Subaru Impreza WRX STI (GDB): The Hawkeye & Blobeye Era

The Subaru Impreza WRX STI GDB platform spans 2001 to 2007 and encompasses three distinct body styles: the 2001-2002 Bugeye (GD), the 2003-2005 Blobeye (GD), and the 2006-2007 Hawkeye (GD). Together, these cars represent Subaru's peak WRC-derived consumer performance era. The GDB chassis was the platform of Petter Solberg's 2003 WRC championship, the car of Subaru's most successful rally program, and the foundation of the US Impreza WRX STI that became a Mitsubishi Evo VIII rival in the 2000s.

The EJ257 Engine

The GDB STI used the EJ257 — Subaru's 2.5L turbocharged flat-four:

• Displacement: 2.5L (2,457cc) horizontally-opposed 4-cylinder
• Output: 300 hp in US-spec, 308 PS in JDM
• Turbo: IHI VF39 (Bugeye), VF43 (Blobeye), or VF48 (Hawkeye)
• Layout: Boxer engine mounted low for center-of-gravity benefits
• Redline: 6,700 rpm

The EJ257 was designed to handle the stress of rally racing and could safely make 400+ hp with bolt-ons and ECU tuning. It became the defining Subaru performance engine of the 2000s.

The DCCD and AWD

The GDB STI used Subaru's Driver-Controlled Center Differential (DCCD) — a system that allowed the driver to vary the torque split between front and rear axles via a dashboard dial. In its default automatic mode, DCCD balanced torque based on driving conditions; in manual mode, drivers could lock it more aggressively for rally-style driving.

Combined with Subaru's symmetrical AWD layout and a limited-slip rear diff, the GDB STI was a genuine rally car that could be bought at a dealership.

Variants Across the GDB Era

• Bugeye (2001-2002): Original chassis, controversial round headlights. Enthusiasts love or hate them.
• Blobeye (2003-2005): Revised front fascia with more aggressive, angular headlights. More widely accepted styling.
• Hawkeye (2006-2007): Final GDB generation with hooked headlights. Most refined interior and most powerful.

US-market WRX STIs of this era:

• 2004 WRX STI: First US STI, Bugeye body, 300 hp, 6-speed manual
• 2005-2006 WRX STI: Blobeye, refined
• 2006-2007 WRX STI (Hawkeye): Final GDB, 2.5L EJ257

WRC Championship and Legacy

Petter Solberg won the 2003 WRC drivers' championship in a Subaru Impreza WRX STI based on the GDB chassis — Subaru's last WRC championship. The victory came after years of Colin McRae and Richard Burns efforts. Solberg's 2003 championship put the GDB platform in the history books.

Solberg's championship also cemented the GDB as the "real rally car" in the minds of Subaru enthusiasts — more than any previous Impreza, this was the chassis that won at the highest level.

Today's Market

GDB STIs have become collectible:

• Clean Bugeye (JDM or US): $25,000-$45,000
• Blobeye clean examples: $30,000-$50,000
• Hawkeye clean examples: $35,000-$60,000
• Rare trim variants (Spec C, Prodrive, Type RA): $50,000-$90,000

The Subaru Impreza WRX STI GDB is currently in the "appreciating classic" phase. Clean, unmodified examples are becoming harder to find as tuners have modified most surviving cars.

Legacy

The GDB STI was Subaru's peak WRC-era production car. It was the rally champion, the Evo rival, and the car that made Subaru relevant in the global performance scene. When the GDB was replaced by the GRB in 2008, Subaru lost some of its rally mystique — the new STI was refined but couldn't match the GDB's raw, slightly unfinished character that made it special.