The WRX concept launch was today and here are some real photos of the concept: http://jalopnik.com/the-subaru-wrx-concept-is-so-hot-it-will-melt-your-eyeb-461441647 http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/28/subaru-wrx-concept-new-york-2013/ (note the two piece rotors doubt those will go into production though) Although the only thing I would like over my STi is a RWD coupe with more power, I would definitely consider one of these. Especially if Subaru finally fixes that little issue called understeer...
They can keep it. I'll take my bugeye. If I want a glitzy 4 door I'll buy a BMW. IMO Subaru is getting away from its rally roots and that's what appealed to me in the wrx
They will. The rear doors don't work in reality. The rear hatch/lighting will get toned down considerably, it is reminiscent of the BRZ rear end, so odds are, it'll look like a BRZ from behind. Same with the front, the angles and LEDs and all the fancy vents and stuff will be gone from the production model. The side mirrors, while sexy, wont make it to production, the resulting mirrors will likely be the usual pedestrian body color affair or black abs. The brakes for sure wont be in the final iteration.
Go back and read the article. It a photo of the car, yes, it's been tweaked, The same way Ben Johnson tweaks his photos. Edit:damnit, what Brian said.
GOOD. Because selling to the handful of idiots that goof off in a corn field on weekends isn't a winning business model. They stopped factory backing a WRC team, so why would they give a damn about "rally heritage" anymore if their car isn't homologated to the series? Making the car more suited for road and street use is a sound business move.
Personally, I see Subaru in the same position Audi was in when Group B ended. They started focusing more on road going AWD luxury cars that could handle most weather conditions and managed to build their brand to where it is now. Subaru is going to be making the same upmarket move. It took Audi 25+ years. Hell, look at Subaru and where they are now compared to 25 years ago.
Even if its 10 times uglier (its great looking btw) it will sell like crazy, you all bitch and whine about it, but in the end it sells. Subaru doesnt care what a handfull of flat brimmed hat choads think, they care about what the traditional family thinks of the outback/legacy/forester/REGULAR impreza, guess what? They love them, and they are selling in RECORD numbers every year.
And that's why I said "GOOD." Because if it appeals to the rally kiddies, then it likely isn't going to appeal to the general car buyer. All the styling cues on this concept car touch the bases for what the average car buyer would want. Nice curves and lines, aesthetics (visual ground clearance, upscale front and rear fascia) and sports car abilities. The average buyer wants a car that isn't boring, but can still get them from A to B, and can look good doing it. And it goes fast, so it's a premium product. Looking like a slightly lifted Corolla with a spoiler and a hoodscoop and headlights from a Dodge Neon isn't going to sell cars. To put it this way, if I was Subaru, and I was looking for advice on what to do with the new WRX, I would ask someone that thinks 'rally heritage' matters what they want, and then do the exact opposite.
And hey, didn't you just buy a BRZ? Haha I know the Impreza, excuse me, WRX, is an entirely different car, but I understand where Subaru is going.
It's also a concept car, so I wouldn't expect too much of a basis in what the real car is going to be. See Readymix's comments above.
I just hope they stick with clear tail lights on the 5-door! Yes, I'm kidding. I like the concept and am very interested to see how they execute the rear in a 5-door (assuming they do one). Does anyone know how the current generation WRX production numbers break down between 4 and 5-door? I've always been curious about that.
I did. Lol I bought it because I was looking for a new rwd 2 door summer car. The brz and the wrx are built for 2 separate markets imo
I'm guessing they're skewed towards the 5 door, but I've never seen an official production statement breaking them down. I wonder if Scott Putnam has seen any numbers like that?
I agree that it would seem to be a significant, if not majority, percentage as 5-door. This makes their decision to showcase a 4-door concept a bit more interesting. Like you said, it may be an "Audi-like" move to more mainstream AWD performance sedans (because the North American market in general hates "wagons"). On the other hand, it is just a "design language" concept vehicle so I don't know that one should read too much into it at this point.
Reminds of a Dodge Charger w/yellow brakes with rear diffusers. And the back end kinda like a Camery.
Neat but I already feel foolish at times driving my 05 STi. I have a hard time seeing myself ever buying another new tuner, sport compact, ricer, whathaveyou type car. Especially if things get that funky.
There are threads on IWSTI just like this that go on for pages and pages. I like the look of the concept but will make my decision once I see the actual production model.
GTFO of here with that rational, reasonable and logical response. We'll not have that sort of adult discourse here!
Even when it comes out priced at 50k because if it went on sale just like that guaranteed it would be at least that much.
Sounds like someone is maturing. Sucks when that starts happening. Pretty soon you too will be a surlyoldman.
looks nice. front ends reminds me too much of the new jaguar xf. i hope the final production looks more like this, unlike the brz/frs. i was so thrill of the car, from concept and on until i saw the final production. that's when i decided not to pursue one. that rear end/300c headlight lookalike tail light killed it for me....
So, nevermind the cars performance and engineering, you aren't buying it because of the tail lights bearing a resemlance to crysler headlights. So, what car DID you buy instead?
So, you passed on a brand new, 25,000 dollar sports car, and bought an 11 year old turbo econobox because the BRZ's taillights look like Chrysler 300 headlamps?
I think it is BA. It isn't going to hit the market nearly as mod/edgy as they are showing it and I am doubtful it'll end up that low. Maybe the STI will. The headlights look awesome, if you go to Subaru's website you can scroll through the boards and see them. I do agree the tail lights are charger rip offs though. However, the 2014 XT did get a pretty agressive front end (minus no hood scoop wtf?!) and their LED set up is unique so their is hope.