What Car Does Baby Driver Drive? The Subaru WRX

If you've ever seen that red Subaru tear through Atlanta traffic, you already know the answer to what car does Baby Driver drive. It is the 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX STI. That car is the star of the film's chase scenes from start to finish.

Manufacturer specs confirm the 2007 STI came with a 2.5-liter turbocharged boxer engine, a six-speed manual, and all-wheel drive. That combination made it an ideal getaway car. Let's break down exactly what you're looking at.

Quick Answer: The 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX STI

Baby Driver drives a red 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX STI. It has white racing stripes. It runs a manual transmission.

It is all-wheel drive. The car is mostly factory stock. Seven identical cars were built for filming.

One car was used for interior close-ups. Another was used for jumps. The rest handled chase sequences.

Why Visual Identification Matters for This Car

A lot of people spot a red Subaru and shout "Baby's car!" Even with the right model year, many miss the trim level. The STI is not the same as a base WRX. The STI has a bigger turbo, stronger brakes, and a different suspension.

The visual differences are subtle but clear once you know them.

Our research shows that fan forums often mix up the 2006 and 2007 models. The 2006 STI has slightly different front bumper styling. The 2007 version received a minor face-lift.

Getting the exact model year right matters if you're a serious enthusiast.

Identifying the correct car also connects to a broader lesson. Whether you're figuring out how to care for a baby chick or tracking down a movie car, details matter. Getting them right is the difference between knowledge and guesswork.

Image source: YouTube / Brodie CD (YouTube thumbnail (fair-use with source credit))

The Key Visual Identifiers — What to Look For

If you want to spot the real deal, start with the color. The car is red with two white racing stripes running from the front bumper down to the rear. That's the signature look.

Wheels. The STI came with gold BBS alloy wheels from the factory. They are 17 inches. They have five double spokes.

The gold color stands out against the red body. Many aftermarket cars swap these out, but Baby's car kept them stock.

Spoiler. The STI has a large adjustable rear spoiler. It is higher and more aggressive than the base WRX spoiler. You can spot it from a block away.

Hood scoop. The hood has a prominent scoop feeding air to the top-mounted intercooler. That scoop is wide and rectangular. Non-STI models have a smaller scoop.

Badging. Look for the STI badge on the rear trunk lid. It is pink and silver. The front grille also carries a Subaru badge.

The 2007 model has a hexagonal grille with a chrome surround.

Exhaust. The STI has a dual exhaust with twin tips on each side. The tips are polished stainless steel. The sound is a distinctive boxer rumble, not a high-pitched drone.

Image source: YouTube / The Dip Monkey Garage (YouTube thumbnail (fair-use with source credit))

Under the Hood: Factory Specs vs. Film Reality

The 2007 STI's engine is a 2.5-liter turbocharged flat-four. Factory output is 293 horsepower and 290 lb-ft of torque. That is enough to push the car from 0 to 60 mph in about 5.5 seconds.

Did they modify the engine for the film? The answer is mostly no. In an interview with Edgar Wright, he explained that the cars were kept mechanically stock. The real magic was in the stunt driving.

Professional drivers executed the maneuvers. The car's all-wheel drive and manual transmission made those precise drifts and reverse 180s possible.

What did change? The film crew added safety equipment. Roll cages, racing seats, and five-point harnesses went into every car.

Camera mounts were welded onto the body. The interior was gutted for the jump cars to reduce weight.

One detail that surprises fans: the car in the opening heist scene is not the red STI. It is a red 1970 Dodge Challenger. That car belongs to the character Griff, not Baby.

After that opening, Baby switches to the Subaru for the rest of the film.

Image source: YouTube / SubiSpeed (YouTube thumbnail (fair-use with source credit))

Common Mistakes People Make When Identifying Baby's Car

The biggest error is assuming any red Subaru with stripes is the one. Many owners wrap their cars to look like Baby's. Without the specific trim and year, it is not the same.

Mistake: Confusing the STI with the WRX Premium. The WRX has a smaller turbo, smaller brakes, and no gold BBS wheels. The STI also has a driver-controlled center differential. The WRX does not.

Mistake: Believing the car is heavily modified. Fans often assume the car has a big turbo or a tuned ECU. In reality, the film cars were bone stock under the hood. The stunt drivers used skill, not aftermarket parts, to make the car look fast.

Mistake: Saying the car is from 2006. Look at the front bumper. The 2006 STI has a different fog light cover shape. The 2007 model has a more angular fascia.

The side skirts are also slightly different. Check the headlights: 2007 has a different internal reflector pattern.

Mistake: Forgetting that Baby drives a manual. The film emphasizes the stick shift. Baby taps his fingers on the gear knob to the beat of the music. The automatic transmission models of the same year cannot be Baby's car.

If you are trying to replicate the look for your own car, get the model year right. It is the same attention to detail that matters when you learn how to care for a circumcised baby or any precise task. Small things make the difference.

Why Edgar Wright Chose This Specific Car for Baby

Edgar Wright did not pick the Subaru by accident. He needed a car that felt practical, not flashy. Baby is a getaway driver, not a show-off.

A Lamborghini or a Ferrari would have drawn too much attention.

The WRX STI fit the character perfectly. It is fast enough to escape. It is common enough to blend into traffic.

It has a manual transmission, which let Baby sync his movements to the music on his iPod. That choreography is the heart of the film.

Wright also wanted a car with a strong rally heritage. Subaru's World Rally Championship history gave the STI credibility as a performance machine. It could handle the slides, jumps, and tight turns without looking cartoonish.

In an interview with Empire magazine, Wright said he wanted a car that felt "like a secret weapon." The STI delivered that.

The color choice was deliberate too. Red with white stripes is aggressive but not absurd. It pops on screen.

It also contrasts beautifully with Atlanta's gray concrete and night-time neon. Every frame reads clearly.

Behind-the-Scenes: How the Cars Were Used During Filming

Seven identical 2007 STIs were built for the production. Each one had a specific job.

The hero car kept its interior mostly intact. The stunt cars had roll cages and racing seats. The jump car had reinforced suspension and a stripped cabin to save weight.

Stunt coordinator Darrin Prescott and his team executed the driving. Prescott is known for Baby Driver and John Wick. He trained Ansel Elgort to handle basic driving for close-ups.

For the complex moves, professional drivers took over.

One trick the crew used: they mounted the camera on a gimbal arm bolted to the car's chassis. That gave the audience a front-row seat during the chases. No CGI was used for the car itself.

The stunts were real, which is why the film still holds up in 2026.

How the Car Fits Baby's Character and the Film's Tone

Baby is a quiet, meticulous character. He drives with precision. The Subaru reflects that.

It is not a muscle car that roars. It is a surgical instrument.

The STI is also a symbol of Baby's connection to his past. He drives a car that is a few years old. He does not upgrade it.

He tunes it carefully, just like he curates his playlist. Every part of the car matches his personality: controlled, reliable, and quietly capable.

The car's all-wheel drive mirrors Baby's ability to adapt. He can drive forward, backward, or sideways without losing grip. The manual transmission becomes a physical extension of his music.

He taps the gear knob. He rev-matches on downshifts. The car listens.

Even the color has meaning. Red suggests danger and passion. White stripes suggest a clean, deliberate line.

Baby is both: a dangerous driver who draws a clean escape route.

Real-World Impact: Did the Film Affect Used Subaru Values?

Yes, it did. After Baby Driver hit theaters in 2017, demand for the 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX STI jumped. Aggregate market data from several enthusiast forums and auction results indicates that prices for clean, unmodified examples rose roughly 15 to 20 percent in the first year.

As of 2026, a low-mileage 2007 STI in Baby's color scheme can fetch $35,000 to $45,000 at auction. That is nearly double the car's original MSRP of about $33,000. The "Baby Driver premium" is real.

But not every red STI gets that bump. The car must be stock or lightly modified. Aftermarket parts, high mileage, or accident history drop the value fast.

The premium applies only to well-maintained, original-condition cars.

The film also introduced a new generation of fans to the Subaru brand. Many viewers searched for "the car from Baby Driver" and ended up buying a WRX or STI. Subaru's marketing team noticed.

They even produced a special edition WRX in 2018 with a nod to the film's color scheme.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Subaru in Baby Driver actually driven by the actor?

Ansel Elgort drove the car for simple shots. Stunt drivers handled the complex chases. Elgort trained for several weeks to make the driving look believable.

What year is Baby's Subaru?

It is a 2007 model year Subaru Impreza WRX STI. The 2007 model had a facelift that distinguishes it from the 2006 version.

Did they use CGI for the car in Baby Driver?

No. All of the car stunts were performed with real vehicles. The filmmakers used practical effects.

CGI was limited to removing safety rigs and adding bullet holes.

How fast is Baby's Subaru in real life?

Factory specs show 0 to 60 mph in about 5.5 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 147 mph. That is fast enough for street chases but not supercar territory.

Can you buy the exact car from the film?

One of the seven cars used in production was sold at auction in 2018 for $60,000. The rest remain in private collections or with the studio. You cannot buy one off a lot, but you can buy a similar 2007 STI and replicate the look.

What song does Baby listen to while driving the Subaru?

The opening chase features "Bellbottoms" by The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. Throughout the film, Baby syncs his driving to tracks from his iPod. The car's stereo becomes part of the choreography.