Subaru previews the WRX
It may be toned down from the concept car, but the next-generation WRX shows promise
After the stunning Subaru WRX Concept made its debut earlier this year, followed by months of seemingly endless speculation, bickering and rumours, Subaru finally released a rather revealing teaser of the upcoming 2015 WRX.
Subaru’s concept cars have a tendency to lose their edginess when moving from concept to production. The WRX seems to be no exception, toned down considerably from the borderline outlandish WRX Concept from the New York Auto Show. Still, with a huge hood scoop, bulging fenders and BRZ-inspired daytime running lights up front, it’s clear the production WRX won’t skimp on the aggressiveness when it makes its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show next week.
Initial hubbub pegged the WRX and STI as completely separate models from the Impreza, but that won’t be the case. The WRX will still share its genes with the Impreza, but will sport a couple of new powertrains. Rumour has it the current pair of 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engines will be swapped out for turbocharged variants of the BRZ’s FA20 2.0-litre Boxer.
It is also rumoured that Subaru will drop the WRX and STI hatchback for 2015 and go for a sedan-only lineup, at least in North America. That detail has yet to be determined, but wouldn’t seem wise, considering most — if not all — of its competitors are hatchbacks.
At the same time as the WRX debuts next week, Subaru will unveil the Levorg Concept at the Tokyo Motor Show.
In fact, look closely at the Levorg teaser shots: Could it be a hatchback or a wagon version of the WRX? Let us know what you think of the 2015 WRX in the comments section at driving.ca.