best of all, there's a video of one entire lap around the 'Ring and you can find the in-car footage

VIDEO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hyAT...layer_embedded

Stills/Gallery:
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-...gring/#3058913

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/09/v...kest-ever-for/

syzygy

Amazing. Great video. WRX Sti is truly the golden fleece of the Subaru line.

JessePS

Holy mother...... wow

LexFather

Is it just me but I am SO OVER "Ring" times...I'm tired of people using it to argue with. I understand why all out sports cars might use it but when EVERY SINGLE CAR is now at the Ring IMO it helps ruin ride and makes no point since the vehicles won't be driven like that anyway.

I mean nice work by Subie, its great and all but Ring times are so 1980s now

UberNoob

+1
this car must be hard and uncomfortable to drive in the city

LiCelsior

iTrader: (32)

i bet that 5th to 2nd down shift was great for the car. also the driver really isnt that great, if they had a pro in there, probably woulda been faster.

gsrthomas

iTrader: (1)

I love the STI's.

I'm actually thinking of purchasing a 2011 Subaru STI hatch in 6 months.

Sold my 2007 IS250 2 years ago and I havent bought a nice replacement vehicle yet.

gengar

Yeah, especially when it's not even anything resembling a stock car.

I'll take all the Nür videos I can get, though.

ST430

C&D did a ride with Tommy in that Subaru...amazing!

http://www.caranddriver.com/features...record-feature

http://carvideos.caranddriver.com/?b...id=90726510001