Spycam: 2009 Subaru WRX STI

By its fender blisters you know it as the 300-plus horsepower Subie STI, the hottest of hot hatches.

And, the blandest, given that it's still saddled with Subaru's over-reaction to complaints about the old, and now-banished, three-part grilles of recent vintage models.

Speaking of grilles, the egg crate look on the new car that had the WRX faithful up in arms appears to have been swapped out for a mesh look on the STI. And while the rear wing looks to be functional, with the hatchback, it obviously limits the options.

Watching the STI handle the hard turns of the Nurburgring Nordschlieffe, though, you might excuse the car's styling. The new STI is expected to arrive by the middle of next year, following this fall's release of the new WRX hatchback and sedan. And yes, the STI will be available only as a five-door hatchback. Good news for Mitsubishi and its more handsome Evolution X.

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