New Subaru WRX and STI powered up

When the highly-anticipated fifth-generation Subaru WRX races into Australia later this year, followed by the new Subaru WRX STI in 2022, they’ll be flexing considerably larger muscles than ever before.

That’s the word from reports out of Japan, with the 2021 Subaru WRX to pump out 213kW of power and 412Nm of torque from its all-new FA24 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol boxer engine.

Sources in Japan have told Best Car Web the 2022 Subaru WRX STI will also produce a Civic Type R-smashing 294kW and 490Nm from a more advanced development of the FA24 mill, thanks to stronger pistons, con rods and other internals.

The report backs up carsales’ sources who last year told us the new Subaru WRX STI would be the most powerful version yet, putting output at around 300kW/500Nm.

As such, Subaru looks set to return to a position of dominance in the affordable performance car segment, claiming all-important bragging rights in the popular genre while delivering next-level acceleration and potentially a few chassis tricks to bolster its all-wheel drive credentials.

Other new details that have come to light for Subaru WRX buyers include a choice of either manual or automatic gearbox, however the latter is tipped to be a continuation of the continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Those hoping for a sweet-shifting and more engaging conventional auto like in the Ford Focus ST, or perhaps a dual-clutch auto favoured by the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R, will be sorely disappointed.

However, as carsales recently reported, Subaru Australia’s senior management team has promised the new WRX will get improvements in “everything from powerplants, transmissions, all the things that the Rex fans really crave”.

It’s not yet clear if the WRX STI will offer an automatic gearbox or remain a six-speed manual as has traditionally been the case.

Best Car Web is also reporting the new 2021 Subaru WRX will be 55mm longer, 55mm wider and 25mm lower than the current model, riding on a 20mm-longer wheelbase. That would make it 4650mm long, 1850mm wide and 1450mm tall, with a 2670mm wheelbase, and could potentially see the WRX move up into the mid-size passenger car class.

Until we get a close look at the new WRX, the new Subaru Levorg (pictured) provides a good look at the styling direction for the incoming Rex, along with important other details such as its new platform architecture, premium cabin upgrades (11.6-inch central touch-screen and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, for example) and adaptive dampers.

Stay tuned for more details.