10 Most Featured Gaming Cars - Subaru WRX STI Is Among The Top Models

The next-generation Subaru WRX STI is discontinued, but a previous-generation sports car is still one of the top ten gaming cars. The latest research from Confused.com car insurance (Q2 2022) analyzed The Internet Game Cars Database to reveal gaming’s most popular cars. The first-generation Subaru Impreza is the seventh most-featured model with gamers.

The ten most popular cars from video games

The Nissan Skyline is the most popular car in video games, appearing 1,271 times in total. The Chevrolet Corvette is number two (1,270), followed by the Ford Mustang (1,263), Chevrolet Camaro (1,058), Mitsubishi Lancer EVO (974), Subaru Impreza WRX STI (952), Mazda RX-8 (752), Honda Civic (697), Volkswagen Golf (637), and Toyota Supra (592).

The report says the Skyline appears almost three times more than the second-most popular Nissan model: the GT-R (462 appearances). First produced in 1957, the Nissan Skyline remains popular six decades later and is a regular in franchises like Gran Turismo. The Skyline can also be driven in industry cornerstones like Mario Kart and Grand Theft Auto V.

The Chevrolet Corvette is the second most popular, with 1,270 appearances, just one less than the Nissan Skyline (1,271). This classic car is popular among the Forza and Gran Turismo franchises, which features 20 percent more than the Chevrolet Camaro in fourth (1,058). Despite being almost 70 years old, the 1953 Corvette appears in 21st-century titles like Forza Horizon 2 due to an immediately recognizable design.

The iconic Ford Mustang features 1,263 times, placing third overall. Represented in fan favorites like Rocket League and Need for Speed, it’s more popular than the Ford GT (394 appearances) and the Model A (196). At $21,164, the Mustang costs the same as the Subaru Impreza WRX STI but has almost a third (32 percent) more appearances.

The 2004 Subaru WRX STI

The 2002 Impreza WRX was a resounding hit with performance enthusiasts, and Subaru then launched the WRX STI the following year. The first WRX STI arrived in the U.S. in 2003 at the NAIAS in Detroit. It followed on the heels of the Subaru WRX that launched in 2002. Subaru successfully launched the first WRX STI in 1998, launching in Japan, Australia, and the U.K. But Subaru didn’t know how the performance car would be received in the U.S. market.

The STI for 2004 received some significant updates for its U.S. debut in Detroit in 2003. Subaru wanted to trump Mitsubishi’s performance model, the 271 horsepower Lancer EVO, and needed to come out with something extraordinary.

The all-new 2004 STI came with a new powerplant for this car. It was an all-new 2.5-liter turbo engine that developed 300 horsepower. Immediately after it came out, it was one of the fastest cars available.

It looked much like the WRC Rally championship car that won the previous year. The all-new 2004 WRX STI was a super fast car and came with Brembo brakes from the factory, BBS gold forged aluminum 18-inch performance wheels, a large wing on the deck lid, and a hood scoop to feed the turbo intercooler. The new 2.5-liter Boxer engine powered the new STI to 0-60 in 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph.

The 2004 model looked very similar to the rally car, and fans here in the U.S. were already familiar with it because of the motorsport. So when the 2004 WRX STI launched here in the U.S., it was an instant success. Today, the STI is still a car gaming enthusiast can’t wait to drive.

You Might Also Like: If You Own A 2004-2007 Subaru WRX STI Hold On To It And Don’t Sell

Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Photo credit: main image Alasdair - Journalistic.org