New Subaru WRX looks the goods, sort of…

After our spy photographers caught the hotly-anticipated 2021 Subaru WRX testing in the US earlier this week, it hasn’t taken long for European designers to strip back the camouflaged development car to create these renders that give us a great look at the all-new Rex – whether we like it or not.

Building off the spy photos that surfaced out of Michigan, the Russian com-gen wizards from Kolesa look to have faithfully replicated the front-end design that, if the production version of the new-generation Subaru WRX comes out like this, could stir up a hornet’s nest.

Not for the first time in the history of the Subaru Impreza, the latest look as imagined by the designers here is polarising, to say the least, and not nearly as menacing as the current WRX.

Notwithstanding the bonnet scoop, muscular fenders, side skirts and quad exhaust tips – much of which references the design already seen with the incoming new 2021 Subaru Levorg – there’s a distinct lack of aggression across the body presented here and what looks to be a slightly higher-riding stance that takes away from its sporty character.

Of course, we’ll have to wait until mid-year to see the final production version of the new 2021 Subaru WRX officially emerge from the Japanese car-maker, ahead of its Australian launch in the final quarter of 2021.

The rear-end design is another matter altogether, as the images shown here have turned the WRX sedan into a liftback with tail-end treatment that is just plain ugly.

There’s a lot going on, but none of it seems to flow together, with an awkward boot lip spoiler and tail-lights that look like they were plucked out of another manufacturer’s parts bin.

Full details on the Japanese brand’s next sports car are yet to be revealed, however as we’ve previously 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”.

Reports suggest the 2021 WRX will offer around 213kW/412Nm from an all-new FA24 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol boxer engine.

As for transmission options, the new WRX is expected to be offered in either manual or auto, the latter tipped to be a continuation of the current model’s CVT.

Stay tuned for more details on Subaru’s upcoming WRX, which is set to be followed by the launch of the even hotter WRX STI in 2022.