The Subaru WRX has generally been known for performance, not for style. A high-performance version of the Impreza compact economy sedan and hatchback, it has come equipped with turbocharged engines and standard all-wheel-drive.
But although Subaru says the upcoming redesign will continue those latter traditions, a concept version of the next WRX suggests that humdrum styling will be a thing of the past. Subaru unveiled the WRX concept yesterday at the 2013 New York International Auto Show.
The WRX concept is sedan with a swooping roofline and and an sleek but aggressive hunched-forward dynamic. And the design is mostly clean, except for large chunky plastic surrounding the exhaust pipes on the rear bumper – a cue on the concept car that may not even make it to production anyway. The current WRX, which is based on the previous-generation Impreza, relies on such design elements as wide fenders that looked tacked-on – as, in fact, they pretty much are – to identify it as a performance vehicle.
Subaru is saying nothing about the specs or timing of the next WRX, but seeing as the regular Impreza was all-new for 2012, a redesign is overdue. The 2013 WRX is available as a sedan or five-door hatchback priced from $25,795 with a 265-horsepower turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. The further tuned WRX STI starts at $34,295 with a 305-hp version of that engine and further handling upgrades.
See also:
Photos of the Subaru WRX concept
Full coverage of the 2013 New York Auto Show
Coverage of the 2012 New York Auto Show
Review: 2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i
All Cars Examiner reviews
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