2007 Tokyo Auto Show: 2008 Subaru WRX STI

We didn't learn many new facts about the 2008 Subaru WRX STI today in Tokyo, but somehow, and maybe it's jet lag talking, the car was less unattractive than expected.

Then again, with one unveiled STI at the edge of the display, a veiled STI on the stage and the WRC car presiding over the whole stand, it was hard not to be just a little excited about what this car might be like to drive.

Much has been written of Subaru's efforts to smooth away the rawness of the previous STI and that came out during Project General Manager Hiroshi Mori's brief speech. "The WRX STI was tested and refined on the Nurburgring," he noted -- indeed the 'Ring has become a mandatory step in the development of any pedigreed performance car.

"The most significant feature of the new model, " he continued, "is its five-door packaging." (Not what we'd expected him to say.)

"Social acceptance is another important consideration for today's high-performance cars," Mr. Mori offered, and we waited to hear him answer the aesthetic critics of the WRX. Instead, he was referring to emissions, fuel economy and safety -- all improved on the '08 STI.

For those interested, the Japanese-spec STIs on stage wore 245/40R18 Bridgestone Potenza RE050As.