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2014 Subaru WRX revealed


The fourth-generation Subaru WRX has made its global debut in LA, severing the ties to its Impreza lineage and becoming an independent model that shares only a couple of body panels with the Impreza.

It will be offered only as a sedan, with hatch sales not strong enough -- even here in the car's third-biggest market -- to warrant another five-door body. As we reported earlier this week, the current 2.5-litre engine has been ditched in favour of the WRX's first turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder boxer engine since 2005 -- although the WRX STi will continue to carry a 2.5-litre.

The WRX also gets new transmissions and technology, and sleeker styling -- although, as predicted, far more conservative than the WRX concept from New York motor show earlier this year.

The 2.0-litre mill is related to the one used in the Forester XT and Subaru BRZ, and for the WRX delivers 199kW of power at 5600rpm and 349Nm of torque between 2000-5200rpm – not a big lift on the current model's 195kW and 343Nm -- and peak power arrives 800rpm later. 

But manual transmission fans will applaud the addition of an extra cog to raise the count to six, although there may be some dissension over the automatic getting a continuously variable transmission, although Subaru says the CVT with it's Sports mode eight faux gears is more responsive and sports-oriented than the garden variety boxes.

There were suggestions earlier this week from leaked information that there could be an acceleration penalty, with leaked figures reporting the new manual WRX getting to 100km/h in 5.6 seconds compared to the current 5.3, and the CVT auto in 6.1. However Subaru has not released official performance data, but is promising the new car will slice time off the outgoing model -- and be more efficient than the current 8.1L/100km fuel economy.

The manual car's all-wheel drive will have a centre differential with 50:50 default torque split, while the auto gets Subaru's Variable Torque Distribution with 45:55 default front-to-rear split. The new WRX has better torsional rigidity, firmer suspension and bigger brakes and tyres (235/45 17-inch) plus faster-tuned electric power steering.

The car is slightly longer and has a bigger wheelbase, with a promise of more rear and luggage space -- the latter enhanced by a split rear seatback. The cabin has been given an airier treatment with more glass, and gets a flat-bottomed sports steering wheel, large central screen -- and smaller one with boost data -- premium HarmanKardon nine-speaker audio, carbon-fibre look and red-stitched trim. On the safety list are seven airbags (including driver's kneebag) and reversing camera.

Prices and local specification are yet to be confirmed, and more information will be available closer to March next year, when the WRX rolls into Australian showrooms with its new looks and smaller engine. Let the arguments begin...