![]() ![]() Speed, living up to his name, mashed the throttle. He showed off the WRX’s capabilities in a Limited variant with a manual as well as an automatic-equipped GT.Ĭlimbing into the six-speed Limited, its comfortable cloth seats with moderate bolsters and large new 11.6-inch touchscreen stood out compared with the outgoing model. Subaru’s WRX reveal at The Thermal Club replaced the conventional auto show experience, but the revised format lent an opportunity for media to ride shotgun in the new sedan with former F1 and current rally driver Scott Speed. The three-lap track run inside the Limited variant showed off the WRX’s grip and handling and acceleration. Higher suspension mounting points produce a longer suspension stroke and more travel thanks to taller shocks and springs. The new global platform also allows for a 28% increase in torsional rigidity and a 75% increase in suspension mounting point rigidity, plus a rear sway bar attached to the body itself rather than the subframe as in previous model years. Subaru claims 30% faster shifts between second and third, plus 50% faster downshifts from third to second, to go along with shorter programmed gears down low and a 4.44 final drive ratio. The six-speed manual gearbox benefits from optimized gear ratios, while the new SPT boasts eight “gears” and paddle shifters, despite being a CVT without discrete input and output gear ratios. Surprisingly, the increased displacement only notches minimal improvement over the outgoing 2.0-liter’s 268 horsepower and identical torque rating, though the mill employs an electronically controlled wastegate and air bypass valves to reduce turbo lag and improve throttle response across the rev range. The massive hood scoop does feed a top-mounted intercooler, in traditional Subie style, helping the new turbocharged 2.4-liter Boxer produce peaks of 271 horsepower at 5,600 RPM and 258 pound-feet of torque across a wide power band of 2,000 to 5,200 RPM. The new wheel arches are polarizing, but the swooping lines and taillights align the design more closely with its closest rivals. All told, the design improves on the weighty feel of the past two generations, with swooping lines-not to mention taillights-that certainly feel competitive with the Honda Civic Type R’s aggressive styling.īut unlike the Honda, Subaru claims all the exterior venting and inlets remain functional, including the extra-wide hood scoop that borders on STI boldness. A handful of new color options also join the mix. The overall package measures longer, lower and wider than the outgoing fourth-gen WRX, though specific dimensions remain under wraps. ![]() The refreshed WRX exterior features more rounded edges, LED headlights, blister fenders and what will almost certainly stand out as the most controversial design decision: Subaru calls them “wheel arches” and claims aero benefits but really bolted on a set of plasticky fender flares with carbon fiber-ish details. Subaru finally added the WRX to its global platform, which means designers needed to further differentiate the four-door, mid-level performance sedan from its economical Impreza sibling, which joined the shared-chassis lineup in 2016. Subaru WRX Joins Subaru’s Tried-And-True Platform ![]() The 2022 WRX is now part of Subaru’s global platform, which it now shares with the Impreza. Buyers looking for the six-speed stick shift will need to stick with the base, Premium or Limited trims, essentially choosing between tech features to go alongside identical drivetrains. The trim-topping GT model features the trick CVT, as well as customizable drive modes and Recaro racing seats. For 2022, the WRX gets a new 2.4-liter flat-four cylinder engine mated to a new continuously variable transmission (CVT) that it dubbed, somewhat unimaginatively, the Subaru Performance Transmission (SPT). ![]()
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