Subaru WRX 2015 News

The three-time Australian and four-time Asia-Pacific rally champion is out of a job in rallying at the moment but still competing and having fun in the new side-by-side all-terrain-vehicle class. "It's absolutely fantastic," he says at last week's (MAY 11) national press launch of the 2011 Polaris all-terrain vehicle range at the Holden driver training centre at Norwell on the Gold Coast hinterland. "The jumps are different as you don't go as far, but the landing is much softer. Even though you aren't going as fast the thrill factor is the same." Crocker has been joined by his best mate and former co-driver Greg Foletta in the side-by-side Polaris RZR XP, winning their first outing at the Thumb Pump 300, a desert race near Pinnaroo. "He does the pace notes and he's the winch bitch in the winching events," Crocker says. "It's amazing how it will get up a lot of steep hills the big trucks can't even get up." The 65kW, 875cc twin-cylinder RZR XP ($23,995) replaces the S model and is the "hero" model of the side-by-side range which is their biggest sector, according to Polaris national marketing manager Neil Anderson. "It has been designed as a pure sports machine, not a compromise of farm features and sport," he says. The new side-by-side range features the American company's first electric-powered Ranger and the re-introduction of a diesel side-by-side model. The AWD/2WD Ranger EV ($19,995-$20,995) has range up to 80km, recharges in less than eight hours and has a top speed of 40km/h, a 226kg tray and 567kg towing capacity. Anderson says the EV is popular with wineries as it can be used inside while the diesel should be "a hit" with farmers who prefer diesel power. The 904cc, three-cylinder Ranger Diesel ($20,995) has a 680kg payload, 907.2kg towing capacity and seats three people. The Polaris side-by-side Ranger models come with seats for two, three, four and six people. Polaris also had a prototype machine at the launch, but details are embargoed until August.

Subaru's venerable WRX sedan and wagon have gone STi hunting for 2011. For the first time the WRX uses a wide-body design similar to the Impreza performance flagship. The newest Rex is due in local showrooms around September. Subaru Australia spokesman, David Rowley, says despite becoming an STI lookalike, the new WRX has different bumpers and grille and lacks the STI's quad exhausts. "It's not dissimilar to the STI but there are differences," he says. "The redesign gives the WRX a little more presence." Rowley says the newest WRX continues Subaru's pattern of evolving the WRX with each model update since it was launched in 1994. "Each new model raises the sophistication levels bit-by-bit," he says. The wider body not only gives the car more attitude but the track is also wider to enhance handling. Both the front and rear track have grown 38mm to 1534mm front and 1538mm rear. The car also gets firmer rear subframe bushings and wider 17-inch wheels and tyres for better grip. The standard wheels are now 17x8 versus 17x7s in the 2010 model and tyre sizes are now 235/45 R17 versus 225/45 R17. Power and torque figures for the 2.5-litre turbo-charged four cylinder are expected to remain the same. Visually the Rex gets sharpened bumper corners and wider, blacked-out foglight surrounds. A jutting lip spoiler with three-dimensional detailing emphasises the cars' sporty intent. The grille gets a black base and blacked-out Subaru wing highlights, accentuated by a larger grille and bumper air intake. Subaru says the new design details contribute to a modest improvement in the car's drag coefficient. The car is being unveiled next week at the New York Motor Show.