The angry young man of performance motoring has grown up. Whether that’s cause for a collective sigh of relief remains to be seen. After all, the Impreza STI’s defining characteristic was that brash in-your-face persona, unpretty countenance and bulldog-like charm.

CHECK OUT THE STi's MAIN COMPETITOR HERE

Do the radical changes in generation III signal a loss of focus for Subaru? And will it still appeal to entrepreneurs, self-made men, techno-geeks and mavericks in general?

We can report that the faithful should all be pleased. The lad’s personality hasn’t changed: he’s now just a little more adult, a little less highly strung. Easygoing would be too strong a word, for the STI still demands your attention 100 percent of the time. It’s just that a few polished edges have given the diamond more gloss.

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So how much has the seminal Scooby changed? For starters it’s a new shape, as is the norm with blokes who are getting on a bit. Instead of the four-door bodyshell, a hallmark since the first STI hit the streets in 1994 (apart from the odd sportswagon sold in Japan), it is now a pukka five-door hatchback.

The benefits are shorter overhangs and, since it’s based on gen III Impreza, a significantly longer wheelbase than before. Being a hatch there isn’t much bulk behind the back axle either, and sheetmetal ahead of the front wheels has been trimmed slightly too. The layout makes it more practical, and with a 60/40 split rear seat, a Scooby can now carry much more.

Practical or not, the current WRX launch did not evoke euphoria. Too soft in look and feel to offer a truly compelling reason to buy one ahead of the current crop of superhatches, said many. Understated styling and 169kW no longer stacked up against the Focus ST, the hottest Mégane and a host of others clamouring for the coveted ‘uberhatch’ title.

Even before the first spyshots circulated on obscure websites, speculation had started as to whether Subaru Tecnica International could turn the Impreza into a finely honed driving tool worthy of carrying the famous cerise badge.

As it turns out, there was little reason for concern.

In the looks department the STI hits the spot. It’s bristling with the spoilers, diffusers, undertrays and bulges that are its stock in trade. All it shares in terms of bodywork with a WRX are the doors, scooped bonnet, tailgate and roof.

The aero effect is dramatic: the front spoiler juts forward, curling upwards slightly in the centre to create a funnel effect under the car; the rear diffuser speeds airflow and creates a low-pressure area which sucks the car to the ground. The effect is downforce without the drag and Subaru claim zero lift front and rear.

Aggressive black mesh now defines the grille. Anoraks will notice the foglights in the spoiler, an STI first and a departure from the previous boldly branded covers.

More significant perhaps are the wider wheelarches, adding 55mm to the body’s width and allowing for a 35mm wider front and 40mm wider rear track.