The original BRAT was actually an acronym... Bi-Range All Terrain. The new STX/BRAT will not feature dual-range 4WD, right?

So my question is... will they still call it the BRAT?

Well, considering WRX is also an acronym, as is STX and SVX, I dont know which way they'll go with it.

WRX = World Rally Xperimental
STX = Sport Truck Xperimental
SVX = ? can't remember that one... special vehicle?

We'll see what happens.....

The STX was originally shown with a Dual-Range M/T, no news if it will have it when it comes out though.

Originally posted by Porter

WRX = World Rally Xperimental
STX = Sport Truck Xperimental
SVX = ? can't remember that one... special vehicle?


Word from SOA themselves is that the X doesn't stand for anything.

~Loki

SOA will say anything that sounds good to them at the moment. They didn't design the car, and they didn't have any involvement with it at all until just a few years ago. They're just a marketing front for the Japanese operation.

I remember seeing a video on the original WRX introduction in Japan and it had World Rally eXperiemental in huge print across the top of the stage. The X most definitely means something.

Check out this madness, if they stick with the Supercharged 2.5 liter I'll buy it, I don't want the heavy crappy H6
ST-X (http://www.mrtrally.com.au/performance/St-Xcar.htm)
I actually got a letter from SOA stating that it will come as a 2003 model in the new MY of 2002.

Here ya go:
Dear Mr. May:

Thank you for visiting the Subaru Web site and for your interest in the ST-X. The ST-X will hopefully be available in calendar year 2002 as a 2003 model. At this time, we do not have any brochures on this model. You can access the Web site link on the ST-X via our Web site. This link can be found in the 'News' section of our Web site.

Please either visit our site in the near future, or contact us again for information on the ST-X. I am sorry that I could not be of more assistance. Best wishes!!

John J. Mergen
Subaru of America, Inc.

Personally I think STX makes a great name for this new hybrid car truck thing.


*crossing my fingers SOA uses STX*

I wouldn't mind STX, Brumby :D, or Brat II. Subaru has a bunch of names that they just trademarked such as Adironack, and some others I can't personally remember..

JJ
www.imprezawrxsti.com
All STi, All The Time

I've posted before fishing for details, but I just can NOT believe that if this car is comming out in 2002 and that NO ONE has seen it testing or can confirm what drivetrain it will have. Anybody?

EDIT:

Just to prevent all replies stating the obvious, the specs of the STX posted everywhere are for the proto-type.

--JMarsa

Yep, it'll be silly if they use the acronym BRAT and it doesn't have Bi-Range. :D Does your average car buyer know that? Probably not. Five-speed Foresters and OB's in Oz get dual-range AWD with their smaller engines

JM - Just hold on for a few more months. We'll be able to see it at the Detroit Auto Show in January. They're keeping this thing under better wraps than the WRX.

Dennis

Of all place's there were two posts hid in the 'STi to US' thread in the Rumors/News forum:

http://i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=101643&perpage=25&pagenumber=2

see posts from: RSK134 & dasubaruguy


bluesubie, I agree, there must be huge plans with this car, given all the hush-hush.

--JMarsa

I also heard that the X's mean nothing.

WRX was a spin-off of WRC, and since they just needed something to differentiate it, why not an X.

Update on BRAT:

I was told sternly by Pleiades this weekend that BRAT definitely stands for:

Bi-range Recreational All-terrain Transport


I dunno.... I'm scratching my head. :confused:


....BTW I'm standing by my X = eXperimental story. :D

Have you guys noticed that they removed information on the STX from SOA's Web site?

I did a search in the news releases and it came up with the headline of the Sept. 7, 2000 news release but when you click on it, it takes you back to the homepage.

Maybe it was just an error.

Hmmmm.....

Maybe it's those same hackers that took the WRX site down earlier this year :devil: :) Originally posted by Kalins1
Have you guys noticed that they removed information on the STX from SOA's Web site?

.....

Maybe it was just an error.

Hmmmm.....

What? You didn't see http://www.subaru.com/STX/specs/index.html?

The concept STX did indeed have a dual range 5-speed manual transmission. Maybe they'll decide to base its name on DUal Range Transmission and call it The Durt. :)

BTW, here's another recent discussion about what Subaru might name the STX:
http://www.i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=95772

Ok, i've heard of the STX a while ago, and I heard (vaguely) about its 2.5L SUPERCHARGED engine, but never bothered to look into it. BUT, it says in plain english right on that site that it has an Eaton S/C, built by SVT Inc.

i'm SURE this topic has been discussed, but I've never seen it.

WHY, oh WHY isnt that supercharger NOT available? :confused: Hasnt anyone contacted that company???

:confused:

AGGG!!! The STX used to look better! What happend! Too much tan siding and excessive chrome! AGGG! :mad: The first version looked nice, all monocramatic, and NO huge grill with S U B A R U across the top! This thing is a mess! It reminds me of Subarus made in the 70s, ewww!:(

From this board I think I read that SVT (a MI based co.) went out of business waiting for SOA to make a decision on whether to produce a supercharged engine or not.

Like Reagan said, "it's to the best of my recollection..."


--JMarsa

Originally posted by Porter
Update on BRAT:

I was told sternly by Pleiades this weekend that BRAT definitely stands for:

Bi-range Recreational All-terrain Transport


I dunno.... I'm scratching my head. :confused:


....BTW I'm standing by my X = eXperimental story. :D

Almost there Porter..:)

Bi-drive recreatoinal all terrain transporter, just like the one I've got in my driveway. :) I'd love to see another Brat type vehicle from Subaru. Just lay off the orange a little. :)

I know this may be a little off topic, but I found a good quick history page of the Brat here:

Brat page on about.com (http://vintagecars.about.com/library/weekly/aa030301a.htm?terms=subaru+brat)

From this board I think I read that SVT (a MI based co.) went out of business waiting for SOA to make a decision on whether to produce a supercharged engine or not.


Someone must have the plans or drawings for this!!!!! :(

Actually, the company that was contracted by SoA to build the "concept" STX is/was called Specialized Vehicles, Inc. (SVI) of Troy, Michigan. See http://www.automotive-technology.com/projects/subaru_STX/

SVI has also worked on ZR-1 Corvettes (http://www.zr-1.demon.nl/history.htm ) and (originally in the '60s) Mopars. If the company went under, I doubt it was because they didn't get an order from Subaru.

GooseMan might be on to something here. How much would it take to convert SVI's supercharged 2.5 design/plumbing into a kit (using, e.g., the WRX's intercooler instead of the B4's)? I think somebody's sitting on the design for an aftermarket goldmine and doesn't realize it. :)

If you think about it, this company designed, fitted and tested an actual Eaton supercharger on a EJ25. All the design work is there, all the testing and prototyping was done, its all "done".

Anyone can just take these drawings to a machine shop, and make the kit! and whoever does this will, like you said, be sitting on a gold mine!

Think about it....no more aftermarket turbo problems, no more turbo lag, etc........

There IS a market for a s/c, thats for sure, and there is one in existence that ACTUALLY fits, we just gotta find out how.......


How can we contact this company?