Subaru S209 Trademark Filing May Point to Faster WRX STI
Subaru has filed a trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for ‘S209’.
Subaru filed to reserve ‘S209’ for use on “automobiles and structural parts and structural fittings therefor,” and, more specifically, “floor mats for automobiles.”
SEE ALSO: 2019 Subaru WRX STI Review
Clearly, Subaru is plotting the high-performance special edition WRX STI. The automaker debuted a limited-edition WRX STI S208 for Japan last year (pictured below), which got a bunch of performance upgrades including a retuned steering rack, adjustable Bilstein dampers, 19-inch BBS wheels, a huge rear wing, a carbon roof, a Cool Khaki Grey exterior color and other carbon add-ons. It also got a slight power increase to 324 hp and 319 lb-ft of torque, up from 310 hp and 295 lb-ft.
The S208 was actually an evolution of the WRX STI S207, another limited-run, Japan-only version of the performance compact that debuted back in 2015. The S207 (below) had similar equipment to the S208, such as adjustable Bilstein dampers, BBS wheels, a larger rear wing and the upgraded 324 hp motor. Much like the S208, which was only offered in one color, the S207 was only sold in Sunrise Yellow.
Interestingly, this trademark was filed with the USPTO, so it looks as though the S209, if it ever sees the light of day, will be sold in the United States. A high-performance special edition would be a good way for Subaru to send the fourth-generation WRX off ahead of the fifth-gen model’s anticipated debut in 2020, in our opinion, so let’s hope Subaru has a plan for ‘S209’ nameplate.
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If the WRX STI S209 does arrive, Subaru will probably only build about 500 or so. The S207 was limited to just 400 units, while just 450 examples of the S208 were built.
[Source: USPTO]
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Sam McEachern holds a diploma in journalism from St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, and has been covering the automotive industry for over 5 years. He conducts reviews and writes AutoGuide's news content. He's a die-hard motorsports fan with a passion for performance cars of all sorts.
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