How this rare Subaru Impreza WRX STI Spec C shows up in unlikely place

C stands for competition and that’s what this 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Spec C does best, compete. Why does it end up in Russia?

What better way to open up a new Subaru dealership in Russia than to display a 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Spec C out front for fans to see. That’s what Subaru Motor did in Moscow this week to open a new building for Subaru. Subaru sells the new 2016 WRX and WRX STI performance cars in Russia and the performance cars are popular there.

They brought a rare 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Spec C to the grand opening along with a couple other older generation Impreza WRX STIs for performance enthusiasts to see. The Spec C was the best-handling Impreza STI the company ever made up to that point. The Spec C looks almost identical to the stock STI, but this variant was upgraded with gold-colored four-piston Brembo calipers and Potenza RE-070 tires.

Only two colors were available

Subaru built the limited-edition (900 examples) Spec C, which stands for Competition, and took the stock Impreza STI and tweaked the hot hatch to create a car that was race-ready for Group N rallying in Europe. You could only get the Spec C in Sunrise Yellow and Pure White.

The Spec C might had the STI's 2.0 liter EJ20 turbocharged boxer engine produced 304 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. The Spec C came with an aluminum hood, smaller battery, lighter windows and some new 18 inch alloy wheels.

The car’s handling was improved over the stock STI by a reinforced front end, stiffer springs and shock absorbers, larger anti-roll bars and upgraded sub frame bushings. Subaru Technica International also decided that the Spec C would benefit from a mechanical Limited Slip Differential as opposed to the standard models gear type LSD.

Performance fans in Moscow were treated with a rare Japan-only limited edition 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Spec C when the doors opened at the new Subaru building. Too bad they weren’t able to drive it.