Resurrecting the Hawkeye: A Subaru WRX STI rebuild
The Hawkeye earned its place in history through years of Subaru's World Rally Championship exploits. But this story isn’t about Subaru’s factory team or its rally wins. This is the story of one specific Hawkeye, once long forgotten in a quiet corner of a family workshop, and then a brotherly bond that brought it back to life
In this era of JDM (Japanese domestic model) legends, few cars carry the same street and stage credibility as the Subaru Impreza WRX STI. Particularly, the last and final iteration of the GD chassis which petrolheads call the "Hawkeye" generation. This was the car that sharpened Subaru's rally-honed edge one last time before moving on to the more civilised GR chassis that became bulkier and lacked any linkage to motorsports.
All STI (Subaru Tecnica International) models were built on one formula, albeit the ultimate determinant of the model's success was a turbocharged boxer heart and symmetrical all-wheel-drive soul. These are also what led to many STI models making new records both on and off tarmac.
However, the 2007 STI was more than just a fast car.
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The Hawkeye earned its place in history through years of Subaru's World Rally Championship exploits. While the 2007 season did not see podium finishes, the platform was rooted in greatness — a final swan song to Subaru's era of aggressive rally-bred engineering.
The wide fenders, iconic hood scoop and unmistakable spoiler were not just cosmetic; they symbolised a machine built to grip dirt, asphalt, and hearts alike.
But this story is not about Subaru's factory team or its rally wins. This is the story of one specific Hawkeye, once long forgotten in a quiet corner of a family workshop, and then a brotherly bond that brought it back to life.
In 2015, a base Subaru Impreza was bought by the Shah family — a conversion project in waiting. Omar Shah, the elder brother wanted to upgrade from his 2zz AE100, perhaps for grip or power or both. Thus, in 2017, he sourced a 2007 Impreza WRX STI from Japan that had barely 50,000 km on its odometer.
That car was imported as a completely knocked down unit and was the donor car that ultimately transformed the base car into the STI. Omar finished in bright red. It wore the signature STI kit, large rally inspired spoilers and hood scoop and for all intents and purposes, looked the part.
Like Omar's previous project cars, he drove his newly built STI regularly. However, in Bangladesh, with the quality of fuel there is, any high end car which demands better octane rating, usually requires their engine to be tuned for more refined combustion. With the scarcity of high-end project builds, tuned cars were not as popular back then as it is now.
However, Omar's STI's sensitive boxer engine desperately needed it and without a proper tune, the engine began to suffer. It held on for a while — stubborn as any boxer motor can be — until it did not. Only a few months later, the engine blew. Since then, Omar left for abroad and the project was parked. It stayed that way for years.
A new chapter
Enter Emon Shah. A fourth year student from North South University who is no stranger to performance projects. From transplanting a 2ZZ engine into a Toyota Starlet GT to owning a 1997 Celica GT-Four, he has built and lived with machines that demand commitment. But as the years passed, even the mighty Celica began to feel dated. Its 3S-GTE engine lacked punch, and parts were becoming harder to source.
Initially, Emon had his eyes set on building his dream car — a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX. But then he remembered the red Subaru collecting dust in his father's workshop — a car with history, family ties, and potential. And that is when he decided to give the Hawkeye another chance at life; this time, not just as a build, but as a car to be driven, respected and finished right.
In late 2023, the rebuild began. A fresh motor was sourced from Malaysia, imported at great effort and cost. The red paint was retired, replaced with a clean, pearlescent white. This was not just a restoration — it was a resurrection.
Unlike the previous chapter, this time, everything was done properly. Emon did not go wild with mods; rather he went smart. A full HKS turbo-back exhaust gives the car that iconic Subaru growl, while an HKS blow-off valve provides just the right amount of turbo whistle to turn heads at every shift. Cusco coilovers keep the chassis planted and confident, whether on city roads or mountain curves. And most importantly, the car received a proper tune, ensuring both performance and reliability.
Emon explains his approach simply, "I drive the car regularly. So I want to keep it mostly stock. Less hassle that way."
For me as a rider in its passenger seat, the Hawkeye lived up to its reputation. The turbo spools up with urgency, and the flat-four pushes back to your seat like any EV would do. However, unlike an EV, It has that raw, analog charm modern performance cars often lack. You'll hear the drivetrain, feel every texture of the road and experience the vibration of the engine through your body, all of which resulting in a punchy, visceral experience.
The symmetrical AWD system offers absurd levels of grip, even when taking corners beyond 200 km/h. The STI feels planted, almost too confident. The close-ratio 6-speed manual remains one of the most rewarding gearboxes in the segment. It's not overly refined, and that's precisely why it works.
This car is more than a sum of its parts. It's a narrative of brotherhood, of lessons learned the hard way, and of passion kept alive through time. It could've been an Evo. It could've been sold off. But instead, it became a tribute to a family project reborn with patience and purpose.
Still, Emon has plans, such as a water-methanol injection kit, upgraded brakes and a few minor bolt-ons to complete the package. But the foundation is solid, and the car is exactly what it needs to be: quick, engaging and dependable.
