Motor Image Pilipinas Inc. (MIPI) has officially introduced the latest version of the Subaru WRX nameplate in sedan and wagon form.
Tan Chong International Limited Deputy Chairman and Managing Director Glenn Tan said that the fifth-generation WRX offerings — which followed the unveiling of the second-generation BRZ coupe last April — are designed to “ignite the senses.”
“From its stunning exterior and premium interior, to the sporty sound and powerful performance of its new 2.4-liter turbo boxer engine, the invigorating smell of the exhaust and the exciting handling, the WRX gives a raw driving experience that makes burning rubber fun. I am very confident that both the all-new WRX and WRX Wagon will totally ignite your senses, and remain crowd favorites that are much-loved by Subaru enthusiasts here,” he shared.
The two vehicles are bigger compared to their respective predecessors: the sedan is 75mm longer, 30mm wider and 10mm lower than before, with a wheelbase longer by 25mm while the wagon version is 65mm longer, 15mm wider and 10mm taller with an additional 20 mm in the wheelbase (2670 mm) than the previous Levorg.
Both vehicles are built on the newest iteration of the Subaru Global Platform. Based on Subaru’s internal studies, the torsional stiffness of the WRX sedan’s chassis is up by 28 percent while the wagon form, by 44 percent.
The cars have become lighter by at least 2.3 kilograms as their front fenders are now made of light yet strong metal. However, the bonnet is still made of aluminum — just like the older WRX.
The Subaru WRX models’ design elements were from two Subaru prototypes namely the Viziv Performance Concept shown and the Viziv Tourer Concept previewed at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show and 2018 Geneva International Motor Show, respectively.
As example, the Viziv Performance Concept’s “forward-thrusting body with low center of gravity”, “dynamic flare of the muscular fenders” and “bold glimpse of the exhaust in the rear bumper” are highly-visible on the new WRX models.
The vehicles wear hexagonal honeycomb grilles flanked by C-shaped LED headlamps and a fully-functional hood scoop. The models sit on 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with 245/40 R18 high-performance tires.
The WRX’s “Tokyo turbojet” rear look is complemented by the two pairs of tailpipes with fog lamps.
Powering the two vehicles are 2.4-liter horizontally-opposed four-cylinder, 16-valve direct-inject engines. The powertrains now have an increased displacement (from 1998 cc to 2387 cc) and come with computer-controlled twin-scroll turbine turbochargers that can deliver 271hp and 350Nm.
As shared in an earlier story, the sedan’s engine is mated to either six-speed manual or Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT), while the wagon option is only available with an automatic gearbox.
The Subaru WRX offers a sporty yet comfortable cockpit design.
The flat-bottom steering wheel and shift knob are both wrapped in leather with red stitching. The same material is also found on the center console, door panels and passenger-side dashboard.
For additional embellishment, metallic-colored accents have been fitted around the instrument panel.
The instrument cluster sports the classic two-gauge layout: tachometer on the left and the speedometer on the right. Seen in between is a 4.2-inch high-resolution LCD combination display for crucial driving-related information.
The Subaru WRX features an 11.6-inch touchscreen display, which is the same system that is available in the Outback. It has Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, voice recognition and front dual USB ports.
In terms of space, the WRX sedan has 414 liters of cargo space while the wagon has the capacity to carry luggage from 492 liters (comparable to the Forester’s boot space) to 1,430 liters. The newly-launched offerings also have a widened rear gate opening, a retractable tonneau cover, four utility hooks, three bag hooks, a side pocket, and quick-release switches for the flexible split-fold facility.
The Subaru WRX CVT variants comes with EyeSight version 4, which has the following technologies:
The WRX series also has the Driver Monitoring System (DMS), which uses an infrared camera to detect whether the driver is distracted, tired, sleepy or drowsy while the car is being driven.
Here are the variants and prices for the all-new Subaru WRX and WRX Wagon in the country:
Photos from Motor Image Pilipinas Inc.
Also read:
Subaru PH to bring in new WRX sedan and wagon, Forester next year
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