FYI: Subaru’s Impreza WRX, a car notorious in both British police chases and rally circles, continues its legacy now cruising the streets of Tokyo.
Mention the name "Impreza WRX" to any British police officer of a certain age and you’re likely to conjure up flashbacks of late-night robberies and high-speed chases. Subaru’s rally-bred sedan was the getaway car of choice for a generation of criminals who plagued British police.
The Unstoppable Impreza
Subaru’s Impreza WRX wasn’t just any car; it had durability honed on the grueling special stages of the World Rally Championship (WRC). It survived mayhem that included being rammed into shop windows and remained equally adept at evading capture. This high-performance, turbocharged, all-wheel-drive machine was a marvel of engineering that could zig-zag past the competition—or the law—with ease.
A Case of If You Can’t Beat Them, Join Them
Eventually, British police adopted the adage "If you can’t beat them, join them." From the late 1990s through to the late 2010s, the turbocharged, all-wheel-drive Impreza became a staple in their pursuit and intercept fleet. Ordinary vehicles like the Vauxhall Vectra and Ford Mondeo were no match for the Impreza’s agility and power. Notably, it even outperformed another favoured police vehicle, the Ford Sierra Sapphire Cosworth, from the late ’80s and early ’90s.
Global Appeal
The Impreza wasn’t just a hit in the UK. Australian police began favoring the model for its agility, superior even to the mighty GM Holden Commodore. In Japan, although the WRX was more often used for speeding arrests, it was similarly respected for its performance capabilities.
The Prodrive Advantage
For the West Midlands Police Motor Club, the Impreza signifies more joy than disdain. In the 2018 season, they ran a Prodrive-built 2004 GDB WRX STI in club rallies around the UK, driven by its owner, former police officer Paul Crackett. The transformation from a scourge of the British streets to a rally enthusiast’s pride highlights the dual-purpose versatility of the Impreza.
A Global Ownership Story
The Impreza’s prowess drew enthusiasts from all around the globe. Notably, a car originally built for Group N duties and later upgraded to a full WRC widebody and wing found its way to Japan. Its current owner, Tatsumi-san, who has a remarkable resemblance to a detective from Tokyo Detective dramas, managed to finally bring the car up to Japanese road safety and emission standards after four years of refinements, earning its Japanese number plate.
Conclusion
Seeing a factory-built rally car on the streets offers a unique glimpse into automotive culture, particularly one that maintains much of its original Prodrive configuration. Hats off to Tatsumi-san for taking this Subaru off the rally stages and onto the streets of Tokyo, allowing a piece of rally history to continue its journey. The Impreza WRX, with its storied past and global admiration, continues to captivate automotive enthusiasts wherever it goes.
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Donald Smith, Editor of Automotive.fyi
