It's slightly innocent demeanor makes it impossible to imagine the performance potential. The S203 is gloriously tuned by STI for impeccable driving attributes, and that is never a bad thing.
The realm of high performance cars must be one of the most demanding of all, other that the more obvious reasons that is. For the manufacturers, their reliance on pleasing the enthusiast drivers means that in no way can a competitor have a product that is better than theirs. If someone comes out with another upgrade to bump its' horsepower just a mere 10 horses, you can bet your behind that the competitor will suddenly come out with something to better that. In some ways, their motorsport guys are a bit attention crazy.
But let's not make you presume that i am actually complaining. No, far from that. Had things been more innocent or uncompetitive, we'd probably still think that 200 hp is more than enough. And nothing personifies this war on performance vehicles more than the friendly rivalry between Subaru Imprezas and Mitsubishi Evolutions. Based on the motorsports where both shine the most, which is along forest trails, icy routes or even dusty roads all over the world in World Rally Championship races, they have enjoyed almost equal glory time at one point or another. Having said that, it is interesting to note that both camps have had a drop in performance these past couple of years and although the respective manufacturers have every right to be frustrated, at least their reputation is sealed thanks to the street credentials and history.
It comes to no surprise that both models are a struggle between which has more power and superior handling. Newer better versions are at worst just a year apart between the two. As for myself, i am still undecided on which do i like most. Though the Mitsu is better when it comes to aftermaket upgrade availability (and relatively cheap), the Scooby's boxer engine is addictive. Apart from that, the former is just too common while the latter is only still coming up. Which brings us to the Impreza here.
Being Hypertune, this is of course no ordinary Impreza. It's loaded with Subaru Technica International's products. And for most of us, if it's rich with STI parts like this one here, it means that the car is part of the S series. True, the S203 is a wildcat that needs little introduction. It is ironic though that information on the web is contradicting based on the sources as if indicating that this is one monster that's better to be driven rather than concentrating too much on the technicalities. For comparison purposes, Mitsubishi's equivalent to the S Series would probably be their FQs or to some extent their RS version.