Subaru WRX next generation: one for the fans?

By David Zalstein | October 26th, 2012

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With the next-generation Subaru WRX still an expected two years away, suggestions abound that the new all-paw steed is likely to return to its more aggressive rally-bred roots.

Talking to CarAdvice at last week’s 2012 Sydney motor show, Subaru Australia national corporate affairs manager David Rowley, assured us the next Subaru WRX would be a “fairly aggressive” car, but couldn’t share further details.

Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior also made it clear to CarAdvice that he would love to see Subaru return to some level of competitive motorsport, if the right category presented itself – and financial considerations deemed it possible.

With the launch of the rear-wheel drive Subaru BRZ (pictured above) and the Japanese manufacturer’s stand at the Sydney show being highlighted by two Subaru BRZ-based models – one a purpose built track car – a drift back towards a stronger interest in motorsport seems to be more apparent.

A recent report from industry journal Automotive News suggests a newly developed 2.0-litre turbocharged engine could find its way into a more powerful version of Subaru’s latest sports car, the BRZ.

But that engine could also potentially see the return of a 2.0-litre powerplant between the strut towers of the next Subaru WRX, as was the case from the car’s Australian launch in 1994 to 2005, before being replaced by the larger capacity 2.5-litre engine from 2006 onwards.

Whatever ends up powering the new WRX, and its STI variants, die-hard fans of the marque will surely be motivated towards showrooms if the end result is yet another genuine performance rally weapon.

The Subaru WRX’s cult status grew substantially between 1995 and 1997, with Subaru claiming three consecutive constructors titles in the World Rally Championship (WRC) before the team exited the sport at the end of 2008.

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gt86.com.au

Forget the WRX..I’ll take the STI BRZ!!
THanks!!
Dave W

Come on Subaru, if you’re not doing anything, Mitsubishi is not going to be stale as well.
- Dave W
  
  Is going to be stale*
Showtime

If Subaru still manufactured that STI Version 5 above, I would tell them to shutup and take my money!
Showtime

And if they are returning to their roots can Subaru please bring back frame-less door windows?
- Zaccy16
  
  And bring back the japanese quality in their cars
Zahmad

Now that they do have the BRZ product in their lineup as the coupe, there’s no need for a two door WRX, however they have said it will be further differentiated with their regular Impreza….so who knows…
whatthe…

In two years time most of the tradtional WRX owners will have moved on. Too late Subaru.
- Garrywhoper
  
  Moved on or be in prison for sex crimes against our white women
  - dilligaf
    
    WTF
  - tiddy
    
    Nothing like a a very poor generalisation.
Scoot123

I owned a MY98 WRX and to this day it is still the best car I have ever owned. In its day it was THE best bang for your buck car you could buy and smoked nearly everthing on the road.

Today,unfortunately for Subaru, the game has moved so far forward that they have been left well and truly behind.

It would have to be something pretty special to get back to those glory days…
qikturbo

If Subaru(and others) quit trying to emulate the Golf GTI maybe,just maybe, they will come up with a car for enthuasists rather than catering for people that look like they sucked on a lemon!
- Guest
  
  But that is where the car sells. Enthusiast are only part of the market and are not enough numbers for a car manufacturer. That’s why all of these Japanese companies stopped building sports cars in the first place.
  - Dave W
    
    But at the same time, car companies need a halo performance model to drive sales. Even better if the halo model is successful in a motorsport. It feeds on fanboyism and fanboys will help spread the words.
    
    Just look at how people view Japanese brands now. Except for a few brands, most are seen as boring cars. Back in the days you had people talking about Type Rs, the Z cars and GT-Rs, Evos, WRX, rotary RX-7 even Toyota had the MR2 and Supras. Now, people gravitate towards the Euros since they’re still active in motorsports and make halo performance models.
    
    I personally think Subaru made a mistake separating WRX from the Impreza name. They reckon the WRX fame stopped people from buying the regular Impreza and they want the brand to be more appealing to a more mature market. So now it becomes the average Japanese salaryman boring car.
    
    I wonder if CarAdvice can give us their sales figure before and after the brand separation.
    - Huwtm
      
      In addition to the cars mentioned, looking at some US car sites I noticed that they are still getting some equivalents to those mentioned, for example, Honda here has become a geriatric express, over there you get Coupes in both Accord and Civic. The latter with a 2.4Lt 8000 (8500 on the previous model) screamer! Why can’t we have them as well?
      
      It’s because of Japanese neglect of this market that we are going Euro, at least they are bringing interesting performance variants in.
      - Dave W
        
        Not only that. There are some highly desireable JDM models as well. Even the “boring” Toyota had a turbocharged Caldina station wagon and an R32 rivalling V6 Blade hot hatch.
        
        I personally blame the Australian branch of those Japanese manufacturers. I’ve read many articles talking about how the Aussie branch of a particular brand tried to push for a certain model to be imported here. My guess is, the Aussie branches never pushed for those performance models.
        
        Hopefully the 86/BRZ opened up their eyes that there is enough demands for semi affordable sports cars.
      - Huwtm
        
        yeah my belief too in reference to requested vehicles. The wrong people are in charge. fingers crossed that will change. But won’t hold my breath.
lol

We want 22b revival!!!!!! Do it Subaru you bunch of boring numptys!!!!
Wile E Coyote

The WRX went soft.Subaru clearly did not want to go down the Evo road which lets face it the Evo is a bit of a brutal day to day drive.
So if Sub beefs up the power of the WRX and improves the handling without impacting the ride too much then I think they would be on a winner.
If they go the way of the Evo they may better it but I think that market is much smaller and for me the car would have less appeal as a day to day drive.
Kaas

if its close to the concepts Ive seen…
Subaru going all out to tackle Audi and VW at the same time… and putting the whoopin.

Also the engine is smaller but same power (~220 kW).

I’m definitely on the 2 body variants… short Wagon (think Audi RS4) and a sedan/hatch/lift back.

I’m patiently WAITING for it….. and not doing a good job
davie

Being a longtime fan of WRX’s This is a sad history of subaru throwing away leadership by repeatedly making the wrong decision and mis reading the market.

There is an add for VW at the moment which cleverly points out how other cars are “as good as a golf” i.e. – Golf is the yardstick by which all others measure themselves.

WRX used to be THE YARDSTICKfor small turbo cars. they just threw it away since 2001 and let others define the market for them…

VW GTI ascended right at the right time – Subaru was too busy wrecking the WRX by:

1) Deleting the good stuff people actually liked: – styling, performance, instrumentation, momo steering wheel, 4 pot brakes, standard WRX design cues such as square radiator intake, scoop,

2) not keeping pace with stuff competitors were introducing: – 6 speeds, DSG’s, refinement, decent interior

3) Creating itself new problems for no reason: – more weight, bug eye styling, awful interior, daewoo lanos lookalike hatch, laughable bumper bar styling and chrome strip on my07/08.

Subaru now are in no-mans land, they no longer define the segment so now need to fit into someone elses category as just another follower in a crowded pack. Are they a refined GTI compeditor? Are they a raw EVO compeditor. Who knows anymore?
- Kaas
  
  WRX was never a looker.
  It was popular because of the 4 door sedan “compact” setup… pocket rocket.
  
  Subaru dropped the ball?… or they actually tried to branch into the trend, which is hot hatch market?
  
  the bug eye problem was a bad mistake, but the 2006~2007 was great.
  
  the hatch is nice practical car but ultimately they lacked the interior refinement… which hurts… because for a 70K AUD car… you expect similar interior from other competitors..
  
  the current EVO is the last EVO for a while…. sales wise they failed… so not following Mitsu is a good decision at the moment…
  
  Good as a golf?
  
  lol
  
  VW marketing obviously doing the hard work… they are not the yard stick… if so, they’ll be leading the sales.
  
  GTI is a good car but over rated a bit.
  - davie
    
    I’m not really a GTI fan all. However the consumer/journo “perception” is that it is now the yardstick
    
    Agree that 2006-07 was good. unfortunately, the styling was on its 3rd major design in 6 years. Certainly sends the impression that Subaru was reacting, not leading and not particularly focused on what a WRX really was.
    
    Also – after finally fixing the 06-07, they showed they had learnt nothing and completely stuffed the styling for the 08. An amateur could have designed a better front lights/grille/bumper assembly than what was produced.
    
    Compare 01-07 to the styling of the 95-00 which was iterative and evolved the car in a relatively more focused and disciplined way.
    
    Again – its all about perception and probably goodwill. Subaru angered a lot of devoted and dedicated fans with its messing about between 01 and 09.
    
    It takes a lot of fan/buyer patience to put up with a decade of such foolish manufacturer adventurism and clearly lots of people have left the fold
  - Zaccy16
    
    i agree with your point about the 06-07 model, my favourite too, looked good and drove well, Vw advertising is fantastic, food aus need to have a trip to vw to see hows its done!
    - Showtime
      
      I can remember all the journos bashing the 05-07 Impreza and that the “airplane inspired” grill was hideous and couldn’t wait for the next-gen. Seeing the 05-07 shape now on the road and they look great, especially in STI with the massive wing and gold alloy wheels. Even the 08-12 shape Imprezas don’t look too bad now, especially the MY12 STI.
      
      My favourite designs were the original Impreza, previous generation Liberty and the previous gen Forester.
- Zaccy16
  
  Yeah very correct, the impreza was once a fantastic car, the current standard model is much too heavy and slow, the one before as you said looked very korean and had a terrible cheap interior. its the same way with other subies too unfortunately what were they thinking when they designed the exiga? its completely hideous
Wile E Coyote

Subaru used to be innovative and leaders e.g. AWD ,turbos,build quality.The Liberty for example not long ago was considered as a 3 series alternative.I doubt that would be the case today.
Today their cars are ugly and goofy and the engineering has barely moved on.
They have lost it.
Toyota may as well take them over .
- Monk
  
  Subaru were nowhere near the front on AWD and turbo. Heard of the Audi Sport Quattro for instance?
- Winskor
  
  Toyota? I think not. Hyundai more like it.

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Subaru WRX next generation: one for the fans?

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