Subaru tweaks '09 WRX hatch

Subaru's WRX sedan, unveiled last week at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney, will share its boosted output and revised suspension with the WRX hatch for the 2009 model.

The importer plans to commence retailing the sedan (pictured) and the hatch in the first week of December, which is likely to coincide with the car's local launch to the press. According to Subaru's National Corporate Affairs Manager, David Rowley, the MY09 upgrade was a direct response to traditional WRX owners, who were pining for the more focused manners of the pre-MY08 WRX.

"WRX is probably slightly down on what it was with the combined sedan and hatch previously," says Rowley about sales of the MY08 WRX hatch.

"And we have had feedback that some of the traditional WRX owners preferred the slightly harder setup, the slightly more aggressive suspension and would like a bit more power. So that's what we've responded to, with the MY09. With the benefit of that, we're hopeful we can expand the WRX audience a little further again."

Ask Rowley for the sales split between WRX sedan and hatch and he's left scratching his head. Subaru anticipates that the incremental sales increase with the introduction of the sedan (including the naturally-aspirated models) may be no more than 200 units a month and the company doesn't expect all that many of those to be WRX models.

"When we launched in September last year, there was speculation: 'You're not going to sell as many because you don't have the sedan'," he says.

"Well, if you look at the sales over the last 12 months, up to the introduction of the naturally-aspirated sedans just over a month ago, sales of Impreza are 12.5 per cent up over what they were last year. Now, what that tells us is that the hatch has achieved very wide acceptance -- far beyond the sales of the superseded sedan and hatch. So if we're right, we'll achieve a little more incremental growth with sedan. Not expecting huge numbers over Impreza generally. Over the entire range we're probably looking at around maybe 200 units a month."

In the past, it was the WRX sedan that outsold the WRX hatch, but perhaps the pendulum is swinging the other way, now that buyers are accustomed to purchasing their favourite sports package dressed as a hatch. There's also the consideration that the sedan's styling is not as distinctively different from the hatch's as was the case in the past, when pre-MY08 sedans flaunted more muscular wheel arches.

Whatever the case for the styling of the two variants, the changes to the engine for the MY09 WRX have improved significantly on the 2008 model year car's performance and 'green' quotient. Subaru has specified a revised exhaust system that reduces gasflow restrictions by 30 per cent and both a larger intercooler and turbocharger.

Then, turning up the boost from 78 to 103kPa, the manufacturer has raised the WRX's peak power by 26kW (now 195kW at 6000rpm) and torque by 23Nm to 343Nm at 4000rpm. Despite the added herbs, fuel consumption for the new WRX is slightly reduced -- from 10.7L/100km in the combined-cycle test to 10.4L/100km. As a consequence of that, CO2 emissions are lower also -- down from 252 to 247g/km.

According to Subaru, drivers will note an improved shift feel from the transmission, achieved through a ball-type key for the first and second gear synchro hubs and a change to the key groove on the third and fourth synchro sleeves.

Durability gains have been made by adopting hardened materials for the main transmission shaft and first gear. An orifice valve is integrated in the clutch slave cylinder to buffer the clutch and reduce the potential for abuse through forceful clutch operation.

Following testing in both Japan and Australia, the coil springs, stabilisers and strut top mounts were stiffened and roll rigidity was increased to improve roadholding and steering response. Recalibration of the dampers contributes to the '09 WRX's enhanced steering response, Subaru advises. And on the subject of steering, a damper valve now relieves pressure in the steering box and reduces kickback, particularly while cornering on rougher roads. New tyres for the upgrade model are the Dunlop SP Sport 01 measuring 225/45 R17 -- an increase in width from the 205/50 R17 tyres fitted previously.

Visually, the upgraded car will be distinguished by a new mesh grille, new badging, red brake calipers and wider tyres. Subaru has specified red stitching for the seats.

Subaru has left the pricing where it is and sedan and hatch are priced alike, with the range kicking off from $39,990. Buyers can opt for leather trim and sunroof at a price of $42,490 and the WRX with satellite navigation costs $42,980. Both the leather/sunroof and satnav options combined will cost $45,480.

The MY09 WRX arrives around the same time as Mitsubishi's Ralliart Lancer, a car that boasts a twin-clutch transmission and paddle-shift facility -- something the Subaru lacks, although the Subaru does undercut the Ralliart by $2500. For exactly the same money as the Ralliart, the WRX can be specified with the leather trim and sunroof option, and the sunroof alone in the Ralliart adds a further $2350 to the price.

"It's horses for courses..." as Rowley says.