THE Impreza WRX STi represents the very best of the road-going turbocharged, all-wheel drive performance that is on offer from Subaru, one of Japan's more off-beat manufacturers. It has direct links to the company's successful World Rally Championship cars, which has prompted much of the adulation the vehicle receives from the Playstation generation and beyond. The latest STi is a much-improved vehicle compared to its predecessor. The performance edge has been softened ever so slightly due to weight gains, but in its place comes more equipment, increased body rigidity, improved ride quality, sweeter handling and a big dose of refinement.