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Old 02-18-2021, 08:31 AM   #1
AVANTI R5
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Default Subaru WRX coming late 2021,STI turbo flagship also confirmed to be ‘slightly behind’

And long-awaited STI turbo flagship also confirmed to be ‘slightly behind’ with a 2022 launch

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Rex fans rejoice! Subaru Australia has revealed that the long-awaited new-generation Subaru WRX is locked in for a local launch late in 2021.

Subaru has confirmed to carsales that the international launch of the 2021 Subaru WRX is due to take place mid-year, with right-hand drive production ex-Japan cranking up in the second half ahead of a local launch likely in the final quarter.

The company has also confirmed that the flagship Subaru WRX STI is not that far away either, with a launch set down for 2022.

The new-generation 2021 Subaru WRX is expected to move from a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder boxer engine (197kW/350Nm) to the Japanese brand’s new FA24 2.4-litre boxer turbo-four that in other models overseas – such as the US-market Subaru Outback – produces 195kW/375Nm.

But for the new Rex – which will take its front-end design cues from the new Subaru Levorg (pictured above) that’ll launch here around the same time – the engine could be tuned to well in excess of 200kW.

In an interview with carsales, Subaru Australia general manager Blair Read said he was unable to confirm these and other details, such as whether the new WRX would be offered with both manual and automatic transmission – a particularly relevant point for fans considering 30-40 per cent of current Aussie WRX buyers still opt to shift gears themselves.

But he said there would be improvements in every key area, including powertrain, and that enthusiasts would not be disappointed after being forced to wait five years since the launch of the fifth-generation Subaru Impreza (in December 2016) before getting their hands on the new Rex.

“For lovers of performance cars and WRX, it’ll be well worth the wait and they will be really looking forward to the new model,” said Read.

He also categorically ruled out any suggestion that development of the next WRX or STI would be shared with Toyota – in similar fashion to the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 – as has been speculated by some media outlets.

“No,” he said. “It’s a Subaru model [only].”

Subaru Australia’s national corporate affairs manager David Rowley added that the Subaru Global Platform (SGP) underpinning the WRX for the first time – it already sits under the Impreza, Forester and XV – would also bring widespread enhancements.

“You’ll see [improvements in] everything from powerplants, transmissions, all the things that the Rex fans really crave,” he said.

On the subject of the 2022 Subaru WRX STI, the local executives said it would be only “slightly behind” the WRX, which should therefore see it launch in the first half of 2022.

“It’s too early to have that final detail [launch timing] at this point, but obviously the target market for this car are performance enthusiasts, so meeting that market is obviously key on the development agenda,” said Read.

The next Subaru WRX STI is similarly expected to have a high-output version of the 2.4-litre turbo as its headline act, possibly producing as much as 300kW if overseas reports prove correct. The current 2.5-litre turbo produces 221kW.

“It’s too early to share exact detail on that, but the new STI will push the boundaries in all areas of its design and specification,” Read said.

Asked about the excruciatingly long time it has taken for the new WRX and STI to get to market, the Subaru boss said: “The current generation has been the best seller in terms of customer acceptance. It’s far outsold the previous generations.

“And 2020 was a difficult year all-round to make comparisons on, but WRX and STI were two of our best-performing models [with 1399 sales combined] and were up on the prior year, where the market itself was down significantly.

“So there’s definitely still a big love for WRX and STI within the market at the moment, and that’s been shown by the number of orders our dealers have been receiving,” he said.

Rowley added: “It’s a fair observation that the lifecycle has been relatively long by Subaru standards.

“I think Subaru in Japan have made no secret that with the introduction of the SGP there’d be a transition for new models onto that platform. And because STI was one of the last launched on the previous platform … that’s one of the reasons it’s launching [last] which is the normal order, to some extent,” he said.

And on the topic of the speculated turbo hatch in the pipeline to be shared with Toyota – be it a version of the WRX, STI or something else – Rowley said: “The factory hasn’t shared any level of detail with us on that. As to whether it’s correct or not, we genuinely don’t know.”
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Old 02-18-2021, 08:34 AM   #2
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Default Subaru WRX, BRZ arriving late 2021

https://www.whichcar.com.au/car-news...here-late-2021


Subaru WRX, BRZ arriving late 2021




Quote:

Next-generation Subaru WRX and BRZ performance pair arriving before 2021 is out

Subaru will get a high-performance double shot in the arm in 2021 and a refreshed driver’s model stable when both the all-new WRX sedan and BRZ rear-drive coupe touch down late in the year.

The heavy hitting but affordable pair of high-achieving models couldn’t come a moment too soon with the WRX and its later STI flagship cutting laps of Australian showrooms since 2014, while the BRZ arrived in its first-generation in 2012.

While the brace of bruisers continues to draw a loyal audience, both are starting to feel their age with a corresponding decline in sales, but a replacement will invigorate overall sales, explained Subaru Australia national public relations manager David Rowley.


“BRZ, WRX, STI, they’re very much halo cars for the brand and, while we love the volume and they’re great sellers within their niches, they tend to have this reflected glory on the broader range and bring in new prospects and new customers,” he said.

When it arrives, the new WRX will be the latest model to roll out on the company’s proliferating Subaru Global Platform (SGP) following the closely related Impreza, XV and Forester, bringing a host of enhancements to the iconic driver’s model.

Subaru Australia general manager Blair Read said the new platform has sharpened the dynamic characteristics of every model so far to adopt the SGP – a key feature to the company’s rally-derived sedan.

“The biggest (enhancement) will be from a handling and dynamics perspective and that’s seen in Outback,” he said. “What’s most noticeable for most people is the rigidity of the car and what that does for the feel for the driver. We’re really looking forward to how that manifests itself in WRX.”

As far as other specific details, little has been confirmed for the forthcoming second-generation WRX although Read hinted at a similar combination of all-wheel drive and turbocharged flat-four engine and “Core Subaru DNA” in the VA-model successor.

Exact timing and the first solid technical details will follow soon but for now, fans will have to wait until “later this year” to get their hands on the first examples of the new WRX, and the now confirmed STI version will follow “slightly behind WRX”.
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Old 02-18-2021, 08:56 AM   #3
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This is exciting, I’m really hoping it’s close to the 300kW (402 hp) mark. Subaru really needs to knock the ball out of the park with this. Anyways this is some good news starting off my Thursday morning.
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Old 02-18-2021, 09:40 AM   #4
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I could care less abut big power gains. If I get a WRX or STI new in the future, for me it needs to keep the charm of the existing car, manual transmission, affordable relative to other cars on the market anyway, solid performance. If the poster above had not put (402hp) in parenthesis I would not even know what 300kw means. I certainly don:t care. That much power in a street car is pretty stupid anyway. On track great but on street, I don:t care. I have enough power in my current WRX to have fun with it. I could auto cross it which I am considering but more power so what, just more tickets. I do think there room for a halo model like the s204 or whatever for more money and big power. Someone always wants a car with more, Subaru might as well make some money and take it from the Tuners. I personally think the WRX and STI are about right power and price wise. I can see giving the drive trains more refinement, I got a older WRX because in the current one I did not like the 1st 2nd shift that well, there were other reasons but I would like some things refined in that manner.
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Old 02-18-2021, 09:49 AM   #5
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If you think the current wrx/sti have enough power you should drive a new Camry or accord. Youll be blown away.
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Old 02-18-2021, 09:53 AM   #6
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The regular STI is not going to be 400hp. Since the first STI came out in the mid 90s, power output has only increased about 17%. To hit 400hp, that would be approximately a 30% increase from one generation to the next. I would realistically expect to see an increase of 5-10%, which will be great with the improved flexibility and power delivery of DI motors.
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Old 02-18-2021, 10:32 AM   #7
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10:1 lb/hp, 6mt, mechanical diffs, wagon or hatch body, "acceptable" interior materials and I'm in; anything else and I'll pass.
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Old 02-18-2021, 10:51 AM   #8
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I NEED! it to be a 5 door.
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Old 02-18-2021, 11:10 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cowboy Neal View Post
If you think the current wrx/sti have enough power you should drive a new Camry or accord. Youll be blown away.
I drove an M435i, it was fast and boring. I'd take a current get WRX over the 435i.
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Old 02-18-2021, 11:22 AM   #10
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Originally Posted by Cowboy Neal View Post
If you think the current wrx/sti have enough power you should drive a new Camry or accord. Youll be blown away.
The STI needs a significant power bump, the WRX doesn't. A small bump for WRX will be fine, anything more than 280hp or so will be a bonus. STI needs a dramatic change to finally take its crown back from everyone's favorite yardstick these days, the Camry

Really though, the Camry comparisons kill me. I have a buddy who was a little twig growing up, now he's 6'1", 190lbs, model athletic build. If someone points out that we look similar, should I be offended?
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Old 02-18-2021, 11:51 AM   #11
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We are more interested in the rumored hatch collaboration Mr. Australian Booby executive. That's because Booby f'd many of us in 2014 when the VA was announced. That was almost 7 years ago. Still no hatch.
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Old 02-18-2021, 12:32 PM   #12
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Subie, you out there?? I need that STi hatch back in my life!!! Please.
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Old 02-18-2021, 01:49 PM   #13
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I don:t care how much power the Camry and accord make, they are big front drive cars. They are not even comparable shopping points for me personally. The charm of the WRX or STI is they are all wheel drive with a flat 4. To me they feel more dynamic than a traditional front drive and I know in bad weather my subaru is better than a front drive car. I had Honda's for years before I switched to an Impreza and I like the driving feel and dynamics much better than the front drive Honda's I had. The only reason I would shop Camry and Accord is if I wanted a super frugal big hybrid sedan. Since then I have switched to a WRX, and I would not shop a Camry or Accord against my car. I have a passing thought to getting a used V-6 Accord Coup with manual but in the end decided I would wrather have the WRX.

To me if you are comparing Accord and Camry, you compare to the Legacy not the WRX. The WRX, Impreza, Civic, Civic SI, Civic Type R, and Corolla are comparable all to one degree or another. Especially since the WRX is a direct descendant of the last generation Impreza.

Last edited by cbk57; 02-18-2021 at 02:27 PM.
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Old 02-18-2021, 02:42 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cbk57 View Post
To me if you are comparing Accord and Camry, you compare to the Legacy not the WRX. The WRX, Impreza, Civic, Civic SI, Civic Type R, and Corolla are comparable all to one degree or another. Especially since the WRX is a direct descendant of the last generation Impreza.
I drive a 2017 WRX 6MT. My wife has a Honda Accord 2.0T 10AT. My son has a Civic R.

Unfortunately, I think my WRX is the slowest of the three off the line. Once you get going the WRX is more fun than the Accord; less fun than the Civic.

The Civic beats the WRX just about everywhere. The Accord is very close. In snow, both the Accord and the Civic are very good, but the WRX is just a bit better.

For me, a WRX with 300-ish HP and a 6MT would be very attractive.

Although, a 400 HP STI ...
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Old 02-18-2021, 03:37 PM   #15
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I can't see a non-hybrid 400 hp STI. Only one automaker has crossed that threshold with a 4-cylinder and it's using a ball bearing turbo, dual DI and port injection, cylinder lining from their F1 cars, two radiators, etc. I simply don't see how Subaru could turn an FA24 into this;

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a2...-engine-specs/

If it was easy to mass produce 4-cylinder engines of this power level automakers with more expertise at designing and building engines like VAG, Ford or Honda would have already done it but as you can see by what MB had to do it's extremely costly to build a 4-cylinder engine at these power levels and maintain acceptable reliability to make it last for the warranty period. There is simply no way Subaru can build that and maintain the current price point as this engine would be extremely expensive to build.
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Old 02-18-2021, 03:48 PM   #16
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if subaru doesn't produce another STI hatch the new Golf R will start looking real good
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Old 02-18-2021, 03:56 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fredzy View Post
The STI needs a significant power bump, the WRX doesn't. A small bump for WRX will be fine, anything more than 280hp or so will be a bonus. STI needs a dramatic change to finally take its crown back from everyone's favorite yardstick these days, the Camry

Really though, the Camry comparisons kill me. I have a buddy who was a little twig growing up, now he's 6'1", 190lbs, model athletic build. If someone points out that we look similar, should I be offended?
The Camry and Accord highlight Subaru's apparent inability to properly tune a turbocharged internal combustion engine. Both those cars manage 5-60 times that are significantly better than the WRX (and a little better than the STi). Subaru can't or won't make an engine that doesn't suffer from poor off-boost response.

Laggier response would be somewhat forgivable if the Subaru engines were significantly more powerful, but they are not.

Last edited by dcsti; 02-18-2021 at 04:18 PM.
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Old 02-18-2021, 04:30 PM   #18
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Originally Posted by murrdogg24 View Post
if subaru doesn't produce another STI hatch the new Golf R will start looking real good
No it wouldn’t lol
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Old 02-18-2021, 04:39 PM   #19
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"Any fool can go fast in a straight line"
- SubieGal



Seriously, if you only care about horsepower knock yourself out with a modern V6 powered Japanese/Korean appliance car. Or even better yet, a mustang!
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Old 02-18-2021, 04:51 PM   #20
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300 hp and CVT in a fat sedan COWABUNGA AWESOME MAXIMA BRUH
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Old 02-18-2021, 05:15 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stanley View Post
"Any fool can go fast in a straight line"
- SubieGal



Seriously, if you only care about horsepower knock yourself out with a modern V6 powered Japanese/Korean appliance car. Or even better yet, a mustang!
If you don't care about horsepower the BRZ is the Subaru to get as it offers a more pure driving experience than it's understeering AWD siblings.
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Old 02-18-2021, 05:46 PM   #22
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Originally Posted by fathatch View Post
The regular STI is not going to be 400hp. Since the first STI came out in the mid 90s, power output has only increased about 17%. To hit 400hp, that would be approximately a 30% increase from one generation to the next. I would realistically expect to see an increase of 5-10%, which will be great with the improved flexibility and power delivery of DI motors.
Subaru might be making up for lost time in progress, and staving off potential competitive disadvantage.
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Old 02-18-2021, 05:48 PM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by murrdogg24 View Post
if subaru doesn't produce another STI hatch the new Golf R will start looking real good
I’d rather buy a Subie than a VW, but I’m sharing the same view.
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Old 02-18-2021, 06:07 PM   #24
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Originally Posted by WRX4US View Post
Subaru might be making up for lost time in progress, and staving off potential competitive disadvantage.
Yeah! They might be!

...but I’d prepare for disappointment.
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Old 02-18-2021, 07:07 PM   #25
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lolwut says the forester driver..
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No it wouldn’t lol
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