AutomotiveNews learned some crucial details about Subaru’s near-future, which includes a variety of changes to be implemented across their entire lineup.
As of now, the plans include phasing in an all-new and completely redesigned Outback wagon and Legacy sedan for the later half of 2014, along with a new seven-seater crossover to replace the Tribeca, and wholly reworked versions of Subaru’s much-loved WRX and STi performance Imprezas.
Speaking of which, word is that the next generation WRX and STi Imprezas will only be available in sedan form, meaning no more five-door hatchback variant. A debut is expected at this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show in November with sales beginning in 2014. Pointers hint to an exterior design heavily influenced by the beautiful WRX Concept that debuted at the 2013 New York Auto Show earlier this year.
Lastly, a refreshed BRZ is expected in late 2015 as a 2016 model and the most probable addition to the BRZ line shapes up to be a convertible version, piloted by the Toyota FT86 Open Concept that was revealed earlier this year as well. But what we don’t understand is why Subaru is putting all of this effort into a convertible version of the BRZ when the demand is clearly for a turbo model.
And to further support this concern, Subaru apparently will have to elongate the BRZ by four inches at the wheelbase in order to accommodate folding origami. Let’s also not forget that chopping the head off of any car will compromise handling in the way of reducing the chassis’ structural rigidity. Last time we checked, the BRZ’s focus was to be about handling and driving fun. Seems a bit counterintuitive, dont’chya think?
The 2014 Subaru WRX has been caught entering the Nurburgring in Germany, almost undisguised in its first-ever public sighting.
Previewed as the Subaru WRX Concept at the New York auto show one month ago, the production version stays true to the concept’s design language, while reflecting the promises made by Subaru executives to CarAdvice at the show.
Subaru WRX for production maintains the hexagonal shape and mesh grille shown by the WRX Concept, although the opening isn’t as large and the grille isn’t tilted forward.
Headlights maintain the same shape and angular lines, and although the production WRX doesn’t keep the aggressive indent of the WRX Concept, it maintains the frosted-white C-shape border the outside of the headlight.
The bonnet keeps its power bulge and intercooler scoop, but the production car picks up regular circular fog lights housed within smaller flanks. A thinner, lower air intake compared with the concept rounds out the frontal changes that present a distinctly different look to current Impreza models.
Doors and mirrors on the production Subaru WRX appear to be shared with the Impreza, including picking up a ‘quarter window’. The wheelarches and rear haunches also appear to be substantially toned down compared with the WRX Concept.
As with both the current WRX and the WRX Concept, however, the new model bound for production gets unique scooped-out ‘air intakes’ on the front guards.
To the rear of the car, the lower diffuser appears all-but-identical to that shown on the WRX Concept, with quad tailpipes and an oversized rear wing continuing as WRX trademarks. The rear surfacing, however, appears to closely resemble that of the current Impreza more than the WRX Concept.
Only the tail-lights have different inner bezels, with the horizontal blinker light moving from a lower position in the tail-light to a central position. The adjoining reversing light then appears to dip down slightly to create half of a ‘T’ shape within the tail-light.
The production prototype seen lapping the Nurburgring confirms the comments made by Subaru of America president Tom Doll, who spoke to CarAdvice at the New York auto show last month following the reveal of the WRX Concept.
“We are trying to split the WRX and STI brands off and away from the Impreza to try and get their own unique styling and own unique attributes,” Doll remarked.
“They may share some [panels] but we’re trying to create – as you can see with the car here – its own style and its own definition, as opposed to just taking it [WRX] from the Impreza model and saying it’s based on the Impreza.”
Doll also all but confirmed the inclusion of a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and the availability of both a manual transmission and CVT with this next generation WRX.
“I think you can probably guess that with the 2.0-litres that are currently in the Impreza that a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine is coming … It will have a manual transmission [and] we might [also] have a CVT in it, with paddleshifting.”
Despite Subaru saying that it expects this new WRX to be its fastest-ever production model, Doll also added that the new car will be firmer, and will “drive and handle like a BRZ”.
This unexpected sighting of the production-ready 2014 Subaru WRX has substantially increased the chance that the road-ready version will debut at the Tokyo motor show in November. Doll described that scenario as “possible”.
