Who's Looking Forward to the Release of the 2022 Subaru WRX?

[john_pifer]

Well, the big reveal is tomorrow at 9 am eastern. I might wake up and watch it (I work night shift).

You can watch it on Roadshow’s YouTube channel, and possibly Subaru’s website.

CNET’s Roadshow:

https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/subaru-wrx-2022-live-reveal-how-to-watch/

 

[gathermewool]

Yuck. Black wheel arch cladding looks gross. Hopefully they get rid of it by the time I’m ready for a new car. Hopefully it also has the FA24DIT

THE ALL-NEW WRX IS COMING

0:52 cladding

 

[john_pifer]

Yes, it will almost certainly have the FA24DIT, and probably around 285 HP, “sources in Japan” say.

I like it from what I can see.

The cladding is befitting of a car that’s rally racing inspired, and will add to durability.

I only just now went through the video to see what images I could pull.

I was a bit worried about the taillights, from some of the online renderings, but from this photo, they seem to look good - maybe even similar to those of the last hatchback, which was the 2014 model.

 

[PF52]

Wow, just wow. I am having trouble coming up with anything that looks like an improvement over the old model.

Why just 3HP increase despite 0.4 liters of added displacement?

Not a fan of the cladding, the bulky rear bumper, the Honda Accord-ish taillights, the black plastic side skirts that look like someone tacked on an unpainted body kit, the enormous touch screen...

 

[dareo]

Cladding is always a bad decision but you could go with the dark grey color and minimize it. They could have included a few more caballos with 2.4 liters as well. Wake me up if they somehow sell a wagon version.

 

[gathermewool]

Wow, just wow. I am having trouble coming up with anything that looks like an improvement over the old model.

Why just 3HP increase despite 0.4 liters of added displacement?

Not a fan of the cladding, the bulky rear bumper, the Honda Accord-ish taillights, the black plastic side skirts that look like someone tacked on an unpainted body kit, the enormous touch screen...

To be fair, it’s area under the curve that matters. I reserve judgment until I see how the torque curve looks. Peaks mean NOTHING.

With that said, if this thing flops, be ready for a 2009-esque knee-jerk power bump and a 2011-esque design change over the stinker of a 2008 release.

 

[gathermewool]

Cladding is always a bad decision but you could go with the dark grey color and minimize it. They could have included a few more caballos with 2.4 liters as well. Wake me up if they somehow sell a wagon version.

I 100% do not understand the cladding. It looks passable in the darker colors, but makes for a terrible contrast in lighter colors.

 

[gathermewool]

Oh, and don’t get me started on the stupid tablet-sized screen they imported from the Legacy/Outback. I may be In the minority, but I need physical knobs and buttons, even if they’re essentially potentiometers and not physically controlling anything.

 

[john_pifer]

To be fair, it’s area under the curve that matters. I reserve judgment until I see how the torque curve looks. Peaks mean NOTHING

Yep, I have to admit that I was disappointed when I saw the 271/258 figures. But, yeah, you’re right that you don’t drive the car on the dyno. You drive it on the road, and that’s where it matters “how” the power is delivered.

And while the old car definitely isn’t lacking in the power and torque department, especially for the money they were going for (I paid $25,500 brand new in 2016), the new one will be even better with the torque and power peaks being shifted to the left.

 

[john_pifer]

I 100% do not understand the cladding. It looks passable in the darker colors, but makes for a terrible contrast in lighter colors.

Reserve judgment until you see it in person. Cars almost always look better up close and personal.

 

[gathermewool]

Reserve judgment until you see it in person. Cars almost always look better up close and personal.

While Subaru’s styling has had to grow on a lot of people over the years, I’ve always found new iterations to be good-looking. This is the first time I’ve found a Subaru to be ugly, just like the Wilderness Edition Outback and Forester. I don’t think seeing it in person will change my opinion that cheap plastic is cheap plastic.

And that tail end? It looks like the design was stolen from a Civic, minus the usual Subarus quirkiness/coolness added!

 

[wemay]

The design is just too much for me.

 

[XCIDMigs]

How do they not roll out this new promo model in Rally Blue? This is such a fail overall I want to go look at new Broncos.....

Ohhhhhh

WAIIITTTT

 

[2EHA]

introducing the all-new 2022 toyota corolla

 

[john_pifer]

How do they not roll out this new promo model in Rally Blue? This is such a fail overall I want to go look at new Broncos.....

Ohhhhhh

WAIIITTTT

If I get one, it’ll be the Magnetite Gray Metallic.

This video has some great shots of the gray:

 

[Ws6]

To be fair, it’s area under the curve that matters. I reserve judgment until I see how the torque curve looks. Peaks mean NOTHING.

With that said, if this thing flops, be ready for a 2009-esque knee-jerk power bump and a 2011-esque design change over the stinker of a 2008 release.

That sounds good and everything, but the Outback XT has the same 2.4L engine in it, rated at 260hp but more torque. It's nothing special. 0-60 in 6.3 with a quarter mile of 14.8@96mph. Yes, it weighs 3900# and has a CVT, but the current WRX with a CVT manages 0-60 in 5.5 seconds, at a curb weight of 3450#. Quarter mile in 14.3@99. Shaving off 500# and adding 10bhp (while reducing torque) sounds like it would produce a near similar 5.5 and 14.3, as every 100# is worth a tenth in the quarter using old school math.

I predict you're going to see the 2022 WRX turning 1/4 and 0-60 times that are going to fall mid-range in the pack of 2015-2021 WRX acceleration tests, and owners are going to defend it with "better interior...more refined...more mature..." and so forth.

 

[tbm5690]

I wish they would be a little more adventurous in the styling department...I understand the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" mentality and they continue to sell strongly with the brand loyalty being what it is so they don't need to venture outside of the box. IMO every Subaru released in the last 10 years looks the same.

 

[gathermewool]

That sounds good and everything, but the Outback XT has the same 2.4L engine in it, rated at 260hp but more torque. It's nothing special. 0-60 in 6.3 with a quarter mile of 14.8@96mph. Yes, it weighs 3900# and has a CVT, but the current WRX with a CVT manages 0-60 in 5.5 seconds, at a curb weight of 3450#. Quarter mile in 14.3@99. Shaving off 500# and adding 10bhp (while reducing torque) sounds like it would produce a near similar 5.5 and 14.3, as every 100# is worth a tenth in the quarter using old school math.

I predict you're going to see the 2022 WRX turning 1/4 and 0-60 times that are going to fall mid-range in the pack of 2015-2021 WRX acceleration tests, and owners are going to defend it with "better interior...more refined...more mature..." and so forth.

You’re probably right, but I hope you’re wrong. The interior does appear to be nicer, though, MINUS the tablet-style head!unit/control center. The base model, with its two screens, is no better.

I do honestly believe that this will sell well enough, even though I joke that this is a repeat of the 2008 WRX, wherein a new turbo and increased power were added the very next year. The 2008 was an all around stinker.

 

[PF52]

While Subaru’s styling has had to grow on a lot of people over the years, I’ve always found new iterations to be good-looking.

I tend to agree. Styling is subjective, but I do think most Subarus over the past decade or so have been pretty attractive, especially considering how dowdy and frumpy they used to be. The current Crosstrek, for example, is a mighty nice looker in my opinion. What's funny about this new WRX is how overwhelmingly negative the commenters have been on the Youtube videos about it, vs. the new Forester Wilderness video (from the same reviewer!) a week earlier. Most commenters liked the rugged new Forester.

 

[Ws6]