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From Group A Impreza, WRC is easily distinguished by new rear wing and front bumpers.
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Unfortunately, there is no reliable way to distinguish '98 model from '97 version as they have practically identical outward appearance.
It is easy to make mistake with roof vent because WRC98 had old style double roof vent up until Finland 1998, from then on scoop was redesigned to single round version that also WRC99 used (pics 1 & 2).
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Same difficulty continues with '99 model, there is no easily spotted visible differences that would tell apart 1998 and 1999 versions of Impreza. Differences from subsequent models exist, however.
Bonnet
Original bonnet air vents are rectangular and covers are canted rearwards (pic 3).
Subaru logo
Suspended on plastic holder in front of engine air intake (pic 3).
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First visual redesign, although very mild one.
Bonnet
Air vents remain at the same place but outlets with associated covers are redesigned, now more open and round (pic 4).
Subaru logo
Relocated to front of the bonnet, between painted yellow Subaru star and edge of the bonnet itself (pic 4). On grille where logo used to be, an STI logo is painted in red.
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Easy to spot, thanks to completely new bodyshell.
Body shell
Four doors, first time in World Rally Car version of Impreza.
Rear lights and wing
Light arrangement is rounder in shape and reverse gear light is changed from bottom to top. Rear wing is new although profile remains much the same but it is positioned rearwards, half hanging over the boot lid (pic 6).
Front bumper, mask and bonnet
Cars are most often seen from this angle and new bug-eye main lights are wildly different from old lights. Also air intake holes are of different shape than previously, holes have appeared at the sides of front bumper and fog light covers have changed from round to rectangular. Also bonnet air vent arrangement is different, double vents at sides have been changed to one wide air vent (pic 7).
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Visually identical to Impreza WRC2001.
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Face-lifted street car makes this one easy to identify.
Front
New lights and slightly different front bumper (pic 8).
Rear wing
New rear wing with four vertical fins added and Gurney flaps (pic 9).
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The only visual difference between WRC2003 and WRC2004 is the addition of hot air extraction hole in the sides of the front bumber, ahead of the wheel (pic 10).
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Visually different from previous models and easily identified.
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This model easy to identify from WRC2006: absence of the special vane above rear window and move from one central to two side air extraction holes on the bonnet (pics 11 and 12).
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Pic 1: Double roof scoop used in Impreza WRC97 and early WRC98
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Pic 2: New style single roof scoop used in late WRC98 and WRC99
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Pic 3: Impreza WRC99 bonnet
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Pic 4: Impreza WRC2000 bonnet with new air vents
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Pic 5: Original rear used in WRC97 to 2000
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Pic 6: New rear, used from WRC2001 onwards
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Pic 7: Impreza WRC2001 bonnet and front mask
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Pic 8: Impreza WRC2003 front bumper and bonnet
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Pic 9: Impreza WRC2003 rear wing
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Pic 10: Impreza WRC2004 air extraction hole.
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Pic 11: Impreza WRC2006, note vane above rear window and single air extraction vent on bonnet.
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Pic 12: Impreza WRC2007, vane above rear window has been deleted and bonnet features two side air extraction vents.
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