And the belated Sedan is coming finally
http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...p:content2:wrx
And the belated Sedan is coming finally
http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...p:content2:wrx
Last edited by DR GTR; 03-12-08 at 10:44 AM. Reason: spelling
The more refined third-generation WRX upset the cult car's traditional fan base - so Subaru has restored some agility and aggression with a new version.
2009 Subaru Impreza WRX
2009 Subaru Impreza WRX
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2009 Subaru Impreza WRX 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX
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Subaru has released a new version of the Impreza WRX in response to criticisms from driving enthusiasts.
The significantly modified Impreza WRX performance car has entered showrooms less than 16 months after the third-generation WRX went on sale.
The 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX (or 'MY09' for model year 2009) features a range of improvements designed to make the car more agile and more powerful than before. Changes to the Impreza WRX include increased engine performance, stiffened suspension and new tyres, though pricing remains at $39,990.
The mechanical tweaks to the WRX hatch coincide with the belated launch of a sedan version of the WRX (which also benefits from the changes), though Subaru Australia admits the revised car is aimed at appeasing disgruntled fans of the cult performance car.
"In the first three months of the WRX going on sale we had our first feedback that while the move to embrace a wider target audience had been successful some of the traditional buyers felt alienated," says Subaru Australia boss Nick Senior.
"They wanted a WRX that was more in keeping with their expectations and what they had tasted over the years."
Senior says local customer responses were fed back to Subaru HQ in Japan, and before even the end of 2007 the Australian subsidiary was working with its parent company to develop a sportier suspension package to satisfy the WRX’s loyal fan base.
Australia wasn’t the only Subaru market in the world sending criticisms back to Japan. However, Subaru Australia’s strong positioning in the Japanese car maker’s constellation – it’s the third-biggest market after Japan and North America – allowed the company to request a unique WRX suspension tailored specifically for Australian roads.
In addition to the stiffer suspension, the new WRX features a more powerful 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder (there's an extra 26kW to a class-leading 195kW) and more torque (up 23Nm to 343Nm).
2009 Subaru Impreza WRX 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX
There are also new, wider tyres from Dunlop that replace Yokohamas.
Subaru says the result is a significant improvement in performance, with the new WRX shaving half a second off its 0-100km/h time; the new WRX now achieves the benchmark in 5.3 seconds.
Subaru says its own testing – using Subaru rally drivers Cody Crocker and Dean Herridge – confirms gains in other performance parameters, including the standard quarter mile, or 0-400m test (0.8 seconds quicker) and in-gear acceleration (0.6 seconds quicker in fifth gear from 80-120km/h).
Subaru’s Senior says that despite the mechanical upgrades the company is not abandoning its plan to reach new customers with the WRX.
"The only real change is a more sporty suspension," he says. "The rest of the car has that refinement we introduced on the MY08 model that is still appealing to a broader market."
Senior says the hatchback version of the WRX will continue to attract the newer buyers, skewed towards a more female, younger demographic. The new sedan will be favoured by the more traditional WRX buyer, he says.
Subaru Australia expects the mix to be split evenly between hatch and sedan, while the company hopes the mechanical improvements combined with the introduction of the new four-door will help to nearly double WRX sales.
"We are currently averaging about 80 WRX sales per month, but we want to grow that to about 120-150 per month," says Senior.
Subaru Australia has sold more than 25,000 WRXs since the model – affectionately nicknamed ‘Rex’ – launched in 1994, with a best-ever annual result of 3776 sales in 1999.
Senior says that while WRX enthusiasts are always vocal, other car makers would be envious of the car’s following.
"The WRX since its launch in 1994 has become an iconic car, a vehicle appreciated by a very passionate customer base," he says.
"They are the first to tell us when we get something right, and the first to tell us when we’ve got it wrong.
"It’s great to have those passionate customers, because you do get feedback; it’s not as though you have this huge passive audience that a lot of brands get."
Still looks like arse though...
1994 V8 SoarerOriginally Posted by Jim
I feel that rules are important as without rules there is no cheating and cheating is a vital part of drag racing.
1991 V8 Soarer The 5k project track hack
Yep. Getting power out of these was never the issue.
I liked the move to a hatch as I just don't particularly sedans, but to see them screw it up so badly was amazing. I just couldn't bring myself to own one.
The back of the sedan isn't too bad looking though, and is definitely what they needed to get the old market back. Maybe the next model will fix up the front.
I watched the british Top gear two nights ago and the STi vs Evo was on. The evo performed flawlessly and going into the corner faster than ferraris. The Sti on the other hand they didnt want to mention it. You could clearly see the Sti understeering and sliding all over the place and spinning out. Sad indeed.
Suprisingly the times were similar!
"If you can make black marks on a straight from the time you turn out of a corner until the braking point of the next turn, then you have enough horsepower." - Mark Donahue Penske Porsche 917
"In Japan we no give fark for Subaru" - Trust Japan Technical Director
(TM - AVENGE)
"You can never have enough power. I remember when we had Group B cars... THEN we had enough power!"
Juha Kankkunen - Rally of Argentina '02
The GTR was cheating!
Oh, wait.
Looks like a turd, nothing can fix that. At least owning it means you cant see the outside of it when you drive it.
i don't wanna comment on the UK market given they have that FQ360 shit
and the EVOs seem much more expensive than the STIs
but here it's the 5 spd manual WRX $39,900 vs. the 6 spd auto Ralliart at $42k
the WRX would waste the Ralliart pretty much everywhere but you're gonna work at it with the 5 spd
neither one is 'better' - rather which one suits the buyer
They were released at the Sydney motorshow 2 months ago
fixed
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just saw the sedan in parramatta
it makes the hatch look good!
surly that wasnt possible
and ive had 3 beers so it should have helped
but noooooooooooooooooo
Where is the sedan picture? I can't see it.
Previously known as Lobster, Chuss's brother's anus, Chuss's brother, Lobsook, Lobstersock, Socks, Sockz, MissAmericaImportGirl, ClutchCLobster
CJM 4 Life yo!
It's not in the article for some reason.
http://z.about.com/d/cars/1/0/s/k/su...5ised_rear.jpg
That's a good shot of the rear.
Sir, your Accordi-Kia-roo has arrived
Cars are still coming from the factory with under 200kw?
Hmmm....
Makes me think of a Hyundai Accent butt or something....
I think it looks better than the hatch though.
Previously known as Lobster, Chuss's brother's anus, Chuss's brother, Lobsook, Lobstersock, Socks, Sockz, MissAmericaImportGirl, ClutchCLobster
CJM 4 Life yo!
Yes! Kia Rio
Sir, your Accordi-Kia-roo has arrived
Thats what it reminds me of
Previously known as Lobster, Chuss's brother's anus, Chuss's brother, Lobsook, Lobstersock, Socks, Sockz, MissAmericaImportGirl, ClutchCLobster
CJM 4 Life yo!
That boot looks far too small for a giant box wing?
Could the wheels be any gayer?
Its like when you see a hot chicks nasty looking mum, you know back in the day she was a stunner then she got old and had a face lift and then had to have another one to fix the last one after the doctor botched the first job.
So now she just looks like some kind of deep sea monster.
At Uncles house we give no fark for subaru.
That sedan sucks balls and way more than the hatch which I thought was unpossible!!! Mechanical by Japan - design by Korea?
PF's personal purveyor of pleasant wooden penises.
it's one of those classic designs where the fronts look like 16s and the backs look like 14s
if it performed well maybe they would have a leg to stand on, but compared to the evo and other similar sports cars, subaru seems to have lost it's way with these cars.
i remember seeing them (previous models) on best motoring atleast putting on a show against the gtr and evo.
now, they are always at the back just understeering off the road, haha.
hell even the fwd vw's beat them in most track tests.
190kw why why why
just make it 206kw for marketing reasons, jap performance cars had this power 10 years ago as standard, yet the wrx is no doubt heavier and doesn't even match it today.
give the sti 240 or so to match/better the evo power, give the sales people something to talk about to potential customers.
What are you on about?
This is the base model WRX... it now has 18kW more than the Ralliart lancer and O/S tests have the updated WRX very close to the STi as far as acceleration goes. Completely blitzes the Ralliart Lancer (same price bracket)
If you watched Top Gear the other night you would have seen that a WRX STI will lap their track faster than the seemingly almighty EVOX.
if you held a gun to my head i'd probably take a WRX sedan over a Ralliart Lancer
the simple fact of the matter is it's 4.7 vs 7.3 secs 0-100
the lancer turned out way softer than expected
the wrx turned out to be what a wrx is
Agreed. I think Subaru have pretty much followed the same design/performance spec for all of the WRX's, and for good reason - it works. They have never been the most attractive cars, but they are pretty damn quick, reliable, and great value which is why every model has sold well despite their love/hate nature. The competition is catching up but the WRX is still the class leader and unless the other manufacturers do something spectacular instead of just imitating it, that’s how things will stay.
T.
Subaru and Alfa Romeo should be forced to merge
Theyre like the yin and yang of the car world
One is style and no substance
The other is substance with no style
Last edited by UZZ31; 03-12-08 at 06:21 PM.
1994 V8 SoarerI feel that rules are important as without rules there is no cheating and cheating is a vital part of drag racing.
1991 V8 Soarer The 5k project track hack
They tried that with the pig nose grille on the last model Tribeca. I'm fairly sure an Alfa guy did the design actually. He just flipped his last grille upside down and knocked the rest of the car up in 5 minutes. Voila - instant shitheap.
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