It's hard not to love Subaru Tecnica International (STI), especially when the Japanese automaker's in-house tuner focuses its attention on limited-edition variants such as this 2008 Legacy S402. Powered by a turbocharged, 2.5-liter, 285-hp, 289-lb-ft boxer four-cylinder, the S402 provides ballistic acceleration in every gear of its short-ratio six-speed manual transmission. STI-tuned Bilstein dampers and springs aim for the perfect mix of comfort and aggressiveness for an everyday car, although there is a lot of pitch and roll when pushed hard. Handling is extremely neutral, with tons of grip. Six-pot Brembo front calipers provide excellent braking performance.

Inside, the standard Legacy cabin gets a dose of leather and STI logos on the steering wheel, shifter and dials, along with a numbered special-edition plaque on the transmission tunnel (only 402 will be built).Distinguishing the S402 from the regular Legacy are a carbon-fiber front lip spoiler, quad-tail exhaust and front-fender air vents.The S402 is one of STI's best products, but there are no plans to create anything similar for the U.S. market.