GC8 · 1992–2000/01
The generation the US never got the turbo version of.
Japan's WRX launched in November/October 1992 (sources differ on the exact month) with a 2.0L EJ20 turbo boxer rated around 240 PS, and STI built its first STI-badged road car — the hand-built Version 1 — in January 1994, exclusively for Japan. Neither reached the US this generation; the best-supported explanation for the decade-long US delay is a provisional market-testing theory involving the naturally aspirated 2.5RS, not a confirmed Subaru rationale. The 1998 22B STI, built for Subaru's 40th anniversary and third consecutive WRC manufacturers' title, is the exception to this generation's JDM exclusivity: of 424 total cars, roughly 24 went to the UK, Australia, and prototype builds.
JDM-only for WRX/STI; the US received only the naturally aspirated Impreza and, from 1998, the 2.5RS — no WRX or STI reached the US this generation.
CoverageGeneration tracer-bullet · 23 July 2026
Powertrain
Engine options
| Engine | Years | Power | Torque |
|---|---|---|---|
| EJ20 Turbo (WRX, JDM) | 1992–2000/01 | ~240 PS (JDM launch tune) | Not researched |
| 22B STI Turbo (EJ22G) | 1998 | 280 PS (official JDM rating; some enthusiast sources claim actual output exceeds 300 hp) | Not researched |
Configuration
Trims and transmissions
JDM shorthand splits this generation by engine — 'GC8' denotes the 2.0L turbo sedan/coupe and 'GF8' the turbo wagon; not every GC/GF-chassis Impreza is a 'GC8.' STI's own JDM-only catalog ran Versions 1 through 6 (1994–1999) plus the 22B and S201 limited editions, all separate from the US-market naturally aspirated Impreza and 2.5RS sold under this same chassis generation.
Identify & buy
Identification and ownership notes
A genuine US-market 'WRX' or 'STI' badge on a car from this generation should be treated with suspicion — no WRX or STI of any kind was factory-sold in the US during this era; a legitimate example is either a JDM/grey-market import or a later car wearing an incorrect badge.