It's fast and it's furious but the most obvious feature of Subaru's power-packed Impreza STi is that it's flash.
With a huge wing standing ten inches proud of the boot, an air scoop bulging three inches out of the bonnet and gold coloured wheels, there is no missing this muscle machine.
In your face is an understatement but it is what is under your right foot that makes all the difference.
The Impreza WRX STi is now available with a high performance pack devised by rally experts Prodrive and it gives the car stunning ability.
The pack normally costs £1,995 but at the moment it's being offered free by Subaru in a special deal available until the end of September.
That means this hottest of the hot Imprezas has an on the road price of £26,400 - the same as the standard Impreza STi. Alternatively buyers can opt for three years free servicing.
The Prodrive tweaks enable 300bhp to be produced by a 2.0 litre turbocharged engine.
That 150bhp per litre performance is almost unimaginable and is 39bhp more than the standard Impreza STi.
The result is rocket ship statistics of 0 to 60mph in 4.6 seconds and a top speed in excess of 155mph.
It also sounds as mean a machine as it is with a sports silencer creating the necessary resonance.
But such modifications mean that this version of the Impreza is definitely a big something for the weekend and not your everyday car.
This is one for the purist and it takes the Impreza into a new dimension.
It is possibly as close to a road going version of Petter Solberg's World Rally Championship Impreza as you can get.
Low profile tyres and stiffened suspension make for a very firm ride and the new STi is also fitted with a driver-controlled variable centre differential which allows manual adjustment of power to the front and rear wheels.
It means that traction can be set to get the best from the car depending on road conditions - but it needs and expert touch.
Mercifully there is an automatic setting to help the less experienced and the four-wheel-drive Impreza remains a gem of a driver's car.
The new STi also features a limited slip differential on the front axle which is now mated to a yaw rate sensor to detect sudden changes in sideways direction.
That improves steering on slippery surfaces while a damper valve in the steering mechanism enhances accuracy during hard cornering, especially on bumpy surfaces.
Such equipment emphasises that this version of the Impreza is a very sophisticated machine and not a beefed up saloon with snazzy body kit.
Yet it is not a primitive beast and there are a few creature comforts such as a three-spoke leather covered steering wheel and blue suede/black fabric rally seats emblazoned with a red STi logo. Air conditioning and a CD player are fitted as well.
In a shrewd move, Subaru, imported to Britain by International Motors of West Bromwich, is also badging the car STi Type UK to distinguish it from unofficial imports which may not have such inbuilt security features as satellite tracking devices and a sophisticated alarm. The cars also come with additional rust proofing to cope with our weather.
The engine itself has been modified by Italian-based Subaru Tecnica International to meet EU standards.
Even with the Prodrive tuning pack the STi is covered by Subaru's warranty package to give the necessary peace of mind.
But that is about all this car has in common with the rest of the Impreza range.
This is the real McCoy in terms of performance power saloons.
It may not be quite as quick as its great rival the Mitsubishi Evo Vlll FQ400 but the Subaru is almost £20,000 cheaper.
That makes the STi a wonderful indulgence for those who enjoy every bit of their motoring and who don't want to spend a fortune doing so.
FAST FACTS
Subaru Impreza WRX STi with Prodrive Performance Pack
Price: £26,400
Mechanical: 300bhp, 1,994cc four cylinder turbocharged engine driving all four wheels via a six speed manual gearbox
Max speed: 155+mph
0-62mph: 6.4secs
Combined mpg: 25.4
Insurance group: 20
CO2 emissions: 265g/km
BiK rating: 35%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 12yrs anti-rust, 3yrs paint