Also known as the Hawkeye Impreza, the 2005 WRX STI version was the ultimate street-racer worldwide.
By 2005, Subaru already had a huge fan base around the world. Its all-wheel-drive sedan convinced more people that a turbocharged flat-four was quicker than some might expect. Its sudden starts and neck-hurting performance transformed it into a street-racer. The WRX STI was the top-of-the-line version, and, in good hands, it was a hard-to-beat car. The Japanese engineers geared the transmission so it could get better quarter-mile times than more powerful cars.

The redesigned 2005 Impreza WRX STI featured swept-back headlights that resembled hawk eyes and a three-part grille that resembled an airplane. Its front bumper sported a lower apron with an integrated rectangular grille for the intercooler. Instead of the fog lights, it featured two body-colored plastic caps with the red Subaru Tecnica International logo. The STI version featured a spoiler on the upper side of the rear windscreen and a wing on the trunk as a specific accessory.

Inside, the carmaker kept the sport bucket seats with high bolstering and integrated headrests. In the instrument cluster, the tachometer took the center stage flanked by the speedometer on the right dial and the fuel and coolant-temperature gauges on the left dial. The STI was available in only one trim level. The car sported the sound system on the upper side and the climate control dials on the lower side on the center stack.

Unlike the rest of the Impreza range, the STI version featured a six-speed manual and an adjustable front and rear torque distribution dial for selected markets. Its flat-four engine provided a claimed 280 hp.