Tokyo Show 2009 Highlights: 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STi Carbon

Subaru's rally-bred rocket turned traffic-friendly tourer, the five-speed-automatic STI Carbon, probably will never see U.S. shores, according to Subaru officials at this year's Tokyo Motor Show. Our insiders told us that there is presently no demand for a slushbox STI in America and intimated that an STI sans a clutch pedal could hurt the hot hatch's reputation among loyal enthusiasts. What could make it to a U.S. STI, though, are the Carbon’s ultra-lightweight carbon-fiber roof and posh suede-covered dash.

Though we don’t typically see them in the U.S., Subaru has built a number of variants of its high-performance WRX STI and the company is now slicing the niche even thinner with a lightly-modified variant known as the Carbon.

Based on the WRX STI A-Line variant that debuted earlier this year, the WRX STI Carbon’s only outstanding feature is its carbon-fiber roof, which reduces the car’s overall weight by an unspecified amount and lowers its center of gravity. Other features on the Carbon include the A-Line’s standard five-speed automatic transmission mated to the slightly-detuned 296-hp turbocharged boxer four-cylinder engine, Recaro front bucket seats and a suede-covered dash.

Like the A-Line, the Subaru WRX STI Carbon will likely only be sold in the Japanese domestic market, though it’s possible some of the car’s features could find their way to the U.S. in the future.

Thanks to: Motor Trend