2015 Subaru WRX & STi - WRX Wagon on the way?

[Kent]

Cant wait to see it, if the pricing and style are right (assuming performance gets better) I might be making a trade with my 2011 sti hatch... Not sure though as Ive heard it may be sedan only at first.

 

[CodeRedR51]

I heard it will be sedan only, no hatch.

 

[JAHHAJ]

I heard it will be sedan only, no hatch.

That's how it should be in my opinion.

 

[MCNAGTROC]

 

[Kent]

That's how it should be in my opinion.

I can't by any means agree with that... I absolutely love the functionality of my hatch. Frankly, were the hatch not an option I would have bought something else. When the WRX or Sti are simply a sedan it will take a whole lot more bang for the buck to make it worth the purchase.
When the hatch is in play I am much more confident with the purchase and feel like it fills a hole in the market only occupied by a limited few. Competitors in the hatch market are few and far between.

As for the render shown above... I can't say I'm all that impressed but something is always lost in the translation from picture to real life so I'll reserve my judgments for RL viewing. However, assuming it is only a sedan with no hatch option, I'm inclined to think the WRX/Sti sales will suffer because there are so many viable alternatives.

Long live the hatch!

 

[JAHHAJ]

The Hatch is nice, I can see what you mean about bang for your buck and I can also see what you mean about Subaru will lose sales if there is no hatch but, Subies up until then have always been sedan and in my opinion that's how Subies should be. But if they were to make another Hatch, I wouldn't complain. 👍

 

[Kent]

Subies up until then have always been sedan

'92-'94
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Subaru_Impreza_front_20071029.jpg

'97-2000
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:1997-2000_Subaru_Impreza_GX_hatchback_02.jpg

2005
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/2006-2007_Subaru_Impreza_Luxury_hatchback_(2011-06-15).jpg

and of course my 2011 is the same generation as the hatch released in 2008.

I think it's fair to say they've been doing the hatch/wagon for far longer than just the generation I own.

Just the same though, I appreciate the fact you understood what I meant about the niche status of a hatch wrx/sti. 👍

 

[JAHHAJ]

Oh of course completely forgot about them I feel stupid now , I should think before I post.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Pretty much every generation of Impreza and/or WRX has had a wagon/hatchback version.

 

[Yauma9]

I want the coupe back.

 

[BKGlover]

First impression...

 

[Murcie_LP640]

Needs more spoiler but I like it.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Something is off about the wheel/tire setup. I'm sure it will grow on me lowered with a nice set of wheels and tires.

 

[1241Penguin]

Needs more spoiler but I like it.

I'm not sure an STI spoiler will look good on this generation's car to be honest.

 

[Murcie_LP640]

I'm not sure an STI spoiler will look good on this generation's car to be honest.

Not necessarily an STi spoiler just a little one rather than that sticky-out boot lip.

 

[Kent]

I'd say a spoiler more like what you find on a GTR would be a good compromise for the newer generation... Either that or run it off a cliff backwards so the impact gives me something closer to a hatchback.

 

[JAHHAJ]

I'm not sure an STI spoiler will look good on this generation's car to be honest.

STI spoiler looks good on every generation of Scoobys.

 

[CAMAROBOY69]

I heard it will be sedan only, no hatch.

Every time I see a Subaru hatch I always think its a Ford Focus. Every single time. Never cared much for the hatch version at all.

Needs more spoiler but I like it.

I agree the rear is not too bad but needs needs more spoiler for sure. Maybe this is the baseline model? Usually called the RS. The WRX will have a little bigger spoiler and STI will usually have an enormous spoiler.

Official unveiling at the LA Auto show next week.
Teaser:

I really LOVE the front of this car.

 

[Murcie_LP640]

The baseline model's already been out for a year, that's what the new WRX is based on. The RS has also traditionally been naturally aspirated.

I agree on the front, albeit I'm not entirely sold on the fog lamp surrounds they seem to stand out for all the wrong reasons. I reckon subsequent S-Editions or Club Specs with an STi rear spoiler and front lip would really set this off, like the Club Spec 11 or RS40 on the GE:


1290096_10200366169748082_227113246_n by Murcie_LP640, on Flickr

Although I also think that like the GE it suffers the problem of the wheels and tyres looking too small for the car. There's too much wheel well and not enough wheel to fill it.

 

[CodeRedR51]

The baseline model's already been out for a year, that's what the new WRX is based on.

I find this funny since Subaru specifically said they were not basing the new WRX on the current Impreza.

 

[Murcie_LP640]

It was speculated by the media and rather optimistic consumers incredibly early on that they were going to be designing a new chassis for the WRX and STi. However, this from earlier in the year:

Apart from confirmation the new WRX will maintain the turbocharged, all-wheel-drive layout of its predecessors, no mechanical details have been announced and Subaru’s global deputy general manager for corporate communications Masashi Uemura declined to comment on technical details.

However Mr [Tom] Doll confirmed the new WRX will share the Impreza platform and be offered with a manual gearbox, while automatics will use a CVT with paddle-shifters.

There's also about 5 other sources I can find if necessary saying the same deal.

Actually to be frank there's nowhere other than what the media has speculated that says that Subaru was planning on a completely fresh sheet of paper for the WRX and STi, they merely said that they wanted to "distance it further" from the Impreza.

 

[1241Penguin]

STI spoiler looks good on every generation of Scoobys.

Much less for the outgoing model in my opinion. Especially looking at its profile, the rear looks disproportionate to the rest of the car.

 

[Wolfe]

I find this funny since Subaru specifically said they were not basing the new WRX on the current Impreza.

...there's nowhere other than what the media has speculated that says that Subaru was planning on a completely fresh sheet of paper for the WRX and STi, they merely said that they wanted to "distance it further" from the Impreza.

I believe the point is that it's going to be the Subaru WRX, not the Subaru Impreza WRX.

Considering Subaru has always spread the same two/three platforms and engines across everything -- the Forester has Impreza bones and the Tribeca is based on the Legacy -- that rumor that the WRX (of all things) would be a bespoke model was a rather odd one.

 

[Murcie_LP640]

I believe the point is that it's going to be the Subaru WRX, not the Subaru Impreza WRX.

Correct. They dropped the Impreza name about when they brought out the Widebody G3s and now they want the WRX and STi to take on a different more defined path than the regular Impreza; the thing is though is that making a new or modifying an existing chassis would cost more than it would be worth in the end.

 

[JAHHAJ]

Much less for the outgoing model in my opinion. Especially looking at its profile, the rear looks disproportionate to the rest of the car.

Personally I like it. Each to their own though. 👍

 

[Kent]

To each their own is dead on... What's funny to me about the spoilers on the sedan is that going to a place like nasioc will show that many of the owners are swapping with each other so they can get the trunk and spoiler from the opposite car. WRX owners often want the STI spoiler and STI owners want the lower profile of the WRX trunk line.
Maybe it's an age-money issue? Younger drivers, less money, more look-at-me... Older drivers, more money, less rally-on-road?

Regarding the new generation and distancing the WRX/STI.
They need to do more than just name it differently. The look of the car is what will do it (if anything). We already have a huge distinction between the regular 2.5i and the WRX in both appearance and performance. Changing the name is really insignificant. I'd say the most important thing they can do is make sure we never look at the regular 2.0 of the new generation and then see a WRX and think they look awfully similar.

IMO, they really nailed it with the distinction on my generation.

Compared to the car I posted above... I don't think you make much more of a distinct difference. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the new generation has less distinction between the two in appearance.

One of the troubles with a WRX is that they are generally ugly and don't photo well without a professional bringing out the highlights. I'm definitely going to need to see a new generation WRX on the road before I can make any real judgement of its appearance, as for the driving... The day I see one at my local dealer I'm stopping in for a walk-around and maybe a test drive. 👍

 

[Azure Flare]

A render of the STi version.

I hope they finally make the VHS player on the hood functional.

 

[Kent]

I hope they finally make the VHS player on the hood functional.

Not sure if joking about VHS or cracking on functional hood scoop.

 

[Azure Flare]

 

[CAMAROBOY69]

A render of the STi version.

I hope they finally make the VHS player on the hood functional.

The hood scoop has ALWAYS been functional on the WRX and STI. As mentioned above, not sure if serious. The new recessed hood scoops look a lot better that some of the older hood scoops. (like my 2004 WRX)
However I still don't like the gold wheels AT ALL. Never have.