Japanese Legend: Legacy STI S402

Hot wagons have always been cool, and Subaru proves that it hasn’t lost its cool with the Legacy STI S402. Yes, you’re reading that right, a Legacy STI. Over in Japan, Subaru Technica International doesn’t just provide go-faster bits for the Impreza WRX, it does the same for the Forester and even the Legacy. And that’s where this limited edition model comes along.

Now that the Legacy and the Impreza both share the same platform, STI’s wizards made sense of the whole operation and dropped in the STI’s turbocharged and intercooled 2.5-liter horizontally-opposed four, giving the Legacy STI real fire in its belly.

Letting the world know that you’ve got some extreme firepower under the hood is a series of tasteful modifications to the Legacy’s exterior. They include a new lower valance with a splitter, and fenders that are some 0.8 inches wider than before, designed to fit new larger wheels. Those fenders also happen to include extractor vents.

Mechanically, the modifications continue, including a shortened steering rack for more direct feel through the leather-bound Momo steering wheel, and new Bilstein shock absorbers.

And, if you aren’t too keen on the whole wagon thing, there’s also a sedan version available… available, that is, if you live in Japan. And, to answer any questions that might have to do with its S402 name, it’s the total production volume of vehicles built. That means only 402 lucky customers will be able to get their hands on what is very well the ultimate Legacy.