Subaru finally released the first official images of the 2008 Impreza WRX STi, which is scheduled to be launched in Japan at the end of October. While we’d like to see the car up close before we make our final decision on its looks, we have to admit that the STi treatment with the blistered wheelarches and bumpers, the four exhaust pipes and the 18-inch rims along with the roof spoiler, seem to work on the Impreza.

Unfortunately, the “STi saga” isn’t over yet as the Japanese carmaker decided to keep most of the details hidden until the car’s debut at the 2007 Tokyo Show (Oct. 24). The Subie boyz however were kind enough to reveal that the Japan spec STi will be powered an enhanced version of the JDM Impreza WRX’s 2.0-litre flat four turbo mated to a six-speed manual box. The STi will also feature Subaru’s trademark Driver Control Center Differential (DCCD) incorporated within the all-wheel drive system. -Continued after the jump

Both the European and American market versions of the STi that are expected during the second quarter of 2008, will come equipped with a 2.5-litre turbocharged flat four, as used in the outgoing model.