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We know many Subaru WRX fans believe the company should have simply frozen the first model and left it the way it was in all apects, for all time. That was never going to happen. Every time the Impreza WRX is facelifted those caught in the WRX timewarp shudder at the thought their beloved shape may again be altered, and not for the better. WRX owners and aficionado are not backward in coming forward. At times they have made a legitimate point and are fortunate Subaru is a company that listens to it's customers.
We may be wrong but we doubt there are too many WRX fans out there that would not agree the latest incarnation - the wide bodied WRX - is the best-ever REX in appearance. We don't really like going on about a car's appearance too much as looks are subjective. But, of all the current cars from all makes it's the one that always seems to invite controversy and criticism. One of the issues facing WRX and WRX Sti over the years is the fact they are Impreza-based and face an identity crisis because of this. An entry-level Impreza did not look all that different from a WRX costing roughly double that amount. We have no doubt some owners probably enjoyed the relative anonymity of blending into the crowd.
Subaru has put that problem well and truly to bed by giving WRX and WRX Sti an identity of their own with the new wide-bodied model. Subaru called the body extensions 'blistered guards', but if they were honest, albeit policitally incorrect, they would use the term steroidal. The new metal jackets have an impact of being no-more-mister-nice-guy, which is where the WRX belongs. Some WRX fanatics might even claim the company did not use enough steriods. Let's not forget in WRX's early days this car was the favoured choice of hold-up men and bank robbers alike, although unlike the rest of us, they did not actually purchase their cars.
STYLING
Perhaps, the real irony though, is this latest WRX may look the part of a Rambo, but behind the wheel is as smooth as George Clooney. Even that may irk some WRX fans who prefer a more 'agricultural' WRX, like those who believe the debut model of 1994 should have been enbalmed. After a week in the latest WRX sedan we can say this: We love the way it drives and we think the exterior appearance is pitched tough without being over-the-top and alienating the not-so-young WRX audience.
Both WRX and WRX Sti now share a body shape that is different from garden-variety Impreza, and varies slighly between the two turbo-charged, high-performance models in both sedan and the familiar hatch shapes. There is good news too for the back pocket: This new WRX holds it's price from $39,990.00 before dealer and government on-road costs. In addition to the bolder body style, WRX also gains wider tyres and track to fill in the extra wheel well space plus add improved handling. Bluetooth wireless compatability has also been added.
We also like the new rear end of the WRX with four 80mm tailpipes peeping out from under the new bumper to further enhance the traditional boxer engine note. Sharper bumper corners add to the aggressive appearance and a new design for the foglights highlight the wider, more aggro appearance. Subaru have also gone with a larger, dark-finish grille that merges with the headlight lines. Unseen, but still critical to the car's poise is an upgraded rear suspension. The interior has been upgraded too, although we felt the overall impression was too dark. No doubt the boy-racer and doof-doof crowd will like this aspect. WRX and WRX Sti are now both protected by DataDot security, much to the chagrin of those who find cars before they are lost.
SAFETY
Performance cars need to have a higher degree of engineering and safety equipment and in this aspect WRX is unchanged. Front and side airbags, plus full length front and rear side curtain airbags, ABS brakes with Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Stability Control, child seat anchor points, four wheel disc brakes, hill start assist, rear door child locks, seat belt indicator lights, AWD ...this car has a long list of passive and active safety gear.
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
The bottom-line of WRX is twofold: Looks and go. We really like the new appearance and the fact the car can now be easily distinguished from the non-turbo Impreza stable and the closer alignment with the STi variant. On the 'go' side, this is the most refined WRX yet which distances the car away from being a boy racer and opens it up to a wider audience. Our test car, for instance, was conservative silver and could easily be the wheels of choice of a business professional. This facelift for the WRX did not include mechanical changes with the car undergoing a major upgrade just last year. This included going to the 2.5 litre turbo-charged boxer engine that puts out 195 kW of power and 343 Nm of torque, dispelling legitimate criticism from WRX fanatics that the 2007 model had gone backwards in the performance area. The upgrade saw WRX cover 0-100 km/h in just 5.3 seconds, half a second quicker than the previous WRX.
Our week in the WRX included urban shopping trips, a couple of trips to Brisbane on the M1, including as stop-start 45 minute hold-up that tested the drivers patience as well as the car. In the real-world a manual high-performance car like the WRX is generally unsuited to traffic snarls. But, the WRX 's refinement - smooth engine, minimal turbo-lag, soft clutch, deft gearbox, good vision - meant the stop-start time on the M1 was a bit of a chore, but certainly not a put-off. We suffered no more than anyone else. Once free of the snarls the WRX was eager to get going and the 0-100 km/h acceleration is something else from a car with a recommended retail price of under $40,000. The AWD system lends itself to tramping hard, even when cornering, with the knowledge of course that every car has it's limits, as do drivers. The WRX is sure-footed, even on wet, slippery surfaces thanks to some fine engineering. At the next upgrade one change we'd like to see is a sixth or overdrive gear with a view to improving economy on long-haul, high-speed trips.
MODEL RANGE
WRX 2.5-litre four-door sedan: $39,990 (manual)
WRX 2.5-litre five-door hatch: $39,990 (manual)
WRX STI 2.5-litre five-door hatch: $59,990 (manual)
WRX STI Spec R 2.5-litre five-door hatch: $64,990 (manual)
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard on all models
Air Conditioning: Standard on all models
Automatic Transmission: Not offered
CD Player: Standard on all models
Central Locking: Standard on all models
Cruise Control: Standard on all models
Dual Front Airbags: Standard on all models
Front Side Airbags: Standard on all models
Stability Control: Standard on all models
Traction Control: Standard on all models
SPECIFICATIONS (Subaru WRX 2.5-litre four-door sedan)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 2.457 litres
Configuration: Four cylinders horizontally opposed
Head Design: DOHC, four valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: 8.4:1
Bore/Stroke: 99.5 mm x 79.0 mm
Maximum Power: 195 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque: 343 Nm @ 4000 rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: All-Wheel-Drive
Manual Transmission: Five-speed
Automatic Transmission: Not offered
Final Drive Ratio: 4.444:1
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4580 mm
Wheelbase: 2620 mm
Width: 1740 mm
Height: 1475 mm
Turning Circle: 10.8 metres
Kerb Mass: 1410 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 60 litres
Towing Ability: 650 kg (1200 kg with braked trailer)
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: Independent, MacPherson struts, anti-roll bar
Rear Suspension: Independent, double wishbones, anti-roll bar
Front Brakes: Ventilated disc
Rear Brakes: Disc
PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 5.3 seconds
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Type: Petrol 95RON
Combined Cycle (ADR 81/01): 10.4 L/100km
GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:
Greenhouse Rating: 5/10
Air Pollution Rating: 8.5/10
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Three years/unlimited km
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