Exactly what is six years worth of engineering development worth? In the case of Subaru’s new Impreza, it’s a four-second improvement around Germany’s famous Nurburgring mountain race circuit.

With four-time World Rally Champion Tommi Makinen at the wheel, a modified 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI sedan lapped the 20.8km/160 turn Nordschleife circuit in seven minutes, 55 seconds – four seconds faster than Subaru’s best time set in 2004.

For the 2011 model year – due on-sale locally late this year - Subaru’s Impreza WRX STI gains changes to its chassis and suspension set-up. These changes will also be carried to the five-door hatchback model.The Nurburgring circuit is used by many car manufacturers for development testing. Subaru has been lapping the German torture-test since 1992 when the first Impreza WRX recorded a best lap of eight minutes, 29 seconds.

For the latest test, Makinen drove a ‘bitza’ WRX STI with performance items from the R205 and ‘spec C’ models which are only sold in Japan. These included a bigger turbocharger, six-pot brake calipers, a front lip spoiler, an aluminium bonnet and some suspension modifications.

In addition, the test car ran an under-body aero cover and aluminium fenders.

After the test, Makinen said: “The car was controllable with precise and faithful handling even on tricky corners. I could easily predict the car’s behavior. That is exactly what Subaru is offering: confidence.”

And it is this sort of attention to detail and hard work that delivers the driving dynamics which make Subarus so popular with new car buyers.