WRX Topic Hub

Subaru Unveils 2022 WRX Sedan, Promises New Performance In Familiar Wrapper, Debuts GT Trim [Gallery]

The cancellation of the 2022 New York Auto Show due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns forced automakers to completely rethink how they unveiled products that were originally intended to shine under the spotlight in the Big Apple. Subaru was a firm affected by the abrupt cancellation, but that did not stop them from unveiling the 2022 WRX, which aims to bring new performance to buyers and embrace the familiarity that has become a hallmark trait of the model. Familiar Impreza Lines Are Enhanced In WRX Transformation When you first look at the 2022 WRX, you can see that it shares …

Sep 10, 2021 Read more

2019 Subaru WRX Series.Gray – Review by Ben Lewis

Funny how things change. Today, if a friend tells you they’ve bought a Subaru, it’s probably a Forester, or an Outback, maybe an Ascent. And they’re all lovely vehicles. But back in 2002, when you bought a Subie, it was probably a WRX. And it was revelation – a rally proven, high-performance legend that the brand finally decided to bring over here. And it radically changed what people thought about Subaru. And it was the beginning of a long relationship between the cute little sedan or hatch and those who love to drive. Well, now we have the 2019 WRX …

Sep 09, 2019 Read more

Being A Car Owner For The First Time: What To Be Aware Of

Owning a car can be a brilliant experience. A car offers freedom, opportunity and independence as well as making life much more convenient. For those who are thinking of buying a car for the first time, there’s a fair amount of information to be clued up on. As well as offering opportunity, having a car is also a responsibility, too. Below is a handy run-down of what to be aware of as a first-time car owner. Insurance Car insurance is an absolute essential for car owners. Should you be uninsured, and be involved in an accident of any kind, you …

Dec 17, 2018 Read more

Insider: Japanese Legends Still Turning Heads in 2018

Around twenty years ago, the likes of the Subaru Impreza and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution were reaching the height of their desirability. Many would say they were also at their design peak as well, and cars of that era are still considered by many to be the most stylish of all the models produced. Both these cars are still being sold across the States, and have earned a very loyal following from their fans. Those who drive and keep these cars form a deep attachment to them, feelings that many will cheerfully confess could be described as love; but what is …

Apr 18, 2018 Read more

Top 11 Hot Hatchbacks in the USA for 2017

This spring has been a renaissance for hot hatch testing here at Car-Revs-Daily. We’ve had the great pleasure of flogging the two reigning champs: the Focus RS and Golf R — and realized these pocket rockets are a speedfreak’s dream come true. So tight and nimble. So ferocious on throttle. And so affordable versus a big V8 in Camaro or Mustang! Affordable to buy and also to insure and own. They make spouses less furious than an impractical two-seat coupe. And they are actually useful at transporting big things via their fold-down back seats. The market for hot hatchbacks has …

May 01, 2017 Read more

2017 Subaru WRX Limited Sport Lineartronic – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

WRX= love. But CVT= hate. Can they get along? For Subie’s sake!? Few cars are as enamored by enthusiasts as the WRX. While the rest of the world had enjoyed Subaru’s extreme rally car for the street, it wasn’t until 2002 that we got one here. It was worth the wait. While it had a cult following for the in-the-know, the majority of the population had no idea. We have happy memories of terrorizing a Porsche 911 with a silver, bug-eyed 2002 test sedan. It was so unassuming, yet with its turbo-four cylinder and all-wheel-drive, immensely capable and fast. What’s …

Dec 15, 2016 Read more

Concept Flashback – 2001 Chevrolet BORREGO Concept – Reborn Subaru Brat?!

At first sight, the short-wheelbase pickup truck concept from Chevy in the early naughties seems to be a baja or rally variant of some kind of truck in the existing range. Perhaps the S10 or even the Blazer of the 1990s? Surely a small-block V8 up front, right? In fact, this machine is something else entirely. Under its trendy panels and reconfigurable tailgate — to allow the two-seater to add two more in back — the Borrego is actually an AWD Subaru under its Chevy-tastic panels. Turbo four and all…. Needless to say, this ‘Brat 2.0’ was never built… as …

Apr 03, 2016 Read more

2015 Subaru Impreza 5-Door Concept, WRX S207 NBR Challenge Join Packed Tokyo Showstand

Subaru is really growing in leaps and bounds! No better evidence than a frankly packed Tokyo stand from the once-humble maker of AWD mountain cars. Joining the all-new VIZIV Future Concept on the stands is the also-new Impreza 5-Door Concept. While the new WRX still feels very fresh, it is always good to take a sneak peek at the next-gen design vision for the product. Since the WRX and Impreza lineups were formally divorced in this generation in the US, the XV Crosstrek has taken on a bit of an entry-level role in the Subaru range. But this is traditionally …

Oct 29, 2015 Read more

Subaru Tokyo 2015 – All-New VIZIV Future Concept and Impreza 5-Door Concept

Subaru has a new flagship design concept for the Tokyo Auto Show in early November. And despite its familiar VIZIV name, this masculine and high-tech design theme is very fresh. This third VIZIV Concept Future is an interesting preview of a future LWB Outback with seven seats. The powertrain and seating layout are much more Forester size for this sporty concept car, but the intention is a three-row variant of the large Outback platform, versus the smaller Impreza/Forester footprint. Or perhaps just a super-lux future Forester. The cabin is shockingly advanced, as is the powertrain. A next-generation hybrid is paired …

Oct 19, 2015 Read more

2015 Subaru WRX STi Rally Racecars + Outback SuperGT First Rescue Operation

Three distinct Subaru’s here: the WRX STi for the Japanese Rally Championship, the WRX STi for Global Rallycross and lastly the custom SuperGT support Outback. The Japanese rally spec appears purest and most like the production car, aside from chassis bracing for the roll cage, a roof vent for the drivers to get some air, and a slightly taller ride height on rally-sped wheels and tires. The Global Rallycross car is interesting: it wears a much wider front-end and bumper that acts as a bit of a flexible splitter. This seems able to take impacts and also be a decent …

Jan 10, 2015 Read more

2015 Subaru BRZ GT300 and WRX NBR Racers Pack Wild Aero Ugrades

2015 Subaru BRZ GT300 and WRX NBR When overall power is capped by a racing series of technical limits of the engine, you have a few other routes to more speed. These include a drop in weight and an increase in grip. But what can you do if max weight and tire setups are also regulated by racing rules? The last summit to climb is then aerodynamics and downforce. Subaru has embraced this fourth route to greatness in its two new racers: the BRZ GT300 and WRX STI NBR Challenge. The splitters up front add nearly a foot of extra …

Jan 10, 2015 Read more

2014 Scion iM Concept Heading for US Showrooms in 2015 to Battle GTI and Focus ST

Scion is looking to expand its model range in calendar 2015 with two new models: one based on the Mazda2 sedan, and the other being this remarkably cool 5-door hatch shown in LA as the iM concept. You might be asking yourself if the production iM, set to be revealed in NY in April 2015, overlaps with the xB and xD. We certainly were. But we believe the answer is that the iM production car will be more advanced in the chassis department and more powerful than Scion’s box-car twins. This means a more-modern automatic transmission than the four-speeds in …

Nov 23, 2014 Read more

Track Drive Review – 2015 Subaru WRX Manual is Turbo Boxer HEAVEN

UPDATED 10.23.14 Thrilled to have spent more time with the new WRX — again on a racetrack! Pretty lucky chap. And this time, we came back thrilled. Absolutely floored with love for the WRX. Why? This test car was a manual versus the automatic. The differences could not be more stark – with big engine burble, more playful handling, and feeling like it has and extra 100 horsepower versus the pokey auto. Love it. Check out the full drive video below. It picks up about 3-minutes in. The 2015 Subaru WRX is really a terrific car: much more …

Oct 23, 2014 Read more

HD Road Test Review – 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI Is Sophisticated But Trumped By New WRX

The GTI seems like a city car for people who actually want a BMW. The tricky thing about the latest GTI is that it overlaps with the base BMW 228 and even the $33,000 320i sedan. This is a big problem for Volkswagen — but it is not the worst problem. The competitiveness of the 2015 WRX is definitely causing wrinkled foreheads in Wolfsburg. The Subaru is now as refined as the GTI when cruising, but far more fun and much quicker at all times. Bright red seems to be the GTI’s signature color. After driving the new GTI a …

Oct 22, 2014 Read more

Spec Rendering – 2016 Subaru WRX STi RS500 Coupe

Just a bit of fun for this Friday afternoon – a potential WRX STi Coupe. We have called it the RS500 in a nod to the previous Impreza RS Coupe of the 1990s, with the 500 a power ooutput of this rally-prepped turbo engine. The exterior changes are extensive, but we aimed for production feasibility over other-worldly style. To this end, the windshield rake stays almost exactly the same, as do the front doors and other hard points up front. Obviously cut out the rear doors, and shortened the wheelbase by five inches to make the RS500 Coupe pivot a …

Oct 17, 2014 Read more

2012 Giugiaro BRIVIDO Martini Racing Honors Lancia Beta Montecarlo and 037

In the world of iconic racing liveries, Martini Racing is right up there with Golf Oil as the most-loved in history. What better way to salute the long collaborative partnership between ItalDesign Giugiaro than to dress their sexy Brivido GT concept in fast red and blue stripes on a white base. In the case of the Brivido Martini Racing, the homage is more than paint-deep. With a semi-exposed rear diffuser and and long, low nose splitter, the Brivido is close in spirit to the legendary 037 and Beta Montecarlo racecars. These wild turbo rally specials were so fast and wild …

Sep 23, 2014 Read more

Updated with 20 Sexy New Photos – Track Test Review – 2015 Subaru WRX STI

Updated 8.13.14 Is this white over black wheels and trim STI the sexiest thing you have ever seen from Subaru since the 555 WR Blue racers from the 1990s? Yes, yes it is. Hopefully this latest vogue style does not become a fad or something that dates all 2014/2015 cars in the future. For now, however, there is nothing hotter on the world’s expressways and racetracks. LATEST PHOTOS The 2015 Subaru WRX STI! The time has come for (one of..) the last of my reviews from the amazing sojourn up north to Road …

Aug 13, 2014 Read more

205HP 2014 Honda Civic Si Sedan Is FU-Cool from $23k + Visual Buyers Guide

Ever since the 2002 Subaru WRX and the Lancer Evolution arrived in the US – the Honda Civic has always taken a firm third place in the cool compact ranks. Honda is serious about winning car guys back. The 2014 Honda Civic Si is packing a huge wing, turbo-style polished allous with gloss black accents, and a wing to make the WRX blush. This is a car that is seriously cool. Curb appeal of the 2014 Civic Si now trumps the latest WRX and is up to WRX STI levels of aggression. The powertrain of the Si is still optimized …

Aug 01, 2014 Read more

Happy B-Day to the Volkswagen Minibus and Transporter! Work Van Legend Turns 60 in UK This Year

Happy B-Day to the Volkswagen Transporter We’ve been pretty down on VW USA this year. Can you blame some pushback from automotive media here in the US in the face of the two-year delay on the Golf 7 arriving on our shores? The first GTI’s are arriving in VW dealerships now, but these are from Germany. The bulk of the line is still months out, at the earliest. The Jetta makes me cringe when I see it on the road, and the new US-market Passat is looking less-good every single day. These old products are priced at the tippy-top of …

Jul 06, 2014 Read more

Rally Legends – 1983 Lancia Beta Montecarlo and 1982 Lancia 037 at Goodwood 2014

These Lancia rally cars from 1983 and 1984 really defined and propelled Group B’s creation – and perhaps the unlimited performance class’s ultimate demise. They were rally cars only in tire and suspension settings. For all other intents and purposes, these were the hardest-core sports racers in decades. They leveraged new innovations in tech heavily – things like electronic fuel injection, carbon-fiber chassis construction, and turbocharging – to wild effect. The Martin colors are just icing on the cake, really. But while Group B might have taken these cars with them to history, the legacy lives on proudly today in …

Jul 01, 2014 Read more

2015 Subaru WRX STI in Full-Length FLAT OUT Isle of Man TT Record Run

Some feats of bravery are almost as scary to watch from afar as they are up close. Subaru’s new-record run of the Isle of Man TT course in the all-new WRX STI is definitely one where the viewer can get a little shakey watching the speeds of the rally road car. Imagine piloting your car through a mountain town at 150-mph?! Any blink or twitch would be game over. Car in wall, you on stretcher. So a big part of the WRX STI’s achievement here is instilling so much driver confidence that he feels close to comfortable attempting what you …

Jun 27, 2014 Read more

Updated with 37 High-Res Photos – Track Review – 2015 Subaru WRX Automatic

Updated with 37 High-Res Photos – Track Review – 2015 Subaru WRX Automatic The 2015 Subaru WRX is really a terrific car: much more rigid chassis, same awesome handling, but now much better-looking and far more liveable on a daily basis. The regular WRX is also darn close to the STI in the official sprint times: 5.2s for the WRX plays about 4.8-seconds for the STI. This test car is the automatic, which is a CVT this year with six-speed or eight-speed paddle-shifter settings available. Unfortunately, the automatic WRX did not feel quite as peppy as the manual cars’ times …

Jun 16, 2014 Read more

Track Test Review – 2015 Subaru WRX STI Is Brilliantly Fast, Grippy and Fun on Autocross

The 2015 Subaru WRX STI! The time has come for (one of..) the last of my reviews from the amazing sojern up north to Road America last month. The STI is certainly in my Greatest Hits column. It feels punchy, fast, vocally boxer and turbocharged, eager to turn in and happy to muscle its way out of any corner. As such, the STI was swamped with wanna-be rally heroes for its big laps of the main Road America circuit. But there was time for some on-camera bonding via the smaller Go-Kart track that we set up as a timed Autocross. …

Jun 09, 2014 Read more

2015 Subaru WRX Colors – All 7 Shades in Animated Turntables + Track Testing Videos

The 2015 Subaru WRX is really a terrific car: much more rigid chassis, same awesome handling, but now much better-looking and far more liveable on a daily basis. The regular WRX is also darn close to the STI in the official sprint times: 5.2s for the WRX plays about 4.8-seconds for the STI. This test car is the automatic, which is a CVT this year with six-speed or eight-speed paddle-shifter settings available. Unfortunately, the automatic WRX did not feel quite as peppy as the manual cars’ times suggest above: we estimate this automatic WRX to hit 60-mph in about 6.2 …

May 29, 2014 Read more

2015 Subaru WRX Hits The Gravel In 70 New Photos in Four Colors

Is there a study that shows how many former WRX owners go on to buy an M3 BMW? I would bet it is a high percentage – both cars are real giant-killers in their own right. While the WRX stalks prey in the lower realms of budgets and street battles, its real draw comes from its AWD and turbocharged driving manners. It is endlessly entertaining, and a solid choice no matter what the exterior design. Why do I mention this? I was the proud owner of a 2003 WRX Wagon from 2003-2006! Yes, the bug-eye one. It was hideous. I …

May 11, 2014 Read more

German Special Customs Turns Mercedes-Benz ML into Autobahn Cruise Missile

This overhaul looks seriously awesome, and completely reinvigorates the Mercedes-Benz ML from the outside – its weakest current point. This W166 generation of ML-Class is actually far better than ever before under skin and inside, where this versatile family car now equals the cabin quality of the E-Class. The latest Mercedes-Benz ML Widebody kit from German Special Customs dramatically increases the road presence of this mid-size SUV. From well below the Jeep Grand Cherokee in the styling stakes — to flexing and eating Cayenne Turbo’s for breakfast. The Mercedes-Benz ML is a relatively unloved member of the range, albeit …

Feb 26, 2014 Read more

PICKUP TRUCK SURVEY: What Are 350 Lb-Ft and 30+ MPG Worth? Nissan Seeks Input on Future Diesel Frontier

Survey Link: www.tinyurl.com/nissanfrontiersurvey The Nissan Frontier Diesel was an exciting surprise for a smash-hit Chicago auto show this year. This is an exciting discovery from the photos below: The Boost Gauge Goes Up To 35 PSI! That is a lot of boost. My Subaru Legacy GT’s OEM turbo maxed out at 12.2 PSI. Okay, but what about the WRX STI? Only 15 PSI. Second exciting photo realization? If a Diesel Frontier is in the pipeline with this Xterra roof rack, could the diesel also fit in Nissan’s next-gen SUVs? Third one? New rear long-tail spoiler tells me this truck has …

Feb 18, 2014 Read more

2015 Subaru Legacy Concept Directly Previews Next LGT

Orig Published on: Nov 21, 2013 @ 11:13 Subaru is on a roll. Finally! Factories can barely keep up with demand, sales have logged double-digit gains for the last five years in a row, and the cars are finally reaching their potential. The 2015 WRX and this stunning, upscale 2015 Legacy Concept show huge gains for Subaru in design, technology, and brand image. As love-able as the bug-eye WRX, decades of frumpy Outback wagons with no power, and a tippy Forester are: Subaru is much better known for its amazing chassis and performance layouts. Tech and style (and luxury) have …

Jan 28, 2014 Read more

LEVORG Says WRX Wagon? Inside Scoop On Subaru’s Success, c/o Porsche’s Famed Creative Agency

Subaru is very busy these days. From a usually-quiet and predicable company, years of continued success are finally bringing out some excitement. Here is some juicy dirt on the marketing behind this success: Perhaps the real kudos (definitely in Japan, at least) is shared with the BRZ project. But regardless: Subaru is awesome. #Love really is the greatest ad slogan, c/o Carmichael Lynch in Minneapolis. Many may know that name best from their three decades of legendary work for Porsche Cars North America. When Porsche left for greener pastures, Subaru assigned the firm their whole account without a review. That …

Jan 28, 2014 Read more

2015 WRX STI Even Quicker and More Playful – Buyers Guide, Trims, Specs

Quicker and more playful!? Yes sir – the new STI also looks far better equipped than ever before. The 2015 WRX STI debuted yesterday in Detroit – wearing a cool new style and packing benefits under every body panel. The key highlights are listed below from Subaru, but really come down to three items: — All-new engine with more eager power delivery, 305 HP, and more SI-Drive modes — ‘Remastered’ suspension tuning, 41-percent-stiffer chassis, and a much quicker steering rack — Interior worthy of $35,000 performance car – with luxury features and tech that are all new to the STI …

Jan 21, 2014 Read more

LEVORGY: Inside Scoop On Subaru's Success, c/o Porsche's Famed Creative Agency

Subaru is very busy these days. From a usually-quiet and predicable company, years of continued success are finally bringing out some excitement. Here is some juicy dirt on the marketing behind this success: Perhaps the real kudos (definitely in Japan, at least) is shared with the BRZ project. But regardless: Subaru is awesome. #Love really is the greatest ad slogan, c/o Carmichael Lynch in Minneapolis. Many may know that name best from their three decades of legendary work for Porsche Cars North America. When Porsche left for greener pastures, Subaru assigned the firm their whole account without a review. That …

Nov 22, 2013 Read more

2015 Subaru WRX Nears 270 Horsepower, Looks Hot!

2015 Subaru WRX – Exterior Gallery 2015 Subaru WRX – Interior Gallery 2015 SUBARU WRX® MAKES WORLD DEBUT AT LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW New platform offers a stiffer, more agile chassis for Subaru global performance icon New torque-vectoring system reduces understeer New 268-hp 2.0-liter direct-injection turbo BOXER engine New standard 6-speed manual transmission New Sport Lineartronic® CVT with manual modes Los Angeles – Subaru of America, Inc. today introduced the 2015 WRX, a more powerful and better handling version of the brand’s iconic high-performance model, at the Los Angeles Auto Show. …

Nov 20, 2013 Read more