LA MOTOR SHOW: 911 benchmark for WRX
Subaru has set lofty goals for its new pocket rocketSubaru has set its sights high for the new WRX launched at the Los Angeles motor show overnight, the new turbocharged AWD sedan has eschewed outright power for handling and steering purity, says the car's Project General Manager, Masuo Takatsu.
And, says Takatsu, no less than Porsche's latest 911 is one of the benchmarks Subaru set out to match or better.
Takatsu-san told motoring.com.au that the new WRX's steering response was benchmarked against the $200,000-plus coupe. The turbo Subaru's project team also sought to achieve similar "flat ride characteristics" as the Porsche icon, he stated.
Along with better rear-wheel grip, the above two factors are key to the WRX's DNA, says Takatsu.
Although the sedan-only WRX has disappointed many pundits in terms of its derivative Impreza styling, the car's more rigid bodyshell, suspension and drivetrain are essentially unique. Thus Takatsu-san makes no apologies for the "practical" nature of the car's final form.
"Our customers are active people. They must have practicality in the car. They go places and do things," he told motoring.com.au.
Takatsu says the new six-speed manual WRX accelerates 0-100km/h in 5.4sec. This compares to 5.9sec for the auto version of the new car and 6.0sec for the outgoing manual model. He says, however, that the drive experience, rather than outright pace, will be the measure of the new car.
"We have set out to have zero response lag, in the steering. The car is defined by pure power, in your control. We want to make the most of the power the car has -- so the driver can make the most of it," Takatsu stated.
Takatsu was politic stating he had got "everything he wanted" in the development of the new WRX.
The ex-Legacy suspension design engineer was equally circumspect in terms of the prospect of a new STI. Although the car is expected to debut as early as Detroit's North American International Auto Show in January, Takatsu would not confirm the existence of the car.
"The focus of this car [WRX] is handling. If we were to build an STI, that [handling] would be spectacular", he teased.
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