2000 Subaru Impreza S201 STI Version

The S201 STI Version gave the GC8 Impreza a deliberately assertive body and a factory-rated 300 PS engine. STI’s heritage record identifies a 300-car programme, pairing the first S-series identity with chassis and driveline changes that extend beyond its unmistakable exterior.

The S201 identity belongs to a complete STI programme

STI’s official heritage page describes the Impreza S201 STI version as a tuned GC8-based road car and records a limit of 300 units. The full name matters because an ordinary WRX fitted with selected S201-style components is not another member of the original programme. For a vehicle profile, programme identity should be established before discussing individual modifications or survival. The reference year is 2000, and the heritage specification places the engine, transmission and dimensions within that specific complete-car record.

STI: S201 official heritage specification and programme reference

The 300 PS reference is a factory engine specification

STI attributes the increased output to a dedicated sport ECU and changes to the intake and exhaust. Its table lists a 1,994 cc EJ20, with 221 kW or 300 PS at 6,500 rpm and 353 N·m at 4,000 rpm. Those figures retain their published units and context. They describe the manufacturer’s original specification, not a fresh measurement of every surviving S201. A modified example’s present output belongs in its individual documentation rather than being assumed from the model badge.

The chassis changes give the programme mechanical substance

The heritage account specifies reinforced height-adjustable suspension, rear pillow-jointed lateral and trailing links, and forged 16-inch aluminium wheels developed with RAYS. It also identifies a front helical limited-slip differential. The useful point is the combination of components within a complete programme. A single wheel, link or differential can be replaced, so an inspection should compare the whole car with its documentation. Conversely, the absence of an original consumable or service replacement does not itself establish that the underlying car is a replica.

STI: S201 official heritage specification and programme reference

A deliberately emphatic exterior distinguishes the S201

The original factory photograph shows the front aero bumper, pronounced side treatment and double-level rear wing that define the S201’s appearance. STI’s description also identifies the diffuser-shaped rear bumper. As design interpretation, the body makes its special status visible from almost any angle, rather than relying only on small badges. That visibility is valuable for a profile, but appearance still needs documentary support. A visually close conversion should be described as such rather than being included in the original manufacturer programme.

STI: S201 official heritage specification and programme reference

Identification should combine records with the complete car

A useful authentication file brings together the vehicle identity, original sale or registration documents, dated photographs and inspection of programme-specific equipment. The included S201 image is explicitly named in Subaru Image Library’s first-generation Impreza index; it is not a generic GC8 used as a stand-in. It establishes factory presentation of the model without certifying a particular customer car. Parts history, body repair, later tuning and ownership continuity should remain visible in the individual file instead of being hidden by a correct exterior.

Specifications and identity reference

Rarity and production scope

STI’s heritage page attributes 300 units to the complete S201 STI Version programme. That reference is kept with its manufacturer attribution and is not expanded by counting body kits, replacement components or ordinary GC8 production. This original Verified inventory row was held previously for a matched reusable image; the factory archive index now supplies one. Exact completed production and survivor totals remain blank in the structured fields because no independent chassis-by-chassis completion audit has been supplied. The later S-series cars have separate identities and allocations.

What the photograph represents

Factory S201 STI Version exterior photograph, explicitly identified by name and year in Subaru Image Library’s first-generation Impreza index. It illustrates the complete programme’s appearance; it does not certify delivery history or originality of a particular surviving customer chassis.

Related Subaru profiles

• 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Spec C Type RA
• 1997 Subaru Impreza WRC97
• 2026 Subaru WRX Series.Yellow

Frequently asked questions

What does the 300-car reference cover?

The complete Impreza S201 STI Version programme recorded by STI; it does not include ordinary GC8 cars or later S-series models.

Can S201 exterior parts alone establish programme membership?

No. The exterior helps identification, but vehicle-linked documentary evidence and inspection of the full specification are needed.

What is the production-count boundary for this profile?

STI’s heritage page attributes 300 units to the complete S201 STI Version programme. That reference is kept with its manufacturer attribution and is not expanded by counting body kits, replacement components or ordinary GC8 production. This original Verified inventory row was held previously for a matched reusable image; the factory archive index now supplies one. Exact completed production and survivor totals remain blank in the structured fields because no independent chassis-by-chassis completion audit has been supplied. The later S-series cars have separate identities and allocations.

Sources and further reading

1. STI: S201 official heritage specification and programme reference

Research checked 19 October 2026. Linked manufacturer heritage pages, factory announcements, official distributor publications and labelled contemporary coverage support the specifically identified claims. Photographic descriptions identify the illustrated subject. Design analysis and suggested authentication steps are editorial interpretation.