New Subaru WRX officially revealed

The new 2022 Subaru WRX has finally been unveiled in the US, bringing a brand-new platform, a bigger new engine, redesigned exterior and interior, and a range of fresh active safety features.

But the fifth-generation Japanese sports sedan’s new 2.4-litre turbo-petrol boxer engine isn’t as powerful as we expected and its Australian debut could slip further out towards mid-2022.

The first new Subaru WRX in nearly eight years was originally due on sale Down Under by the end of this year before being delayed to early 2022, and now it’s expected to arrive in the second quarter of next year, although Subaru Australia is yet to confirm that.

“To say we're incredibly excited about the all-new Subaru WRX global reveal is an understatement,” said Subaru Australia general manager Blair Read in a local press release announcing the reveal this morning.

“We look forward to sharing more information about this highly-anticipated model with Subaru enthusiasts and Australian consumers in the coming months,” is the only other thing Subaru Australia had to say.

However, the company is now inviting expressions of interest via its public website and the new WRX is still expected to be joined by the higher-output STI version in late 2022 or early 2023.

And before the new WRX arrives, Subaru Australia will launch both the new-generation BRZ coupe (in early 2022) and, perhaps, the new Levorg wagon.

Sharing its mechanical makeup with the new Rex, the new Levorg could well be renamed the WRX Wagon and released alongside the WRX sedan locally, hence Subaru Australia’s caginess about its new WRX rollout.

For now, the new US-spec WRX emerges faithful to the rally-inspired turbocharged all-wheel drive formula that made it famous, and rides on the same Subaru Global Platform that underpins the latest Impreza, which should spell improved ride, handling and refinement.

Beneath the evolutionary styling exercise, there’s a new 2.4-litre DOHC direct-injection turbo boxer four that delivers higher outputs than the US-market Outback it also powers, again matched to a six-speed manual transmission and an improved eight-speed CVT auto with transmission oil cooler and paddle shifters (standard in the top-shelf GT variant).

It brings a short 4.44:1 final drive ratio, automatic downshift throttle blipping, 50 percent faster downshifts and 30 per cent quicker upshifts in manual mode, says Subaru. And while auto models score a new electric park brake, there’s also an old-school manual unit for six-speed models.

North American outputs are listed at 271hp (202kW) of power at 5600rpm and 258lb-ft (350Nm) of torque over 2000-5200rpm. That’s just 5kW up on the outgoing Rex and the same torque (although it peaks 400rpm earlier) and well short of the 213kW/412Nm outputs expected.

So while pricing is likely to increase over the current model’s $40,990 starting price, we expect the new Rex to be around as quick as the model it replaces (0-100km/h in six seconds).

But Subaru says the new SGP chassis and increased use of structural adhesives have increased the body’s torsional rigidity by 28 per cent and suspension mounting point rigidity by an even more impressive 75 per cent. Revised stabiliser bars are said to up roll stiffness by 20 per cent.

Combined with dual-pinion electric power steering, MacPherson front and double-wishbone rear suspension with revised suspension geometry, a lower centre of gravity and, for the first time, electronically adaptive dampers (at least for the flagship GT variant in the US), that should bring significantly improved dynamics.

Subaru says there’s also a revised Active Torque Vectoring system and up to 430 different customisation options available through a new Drive Mode Select system. A mechanical centre differential and viscous coupling is standard and auto versions receive Variable Torque Distribution (VTD-AWD).

Brake rotors are vented front and rear and the standard US wheel size is 18-inch with 245/40 R18 tyres.

In the US, Subaru's EyeSight active safety suite (including autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, lane-centring assist, automatic emergency steering and adaptive cruise control, plus seven airbags) is standard only in automatic models, but should also come in manual models for Australia.

And premium features found only in the US-spec GT flagship include Recaro front sports seats with Ultrasuede trim, red contrast stitching and WRX head restraint logos, plus an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, 11-speaker Harman Kardon sound system and carbon-fibre interior trim.

The new Subaru WRX also shares much of its interior design with the new Levorg, including its 11.6-inch portrait-style infotainment touch-screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and satellite navigation, plus a leather-wrapped flat-bottom sports steering wheel, alloy-faced pedals and analogue instrument dials.

Otherwise there’s not much we didn’t know already about the new Rex, which was previewed by the 2017 Viziv Performance concept and shares many design cues with the new Levorg, including the headlights, grille and trademark bonnet scoop, plus C-shaped tail-lights similar to the new BRZ’s.

However, Subaru says aluminium front quarter panels save 2.3kg in total and there are black SUV-style wheel-arch flares (with function air vents up front) to match the black front bumper intakes, plus more aggressive side skirts and a rear diffuser surrounding quad exhaust outlets.

As previously reported, the bigger new Rex rides on a 2672mm wheelbase (up 22mm) and measures 4669mm long, 1826mm wide and 1468mm high, making it about 75mm longer, 30mm wider and 5mm lower than before.