2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI automatic

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By Alborz Fallah | July 06th, 2010

It was always going to happen, Subaru’s halo car, the Impreza WRX STI, will soon be available with a five-speed automatic transmission. The Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive Model Year 2011 Impreza WRX STI will then be able to compete with the Mitsubishi Evolution X SST and the recently launched Volkswagen Golf R, both of which offer dual-clutch rapid-shift transmissions.

In Subaru’s case the five-speed automatic will be a traditional gearbox but the company says it will still remain a “fantastic driver’s car”. Given the STI has been known for being the ultimate in practical sportcars, the introduction of an automatic gearbox comes at no surprise.

“We’ve had increasing enquires about an auto over the last two years and we’re delighted to be able to deliver what a significant number of customers have requested.” said Nick Senior, Managing Director, Subaru Australia

No doubt the popular variant will still remain the Impreza WRX STIs six-speed manual. The updated Impreza WRX STI will be available in both sedan and hatch body-types late this year.

Subaru Japan also sells a premium-interior version of the STI, however Subaru Australia public relations spokeswoman Alicia Cannon told CarAdvice that no decision has yet been made on which features will be available once the 2011 model launches here.

Read more on the 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI

Currently Subaru Australia has not officially announced pricing and specification data.

Would you buy an automatic STI?

Grammar Nazi

If it’s a traditional torque-converter, then Subaru haven’t put it in to improve performance (whereas DSG, for example, actually makes you go faster), they’ve put it in to broaden their appeal, which ultimately means that more novice drivers can drive a car with an STi badge on it, this will water down STi’s credibility.

Grammar Nazi

Info published on another site:

“… torque has been lowered from 407Nm to 350Nm to reduce stress on the automatic transmission.”

To answer your question: No. I wouldn’t buy it.

Toxic_Horse

Why would anyone bother?

Devil’s Advocate

Not everyone has a nice back road somewhere to make the most of a manual. Like many drivers of “niche” cars they may only want to pose on their favourite suburban street. That way the auto will make it easier for them in the cut and thrust of accelerating and decelerating between speed bumps or the stop/start in heavy traffic between the lights due to all the other posers doing the same thing on a Friday/Saturday night… TVFPIC

If it is a good enough transmission why not open up options? Plenty of higher end and higher performance cars have a torque converter automatic. For example, try and find an AMG Merc with a manual transmission, they are few and far between. Plus you only have to look at something like the XR6 Turbo with the ZF auto to see how good a car car be with a decent conventional automatic transmission.

Damned if they do, damned if they don’t I guess…

Tomas79

Too Right!!
After dark, as I drive around the coastal areas, I keep on getting stuck behind these muppets in their lowered ricers and falcadores, as they accelerate, and then drastically slow down over speed bumps, probably to emphasise to their girlfriends that they have cut springs on their $4000 sports cars…
They are really getting on my nerves, as they really hold me up on my journey…

Dave

You need to relax.
I prefer to see people slow down for speed humps, than see the SUV owners who dont slow down for them.

gt6

Why would I bother? If I was allowed to spend 60K on a car, the wife (with only an auto licence) would be demanding the keys as well.

Family Guy

If the wife only had an auto licence, I would definitely buy the manual

ox

about time the made it in auto, opened it up to a whole new market.

Toxic_Horse

Come to think of it. this is probally targeting amercians.

superfly

haha…nice try. But, its the Australians who are trailblazing this idea. Did you read the article?

http://caradvice OSU811

who cares as long as you can still buy one
with the fantastic STI 6 speed manual!!!

JML

The STi is fantastic. The 6 speed manual is not. Subaru are not reknowned for their transmissions. As an owner I can tell you the 5MT in the WRX is especially clunky.

Sick of Muscle Cars

It still looks ugly !!!
Alex

Hopefully witht he torque rating of this box it my find its way in the Forester XT to replace the POS 4EAT 4 speed auto that is STILL in operation!
RK

Seriously pointless. The price of a WRX STI is for performance (you can obviously do far better at that price for comfort, luxury and equipment and still get good performance). The automatic’s performance will be worse than the manual, so the only people who would buy a WRX STI automatic are complete posers who want the look and the rep but don’t actually care about how well it drives. Or people who do care about how well it drives but can’t be bothered learning how to drive a manual (probably even worse than the posers).

If it came with a good DSG which actually slightly increased 0-100 speed, that would be different…

Kevin

Exactly, well said mate.

John

Does a standard torque converter auto actually work well with a small capacity turbo engine? Obviously manuals and dual clutch boxes do, but because of the torque delivery of smaller capacity turbo engines I think a standard automatic would be totally clueless. I could be wrong but larger capacity N/A or turbo engines produce strong torque from down low allowing them too work reasonably well with an auto box! Stick with the manual IMO!
Gene

I like the blue one without the crazy wing.
macca

was actually looking forward to seeing this come out as an alternative in peak hr traffic. however looking at the new Golf R with turbo, AWD, DSG and driveaway price just over $50k – this makes the STi standard auto less convincing.

standard autos are fine in say a C class merc where you want nice smooth acceleration in a luxury ‘sports’ saloon. but for a hot hatch or compact sports sedan, it really has to be dual clutch for outright agility (in terms of autos). anyway, good on subaru for the offering, it could be worth a comparison test drive – but only if they price it closer to $50k.

ps – toyota, as a significant subaru shareholder, pull your finger out and help your little brother design a dual-clutch box, even Ford are using one.
Flying High

What a half ar$ed attempt Subaru! Do double clutch manual? Shame on you. I can’t imagine anyone wanting to buy one but i dont know anyone that lame. And there will be even fewer wanting it second hand. Just buy a standard WRX if you want an auto! What a blight this will be on the STi badge.

Gene

They will need to sell an auto WRX before you can buy one.

paully

with the likes of the golf r and audi s3, an auto awd turbo
YES PLEASE
start stop bumper to bumper traffic in the mornings are a thing of the past
davie

How VW does things:

Wow, we have just spent lots of money and time developing a complex DSG auto gearbox with Getrag! Lets put it in all our models ASAP to get some return on our investment and improve our fuel economy and market perception. This will make people buy our cars.

How Subaru does things:

Wow, we have just spent lots of money and time developing a complex 5 speed auto gearbox with Asian. Lets not put it in any of our cars at all… except some 6 Cylinder models and 6 years later, when its obvious we are so far behind our competitors, lets put it in the STI in Japan and then Australia 2 years after that when no one cares anymore. In the mean time, lets keep our abysmal 4 speed auto so everyone thinks that we are stuck in the 80′s.
Nick K

Is this the best Subaru can do? The golf r looks like a better option all round. Vale Subaru it was nice knowing you.