Subaru owners are a rabid, fanatical and intensely loyal bunch. When it comes to their cars, they love the constellation of five stars as if their lives depended on it. So it was quite odd to know that one of the world's fastest road racing Subies, the Cusco Subaru Advan Impreza, had very little to do with its road counterpart all the way up to the 2006 Super GT season. Sure, the 2.0L STi's tuned flat-four turbo engine had the same basic block as the JDM STi model, but double wishbone suspension and rear-wheel drive? Come on now.
Ten solid months of research and development went into the car on Cusco Racing's part and the end result is a GT car that has better aero, a lighter chassis and has more low-end torque. Previously RWD to avoid crippling weight penalties, Cusco has managed to lighten the Impreza enough to the point that all-wheel drive is worth the weight handicap. All-wheel drive had not appeared on any Super GT/JGTC car since the 1996 Nissan Skyline GT-R's and Cusco hopes to turn this grip advantage into assured racing success. Subaru fans rejoice; the beauty of all-wheel drive is alive and well.