Just released...pics of the actual WRX concept at New York auto show

Nice, it's not ugly. A welcome change of pace. Hopefully the production model retains the lines via hard panels and not a bunch of blocky slapped together plastic bits like we've seen so far.

 

Thata Boy!

I'm gonna do the same thing when I get home. Want to go cruising?

 

You ladies are late to the party. I took the Z out, with the top down, on Wednesday and yesterday. Your battery should have been charged the minute it went over 40 degrees. Wussies.

 

Well, while you two are planning your rainbow giggle slumber party, I think I'm going to go pull the Z out of the garage and tear ass around town for a bit.

 

Wan skreet race?

 

While it is one tenth of a liter less than your 3.6, it makes up for it in not having useless doors, seats, and roofs for passengers/children that I don't have/want, as well as a distinct lack of AWD junk parts and driving aids because I don't need training wheels in a real sports car

 

While it is one tenth of a liter less than your 3.6, it makes up for it in not having useless doors, seats, and roofs for passengers/children that I don't have/want, as well as a distinct lack of AWD junk parts and driving aids because I don't need training wheels in a real sports car

 

No thanks. I am satisfied with my penis and its function. No need to compare them.

 

Not quite. The Fusion will have a better interior with more features, it'll be quieter and won't rattle like a half empty piggy bank.

It will, however lack a bunch of flat bill wearing "Bros" who think that they're factory rally drivers just by buying one.

 

Yes, and they'll most likely go after the Focus ST.

Fiesta ST if they're really hardcore fans.

 

I don't think I'd track this one, the 2010-2012 are trackable but the brakes aren't quite up to the task on the standard model, let alone the Performance Package models. That being said, the 2013 models with the Performance Pack will happily run laps all day long thanks to engine oil (standard from the 2010 onward) and (standard from 2013 PP onward) transmission coolers, as well as much larger brakes and torque vectoring for the rear axle.

The new Fusions are leaps and bounds above the old ones. I had a base model 2012 rental and wasn't that impressed with it. Then again, it was a big step down from my daily driver so my thoughts were a bit biased against it. The new ones aren't in the same ballpark as the previous generation. If I were in the position I was in two years ago when I ordered my 2011 WRX and had the Fusion AWD as an alternative, I would probably have picked the Fusion. The weights/power are both similar and for close to what I paid for my WRX I could have gotten a well optioned Titanium.

That being said, the two cars are getting closer as Subaru is pulling an Audi (and for good reason) and focusing less on the rally part and more on the roadgoing/luxury part. I'm guessing that the WRX will come in around the 26k pricepoint for the base model and have 260-280hp in the base model. Guessing around a 32-3300 lb curb weight, it's going to be right in that same category as some of the newer offerings and will face some stiff competition, especially among drivers in their early 30's who are looking for a "grownup" car that handles well, is fun to drive but also civilized and comfortable.

For me, it was realizing that I wasn't doing much in the way of motorsports related stuff anymore and mostly commuting. It was a shift in my priorities but I'm happy with the change. It doesn't mean I wouldn't mind getting a GD wagon as a fun car, but I think my next purchase will probably be in a couple of years. I'd like to find an off lease low miles 2013 PP SHO in red or blue.

Unless I can find a screaming deal on a CTS-V sedan....