When it comes to imperious monikers, they don't get any more outrageous than those found on the rally-inspired sedans from Mitsubishi and Subaru.

Currently, you can buy a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX MR or the car you see here, the Subaru Impreza WRX 2.5 tuned by STI.

The latter, not to be confused with the WRX STI, is positioned somewhere between either of Subaru's performance-oriented WRX turbocharged, all-wheel drive models.

Starting with the base WRX model, Subaru's engineers have fettled the engine's electronic control unit, lowered the suspension and added a short shift kit to the five-speed manual gearbox.

Externally, the WRX tuned by STI is distinguished by multi-spoke 18-inch wheels and added a deep front lip spoiler.

The add-ons make the car look altogether more purposeful and it seemed to turn heads wherever it was driven.

To make it that bit more desirable, local importer Motor Image has also seen fit to limit this special edition WRX to just 50 units.

It doesn't take long to notice the additional performance that has been tuned into this WRX.
An extra 20Nm of torque brings the tally up to 340Nm that makes its presence felt at 3,200rpm - 400rpm earlier than the standard WRX.

The tsunami-like wave of torque arrives all at once which means that frantic gear changes are necessary if you want to keep the engine on turbo boost but it's also hard to modulate all this power if you don't really want to summon all the 243 horses at once.

If you only wanted to go from 50km/h to 70km/h, a twitch of your right big toe would likely see you reaching 120km/h when the turbocharger spools up.

The gearbox in the WRX tuned by STI has dramatically shorter throws, especially when the lever is slotted into first, third and fifth gears.

The gear lever might have to travel less now, but the shift action doesn't always feel satisfying as a result.

At any rate, the WRX tuned by STI is now more vocal when going about its business thanks to a sports exhaust system that is apparently also lighter than the standard item.
Apart from a lowered and stiffened suspension, the WRX tuned by STI is fitted with beefier front and rear anti-roll bars as well.

Body roll when cornering was never a big problem in any WRX so unsurprisingly, the 'tuned by STI' version turns in, flatter than ever.

The combination of a less forgiving suspension system and wider, low profile tyres might give the WRX tuned by STI more grip, but ride comfort is compromised as a result.

Ladies might want to wear a sports bra when they step into this WRX. Other than the harsh ride quality, there isn't much in the way of trim or interior design that distinguishes the cabin of the WRX tuned by STI apart from standard model.

With a considerable spread between the $78,500 base WRX and the range-topping $103,500 STI model, the tuned by STI version comfortably sits in between with its $87,500 list price.

For the $9,000 premium over the base WRX, the tuned by STI version offers the sort of performance improvements that can be had by spending this sort of money on after-market modifications.

The difference is, owners of the WRX tuned by STI have the peace of mind of a factory-backed warranty and not worry about running afoul of the law.

Those after some degree of exclusivity would also be drawn to the proposition of a car that's limited to just 50 examples.

The enhancements of the WRX tuned by STI have made it a more focused machine, in some ways, even more so than the full-on STI.

As a result, this car isn't for everyone as it feels like it would be more at home on a race track than the daily commute.

However, for at least 50 drivers out there, this special WRX could be just their thing.

Ford Focus ST $98,000 with COE
Ford's latest hot hatch is well equipped for the money and it drives well. Crucially, it is a lot more practical to live with than the considerably more raw WRX.