Subaru reveals the new WRX

Sunday, 12 September 2021

Back when Subaru of America revealed the all-new WRX we wondered if its manual transmission make it to New Zealand. It has.

After much teasing Subaru has unveiled the all-new Subaru WRX, in US-model form at least.

While it is very much business-as-usual as far as looks go, the WRX is actually properly “all-new”, unlike a lot of performance cars that are making do with older underpinnings (Nissan Z) as the industry makes its push towards EVs the priority.

The WRX has joined the Outback and Forester on the new Subaru Global Platform and now packs a 2.4-litre boxer turbo engine that pumps out 200kW and 350Nm in US-market form, which is only a fractional bump over the current model’s 197kW/350Nm, but the larger capacity should bring a broader spread of torque.

Subaru has revealed the all-new WRX that sits on a new platform and packs a bigger engine.

As always, the WRX comes with Subaru’s “symmetrical” AWD system and, in some excellent news for the few of us who still like shifting our own gears, it will come with a six-speed manual transmission. In the US market, that is. We have no word on what will make it here yet…

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While it looks very much the same as the old WRX, everything about the 2022 WRX is new.

* Subaru officially confirms next-generation WRX STI

* Road test review: Subaru WRX Saigo

The WRX now gets a 2.4-litre turbo boxer engine with 200kW and 350Nm in US-market form.

* Next-gen Subaru Levorg debuts with WRX looks

* Details emerge on next-gen Subaru WRX

A big central touchscreen now dominates the WRX’s dash.

Apparently there was doubt around the manual as it doesn’t play nicely with Subaru’s EyeSight driver assist system, but Subaru has solved that particular problem by… not offering EyeSight on the manual in the US market. That may hurt its chances of making it here though.

Those black SUV-like wheel arch additions hint at the WRX’s gravel-bashing origins.

The other transmission the new WRX will come with is an enhanced version of Subaru’s continuously variable transmission (CVT) that the company now calls the “Subaru Performance Transmission”. It gets eight fake gear shift points and has been tuned to offer quicker “shifts”.

With the WRX being built on the Subaru Global Platform for the first time, Subaru says the rigidity of the body and chassis has been further enhanced, resulting in “sharper handling and reduction of unpleasant vibrations and shaking.”

The chassis geometry has been optimised, with longer functional stroke compared to the previous model, and ground contact and stability are improved, as well as ride comfort.

A Drive Mode Select system offers “additional options to configure steering feel, damper settings and more with just the push of a button”, with electronically controlled dampers.

The exterior is all-new, even though it might be a bit hard to pick that at first glance.

On closer inspection, however, you will notice it is a more aggressive evolution of the last car, with the most obvious changes being the aggressively angular headlights, bulging wheel arches and the adoption of XV-like black wheel arch additions, giving the new WRX an (admittedly SUV-like) hint of the original’s gravel-bashing origins.

On the inside the WRX picks up an equally familiar-yet-all-new interior, with the most notable addition being the large central touchscreen from the Outback.

Subaru says shoulder room has been expanded, both front and rear, while a longer wheelbase compared to the previous WRX has brought the expanded legroom for rear seat passengers.

“There has been so much excitement around the global reveal of this much anticipated new generation WRX. Subaru Corporation have exceeded expectations – we can’t wait to give Kiwis the opportunity to get behind the wheel and experience the thrill of a 2.4 turbo engine,” says Subaru of New Zealand’s Managing Director Wallis Dumper.

“We look forward to sharing more information about this special new performance Subaru with our brand’s Kiwi enthusiasts in the coming months.

“This could be the last chance for Subaru performance car devotees to get their hands on a WRX as we know it, given the rapid shift in the automotive market towards EV and changes imposed by Government legislation.”

The new WRX is scheduled to go on sale in the United States in 2022. Subaru New Zealand says information regarding the timings and local specification of the Subaru WRX will be revealed closer to the release date, which is as-yet unconfirmed as well.