- Subaru will unveil its new Impreza WRX lineup at the New York auto show.
- The 2011 WRX's track is widened by 1.5 inches at the front and rear, and the cars get 1-inch-wider wheels and tires.
- Pricing has not yet been announced for the '11 WRX, which hits dealerships this summer.
NEW YORK — Subaru of America is rolling out its 2011 Impreza WRX with a wide-body design similar to that on the flagship WRX STI. The automaker calls it a "wide and low" look; Executive Vice President Tom Doll says the change makes the WRX into "an even more compelling all-wheel-drive performance package." The new models will debut at the 2010 New York Auto Show, and arrive in dealerships this summer.
The 2011 Impreza WRX comes in four- and five-door versions, both with a turbocharged 2.5-liter boxer four-cylinder engine making 265 horsepower and 244 pound-feet of torque. The engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission.
Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive is used in the Continuous AWD version, with a viscous-coupling locking center differential. Stability and traction control are standard, along with the Incline Star Assist system for which Subaru is known on manual-transmission models.
The 2011 WRX's track is widened by 1.5 inches at the front and rear, and the cars get 1-inch-wider wheels and tires. The front fenders and rear quarter-panels are also wider. The four-door model is 6.5 inches longer than the five-door, Subaru says, and its trunk can hold three Tour-size golf bags.
Aesthetically, the 2011 WRX has a new grille with blacked-out base, lip spoiler and wider foglamp openings. The interior has carbon-black checkered upholstery with red accent stitching, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and aluminum alloy pedal covers and driver's footrest. A navigation system is optional.
Curb weight is up by 34 pounds on the 2011 WRX over the outgoing model.
Pricing was not announced for the 2011 models. The 2010 WRX models were priced starting at $24,995 for the four-door and $25,495 for the five-door model.
Inside Line says: You complained and Subaru listened. The new WRX sedan finally looks like a serious street-legal rally car instead of a warmed-over Toyota Corolla. — Laura Sky Brown, Correspondent
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k55 says:
09:54 AM, 05/03/2011
I would like them to offer a WRX 2 door hatch.
ricoglover says:
03:28 PM, 04/14/2010
As the manager for a Subaru dealership I've seen the great response. We are not looking at getting them in until at least Aug or Sep. Should be great to have. I know they will be limited.
mugwomp says:
10:22 AM, 04/04/2010
tbone85, there doesn't appear to be a single piece of body cladding on this new WRX.
I have an 02 sedan. There isn't a single piece of cladding on that model, either.
I'm 40, I think the fender flares look sporty and have always loved a good, functional hood scoop. As a car enthusiast, I appreciate the unapologetic sportiness of this new WRX. Only thing I'm not thrilled about is the uninspired design of the rear of the sedan. Still looks like an old Ford Focus.
When I think "boy racer" I think of ghetto-modded Civics and cars like that.
The boxed fenders hardly reference that style of car.
I've seen more exaggerated creases and body lines in Cadialac's current line up.
Does that make them "boy racer" cars?
evilxt says:
01:12 PM, 04/03/2010
"You complained and Subaru listened. The new WRX sedan finally looks like a serious street-legal rally car instead of a warmed-over Toyota Corolla. - Laura Sky Brown, Correspondent"
well they left the corolla brakes on it...
sabastian says:
07:46 AM, 04/01/2010
Where is the six-speed, Subaru? It's not 1995 anymore.
powderhound says:
05:52 AM, 04/01/2010
Let's see some other views before passing judgement. The wider fenders and wheels / tires might make a difference from other angles. I wonder if there are brake upgrades? That seems to be the weak link in my 07 WRX.
mungmibear says:
12:13 AM, 03/27/2010
Subaru should hire a new chief of design.
tbone85 says:
05:01 PM, 03/26/2010
Your explanation relates more to engineering than design. They had many different design options to achieve the desired performance result. This version has a bunch of creases, exaggerated haunches and body cladding--precislely the type of "boy racer" design language that Pontiac was widely criticized for. Some like the approach, others don't.
It's a matter of taste, and many discussions of why someone doesn't like the way a desgin looks are decidely effete. What explanation would have been satisfactory for someone commenting on the esthetics of, for example, the Aztech? One approach is to say "It appears ungainly due to the odd proportions, strange back end, and bizarre body cladding"? Another is to say "The Aztech looks like an embarrasing pile of crap." Different strokes.
ravenstyle says:
11:30 AM, 03/26/2010
NO one has to agree with me tbone85. it's just that comments like "running short on ideas" "leaving something to be desired" "pontiac wrx" etc... need to be backed up by some kind of explanation. if you carefully read my post i gave information and explained reasons as to WHY Subaru gave the wrx a wider body and track. I didn't simply just make a senseless comment like soooo many people who write posts make. I guess you can tell this frustrates me and probably other people who write posts that don't just include nonsensical remarks. lol.
tbone85 says:
11:17 AM, 03/26/2010
Or could it be they simply disagree with you and think the car is unattractive?