The first allegedly official images of the 2015 Subaru WRX STI have been published online, ahead of a confirmed NAIAS debut later this month.
Subaru introduced the 2015 WRX back in November at the Los Angeles Auto Show and now we catch a first glimpse at the hotter STI variant which adopts a more aggressive body kit painted in Subaru's traditional World Rally Blue matched with golden alloy wheels. Apparently this finish will be reserved initially for a first edition which is likely to come with other enhancements.
While the aforementioned WRX makes use of a 4-cylinder, 2.0-liter boxer rated at 268 bhp (200 kW) and 258 lb-ft (349 Nm), the STI is rumored to get a larger 2.5-liter turbocharged four-banger with 300 bhp (224 kW) and 290 lb-ft (393 Nm).
Already teased, Subaru will unveil its “iconic performance flagship model” later this January in Detroit.
Subaru dealers have a joke they'll tell you every time they're asked why their cars are so ugly. It's something along the lines of "we don't spend any money on design and pass the savings on to you!". Of course, that's not actually true, but it's still very funny.
Fuji Heavy Industries have always had their unique was of designing cars and that was all fine and well in the days of rallying, but now, they can't do that any more.
For the 2015 model, Subaru promised the WRX will be nothing like the Impreza. They showed us a very sexy concept, but the production version somehow fell short of expectation when it was revealed yesterday. Still, we're hard-pressed to think of a better machine for under $30,000.
But what if Subaru had really went for the bespoke look? What if they had made made a two-door coupe instead of a sedan? This rendering shows you what could have been, and in our opinion what should have been. It's almost like a BMW 3 Series with Subaru genes, a much welcomed compromise on practicality.
Subaru has released a teaser image of the new Subaru WRX, revealing its styling will be close to the WRX Concept shown earlier this year
The Subaru WRX will be unveiled at the LA motor show later this month. The new model is expected to follow the saloon-like lines of the WRX Concept from the New York motor show earlier this year.
Subaru describes the WRX as “Subaru's iconic AWD performance model”, as the firm attempts to reassert itself as a performance brand.
It is not yet known whether the WRX will be imported into the UK; small sales volumes and an unfavourable exchange rate means profits will be low, even if it is positioned as a brand-builder. Subaru is keen to point out that the show car is in "US specification".
The teaser image suggests the Subaru WRX will feature similar styling cues as the WRX Concept. That model had a muscular appearance, and was similar in size to the last WRX saloon.
The WRX will feature Subaru’s trademark bonnet scoop and large cooling vents in the front bumper. However the 20in alloy wheels and carbonfibre roof fitted to the WRX Concept are unlikely to make production.
Alongside the debut of the WRX, Subaru plans a new design concept for the LA show. On the same day but at the Tokyo motor show, Subaru will unveil its Levorg concept.
Subaru is reportedly the reason why there is some backpedaling with the Toyota GT-86 /Scion FR-S sedan.
In you recall, the GT-86, FR-S and the BRZ triplets were jointly developed by Toyota and Subaru, so further development on the sports cars is contingent on both companies giving the go-ahead.
An unnamed insider told Edmunds that Scion has been pushing for a FR-S sedan for a 2016 launch but “Subaru has been dragging its heels on it.” Although some reports indicate that the vehicle is already under development, the project still hasn’t been approved by Subaru.
While Toyota waits on its partner to get with the program, its youth brand (Scion) is preparing a redesigned xB hatchback for a 2015 launch.
A Japanese video has surfaced that shows what appears to be a prototype for the 2015 Subaru WRX. The video was made earlier this year and was primarily created to showcase Subaru's new EyeSight driving assistance technology.
We first saw the model at the New York Auto Show in March when Subaru unveiled the stunning WRX Concept. In the months that followed, numerous prototypes have been spotted and close comparison leads us to believe the model above is a virtually undisguised prototype we are pining to see.
The front end has striking similarities to the concept and prototypes already seen including the huge air intake built into the hood. The low quality of the video makes it a little more difficult to confidently identify the model, but it doesn't hurt to add a little speculation.
Check it out below just after the six minute mark and see for yourself.
After making its world debut at New York, the Subaru WRX Concept was also brought to the 2103 Frankfurt Motor Show to also make its European Debut, previewing the next WRX model.
We already saw a prototype of the next WRX testing but until it is officially released, we have to 'cope' with the Concept only. And what a concept it is. It's done in the traditional Subaru blue paint but this time it's been upgraded to 'WR Blue Mica III' and looks stunning.
As usual, it's wearing Subaru traditional design cues like the bonnet scoop and large cooling vents, whilst the contrasting yellow we've been used to on WRX cars for quite a while now, is present around the exhaust tips and the brake calipers.
The new car is expected to have a 2-liter boxer turbo engine with 270 HP, set to be unveiled somewhere around next year, to mark the launch of a new era in the Subaru WRX history, ditching the hatch design currently used and returning to a more familiar Sedan shape.
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”.
Taking the form of a pumped-up four-door saloon, this concept previews the next-generation WRX STi. It’s believed that for this generation, Subaru wants to separate the WRX STi from the rest of the Impreza range entirely, and create a standalone line-up.
Although there are no gold alloys to be seen, the trademark Impreza bonnet scoop is bigger than ever. At the rear, a set of four Lamborghini Gallardo lookalke exhausts either side of a huge rear diffuser hint that this is a serious performance machine.
There’s no word on what engine is under the concept’s bonnet, or what will be fitted to the production car, but it’s likely to use Subaru’s tradition four-cylinder ‘Boxer’ layout. There are rumours, it could even use a hybrid powertrain producing over 300bhp.
We brought you the story that Subaru has no plans to bring the new WRX STI or Impreza to the UK, although we’ve since heard that if there’s still sufficient demand in this country, the WRX STI could still make to UK showrooms. We’ll bring you more details when the car is officially unveiled in New York.
