2014 Subaru WRX?

[M-17]

According to Motor Trend...

By Christian Seabaugh, March 26, 2013

There are a few constants in the lineage of the Subaru WRX: it'll be rally-ready, turbocharged, all-wheel drive, and look absolutely nothing like the last model. The Subaru WRX Concept that just made its debut at the 2013 New York auto show is no different.

Though officially just a design study and lacking an interior, the Subaru WRX Concept looks about ready to hit the streets. No longer a part of the Impreza line, the WRX goes its own way with edgier styling influenced by the Nissan GT-R. Lower, longer, sleeker, and wider, the WRX Concept sports a hexagonal Jaguar-like recessed grille, and functional air intakes in the valence. Subaru's now-signature hawk-eye headlights make an appearance here, as does the WRX's iconic hood scoop. The wild wide wheel arches that flare into the rear diffuser and the quad-tipped exhaust we know and love return, but otherwise Subaru's concept car goes its own way.

The four-door WRX Concept has a new coupe-like profile and a trapezoidal rear-end that mimics the shapes of the front. The fast, arching roof is made from carbon fiber in an effort to keep the center of gravity low. Wearing a new color called WR Blue Pearl III, the WRX is accented with fluorescent yellow brake calipers and WRX badging. Not surprisingly, the WRX Concept is riding on BBS wheels. If we had to guess, we'd say the WRX Concept was more production-ready than not, though we wouldn't be surprised to see the rear end significantly reworked with a less-aggressive diffuser and tamer taillights.

Subaru's playing coy on the WRX Concept's technical specs other than mentioning that it's turbocharged and all wheel drive (shocking, right?). The automaker has said in the past that it'd be powered by a turbocharged version of the BRZ's 2.0-liter F-4.

That engine makes up to 280 hp in some Japanese-market vehicles. We're confident that the WRX Concept will make more power than the current WRX's 265 hp and 244 lb-ft of torque, and we could even see it being as powerful as the outgoing 305-hp WRX STI. The engine isn't the only thing the WRX Concept borrows from the BRZ; also apparently borrowed from Subaru's lightweight two-door sports car is a renewed focus on handling. Subaru promises sharp steering, sharp handling, and better body and chassis control than the outgoing Impreza WRX.

Speaking of the outgoing model, the WRX Concept is both smaller and larger than the current WRX. The WRX Concept is 2.3 inches shorter, 3.7 inches wider, and 3.4 inches lower in stature. The WRX's wheelbase has grown from 103.3 inches to 108.7 inches, likely making for a less frantic and more stable ride.

Though Subaru's new WRX Concept checks-off many of the WRX constants like turbocharged-power and all-wheel drive, one staple that likely won't return is a hatchback and variants. Expect to see the next-gen WRX sedan to hit the streets as early as next year.

Scott Evans contributed to this story.

[ashtray]

Gotta convince my wife that I need this car! (but also keep my BRZ and other WRX - I might lose my bugeye...)

Wait - no hatchback?! :sad: guess I'm keeping my bugeye wagon after all. (Wife will have to put up with me having 3 Subarus, and no budget to buy her a new car for the foreseeable future! . )

[kbye]

They better keep the hatchback!!

[Levi]

I don't get how such a large sedan will compete in WRC. The new WRC cars are all from a lower segment: VW Polo, Ford Fiesta, Citroen DS3, Peugeot 208, Hyundai i30, etc...

[maximumunicorn]

Honestly, this is the most realistic picture that I've seen so far. And by realistic I mean "possibly like a production model," not "wow, this is definitely not photoshopped!"



It's over on this thread at iwsti:
http://www.iwsti.com/forums/subaru-n...-included.html

I understand that each of these rumors has to be taken with a grain of salt, but the "Car and Driver" one seems to be the most realistic. It's not that I don't like the WRB concept in this thread, but it seems like too much of a departure from the current design.

Originally Posted by kbye

They better keep the hatchback!!

And yes, it's a hatchback.

[SVTSHC]

Originally Posted by M-17

Wow I never thought I see the day of a WRX STi convertible.




I know that's random, but wtf were they thinking?

There went my breakfast.

[Moshpit37]

Originally Posted by maximumunicorn

Honestly, this is the most realistic picture that I've seen so far. And by realistic I mean "possibly like a production model," not "wow, this is definitely not photoshopped!"



It's over on this thread at iwsti:
http://www.iwsti.com/forums/subaru-n...-included.html

I understand that each of these rumors has to be taken with a grain of salt, but the "Car and Driver" one seems to be the most realistic. It's not that I don't like the WRB concept in this thread, but it seems like too much of a departure from the current design.



And yes, it's a hatchback.

I believe this is the actual 2014 MY production car which goes on sale in the very near future. But if the Motor Trend article is to be believed (Which I REALLY, REALLY want to!) this new concept could be for the NEXT version which would likely come out in 2014 or 2015. I truly believe that Subaru is making this current version "just because they have to" as an extension of the Impreza line, while the big goal is to, as Motor Trend states, turn the WRX into it's own separate line altogether, while possibly axing the Impreza as well. As has been previously reported, the 2014 Impreza/WRX/STi have already been pulled from the UK market, which doesn't show a lot of confidence in the current model. I'd bet dollars to doughnuts the next WRX/STi will be based off of the BRZ platform, and this new concept falls in line with that theory.

[OldSkoolToys]

Originally Posted by Moshpit37

I believe this is the actual 2014 MY production car which goes on sale in the very near future. But if the Motor Trend article is to be believed (Which I REALLY, REALLY want to!) this new concept could be for the NEXT version which would likely come out in 2014 or 2015. I truly believe that Subaru is making this current version "just because they have to" as an extension of the Impreza line, while the big goal is to, as Motor Trend states, turn the WRX into it's own separate line altogether, while possibly axing the Impreza as well. As has been previously reported, the 2014 Impreza/WRX/STi have already been pulled from the UK market, which doesn't show a lot of confidence in the current model. I'd bet dollars to doughnuts the next WRX/STi will be based off of the BRZ platform, and this new concept falls in line with that theory.

^ agreeing here.

However, back when the rumors hit that the next iteration of the WRX would come out (And be breaking away from the Impreza line), it was hinted that the coupe version would be coming back.

All I see here is a sedan. Thankfully, however, its still in concept form, and in the near future we might see a coupe version as well be leaked.

As was stated earlier in the thread, the GC was the best looking WRX (imo, and probably amongst most enthusiasts), and the coupe version was especially so. I mean if you're going to finally give the WRX the freedom to use a strict sports platform...why not bring back the illustrious 22B? Please?....Pretty Please?

[dorifuto]

The silver concept looks good but I don't think the 4 lug wrc wheels will make it.

[dsgerbc]

No hatch? Crap, I gotta find '13 sti pronto.

[DeepHunta]

REFUSE! If you asked me 3 months ago, I would be all over this new WRX. I was seriously planning on trading in my Legacy for an STI. Then I looked at my ultimate use of an AWD car: It's to go to the mountains and do some soft off-roading. Can't do that on an STI without scraping its bottom.

It dawned on me: I need ground clearance. If I want driving fun on asphalt, that's what the BRZ is for. For gravel and snow: A high ground clearance AWD car...thinking of 2014 Forester XT. Got BRZ engine with a turbo!

[Sasquachulator]

Originally Posted by stilletto

Too Dodge Chargery.. Hope to see a new Gearbox.

It looks FAR closer to a Jaguar XF/XJ than it does to a Charger.

[raptor87]

Looks like an evo from the side

[LeeMaster]

Looks ugly, looks like the new Civic. The only thing I like about it is the rear diffusers and the STi/WRX(?) brembo brakes.