WRX Concept could still be built
Subaru blames lack of engineering resources for new WRX's mainstream design, but says lauded concept may yet hit showroomsSubaru’s new WRX and STI sports sedans look little like the exciting WRX Concept shown at the 2013 New York motor show, but the Japanese brand has given cause for hope to fans of the cracking four-door concept by revealing it could yet make production.
“It’s quite possible that the main theme of the concept car will be put into a production car design,” said Subaru WRX Project General Manager, Masuo Takatsu.
Speaking to motoring.com.au at the launch of the 2014 Subaru WRX STI in the USA this week, Takatsu-san said he’d have liked the concept to have made production this time round, but that engineering resources, safety regulations and other outside forces meant the rakish four-door coupe could not be built in time.
“The concept car wanted to show the sporty side of WRX and STI, so it was very designed-based; they wanted to show an appealing-looking car,” continued Takatsu-san.
“But once it comes to production, we had to comply with regulations, liveability and practicality, and that’s the reason it deviated so much from the concept car.”
Takatsu went on to say that buyer demand, especially in the critical US market, meant the four-door sedan was the only body style the company would pursue for the foreseeable future.
“We know that [the concept] looked good, but the people that are in love with WRXs and STIs also like the fact that the [production] car is a four-door sedan, and that it’s practical and versatile.
“They (he said gesturing at the engineers) wanted to pursue that ideal for WRX and that’s how the production car came about,” he concluded.
Subaru’s new WRX seemingly received more of a makeover than the halo STI variant but this too, Subaru says, was part of the numbers game.
With more purchasers buying a WRX, the changes here -- including the increase in performance -- were “imperative” in maintaining sales, said Takatsu-san.
The fourth-generation STI, however, uses a carry-over 2.5-litre powerplant from the previous model, and in fact loses 14Nm of torque while gaining only 6kW of power.
Unlike the stronger selling WRX, the high-spec STI will not be offered with an automatic option and both are offered in sedan-only format.
The new Subaru WRX will go on sale in Australia next month, with the 2014 WRX STI to follow in April. Pricing will be announced shortly.
Visit motoring.com.au again soon for our launch review of the 2014 Subaru WRX STI.
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