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Matt Brogan19 Feb 2014
NEWS

No delays for Aussie WRX buyers

Australian-delivered WRX and STI variants will be readily available, says Subaru

Subaru says that unlike Volkswagen’s Golf R, which could be subject to a six-month ordering delay for some variants, its new WRX and STI models will be made available to Australian customers with next to no delay.

The news will be music to the ears of Aussie WRX fans who’ve waited seven years between model updates. Locally, the fourth-generation WRX will go on sale in March, with the halo STI variant arriving a month later.

Speaking to motoring.com.au at the launch of the new WRX STI in the USA this week, Subaru WRX project general manager Masuo Takatsu said the Ota plant in Gunma prefecture was well-equipped to handle even the thickest of order books.

“The start of production depends on the market and Australian market is in the ‘fast group’,” Takatsu-san explained. “The US is the fastest [group] and Australia the second, but there is not much difference [in delivery time].

“Unless there’s a huge demand from overseas there will be no wait for Australian customers.”

The point was reinforced by Subaru PR assistant manager, Tsuyoshi Egashira, who stressed the six-star brand has a good track record when it comes to delivering its cars on time.

“Historically, we have not had to ask customers to wait longer than two or three months,” Egashira-san said.

We reminded Egashira-san that the BRZ, also produced at Gunma, saw customers face waiting times of up to 12 months, a point Subaru Australia Managing Director, Nick Senior, recalled.

“The only model in recent times where we’ve had any significant delay is with the BRZ,” Senior said. “But the WRX [and STI] will be delivered within a reasonable timeframe of, say six to eight weeks.”

Like the BRZ, the new WRX is also available to order online. The pre-sale process allowed up to 100 eager customers to place an order sight-unseen, even before Subaru announced the model’s local list price.

Pricing for the new models won’t be announced until closer to launch, but the previous WRX sold for $39,990 (plus on-road costs).

From March, the new WRX will be available to purchase in the traditional manner at Subaru dealerships. Ditto the STI from April.

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Written byMatt Brogan
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