Hot Wheels RLC 1998 Subaru Impreza 22B-STi Version #1

The Hot Wheels 1998 Subaru Impreza 22B STi-Version, catalog number JCP09, is a collectible model released as an RLC Exclusive, available solely through the Red Line Club. This 1:64 scale replica is aimed at adult collectors and fans of Japanese rally automotive history, distinguished from a standard toy car by its metal base, rubber tires, Spectraflame paint, and an opening hood with a fully detailed engine.

The 1998 Subaru Impreza 22B STi-Version casting was designed by Brendon Vetuskey, with JCP09 serving as its debut release in 2025. The base of the casting is labeled "'98 Subaru Impreza 22B STi-Version." Although the casting is based on the mainline version, the Red Line Club edition has been thoroughly overhauled: it features an opening hood revealing a fully detailed EJ22G engine, a separate metal rear wing, a painted chassis, visible painted brake calipers, and a range of other detailed refinements.

The model is finished in Spectraflame WR Blue Mica, a translucent take on Subaru’s signature rally blue applied directly over polished metal and reserved for the brand's most exclusive releases. Decorations include refined headlights in the characteristic "mean eye" shape, taillights and trim, and a white rear Hot Wheels license plate reading "SOOBY." The base is matte black and metal, the windows have a light smoke tint, and the interior is black. The model rolls on bronze RR10SPM wheels, which are 10-spoke Real Riders with rubber tires. It is manufactured in China.

The original vehicle is the Subaru Impreza 22B STi—a limited, high-performance variant of the Impreza whose design involved figures such as Hidefumi Kato and Peter Stevens. The car was created to celebrate Subaru's 40th anniversary and its third consecutive World Rally Championship title. It was powered by a 2.2-liter turbocharged EJ22G boxer engine producing 280 hp, paired with a five-speed close-ratio transmission sending power to all four wheels. Each unit was built from a WRX Type R body, modified off the production line. The price was 5 million yen, and only 424 units were produced between March and August 1998—400 for the Japanese market and 24 for export. Japanese buyers were selected via lottery, and the entire batch sold out in a matter of hours.

For the collector, the JCP09 is a top-tier item: the debut release of the casting in the most canonical Subaru color, featuring an opening hood, a metal wing, and painted brake calipers. Red Line Club models are not available for standard retail sale.

FAQ

Does the Hot Wheels Subaru Impreza 22B JCP09 have an opening hood?
Yes. Under the opening hood is a fully detailed EJ22G boxer engine.

How does the RLC version differ from the mainline casting?
It has an opening hood with a detailed engine, a separate metal rear wing, a painted chassis, and visible painted brake calipers.

Is this the first release of this casting?
Yes. The Red Line Club version debuted in 2025 as JCP09.