Subaru Impreza news - STI for a bargain - 2007

Subaru has announced pricing on the UK-spec Impreza WRX STI, due to go on sale over here early next year. And it's cheap.

Surprisingly cheap, in fact. The Impreza 2.5 WRX STI Type UK, to give it its full name, is yours for £24,995 - £1,600 cheaper than the outgoing STI and a fair few grand less pricey than we were expecting.

While the Japanese STI gets a two-litre boxer with 304bhp, the UK car retains the 2.5-litre engine of its predecessor, but with power ramped up to 296bhp.

That, says, Subaru, is good for a 0-60 time of just 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 155mph, meaning you'll struggle to find something quicker for the same cash.

What else do you get for your 25 grand? All the STI styling cues, naturally, but more importantly Subaru's improved Driver Controlled Centre Differential and traction control. Brembo brakes, leather Recaros and cruise control are all standard, too.

All of which makes the STI look like a bit of a bargain. But, of course, it's now a four-wheel-drive hot hatch rather than a hot saloon, meaning it's lining up against the similarly priced VW Golf R32 and Audi S3 quattro.

And that's before you throw in the Evo X, for which prices are yet to be announced. You can be sure that the boys at Mitsubishi are studying the STI price list very keenly indeed.