It’s finally here, all the speculation and rumors can be put to rest; The all-new 2023 Subaru WRX and WRX wagon has just been launched. Details such as the price, power, and other specifications have been officially revealed and confirmed.
SUBARU WRX EXTERIOR
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Let’s start with the looks and construction of the all-new WRX.
Subaru’s modern design philosophy “Dynamic x Solid” has been enhanced to also express “Bolder”, guiding the complete redesign of the WRX in both notchback-sedan and station-wagon body styles.
Compared to its predecessor, the new WRX is 75 mm longer, 30 mm wider, and 10 mm lower than before, with an additional 25 mm in the wheelbase (2675 mm). The new WRX Wagon is 65 mm longer, 15 mm wider and 10 mm taller than the previous Levorg, with an additional 20 mm in the wheelbase (2670 mm).
Both models are built on the newest iteration of the Subaru Global Platform, with full inner frame construction and expanded application of structural adhesive to greatly improve the car’s rigidity, a bedrock of performance driving capability.
Furthermore, the proportion of high-tensile steel sheets in the body has increased from 4 percent to 9 percent (approximate in-house data), which is good for collision safety.
The bonnet is still aluminum, like the older WRX, while the front fenders are now also made from light yet strong metal, saving 2.3 kg.
The styling of the new WRX and WRX Wagon was previewed as Subaru concept cars – the Viziv Performance Concept at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show and the Viziv Tourer Concept at the 2018 Geneva International Motor Show.
Not only that, key design elements of the two prototypes actually made it to production.
For instance, 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” have been seen on the street-legal WRX.
The front has been designed to give the impression of performance at a glance. The striking hexagonal grille, with its honeycomb pattern repeated neatly above the fog lamps, is flanked by sleek LED headlamps with Subaru’s C-shaped light signature.
Of course, the classic WRX trademark, a functional scoop cut into the hood, is present and accounted for, feeding fresh air to the intercooler of the turbocharged boxer engine.
Design differences between the Subaru WRX and WRX Wagon include the sedan’s dramatic black claddings, more elaborate main grille, and four muffler tailpipes instead of two. The WRX Wagon also rides on less aggressive 225/45 R18 tires.
SUBARU WRX ENGINE PERFORMANCE
At the heart of the high performance is Subaru’s turbocharged FA24 boxer engine, uniquely tuned for the hot new Subaru WRX. The 2.4-litre horizontally-opposed 4-cylinder, 16-valve direct-injection unit produces 275 PS at 5600 rpm and 350 Nm at 2000-5200 rpm.
The main mechanical changes are the increased displacement (from 1998 cc to 2387 cc) and a superior turbocharger (still a twin-scroll turbine, but now with computer-controlled valves for the wastegate and air bypass to enhance the turbo’s efficiency).
Two transmissions are available for the WRX. The sedan variant gets a choice of hardcore 6-speed manual or souped-up “8-speed” Lineartronic CVT, while the wagon variant is only available as an automatic.
SUBARU WRX INTERIOR
The most upscale feature in the new WRX is its 11.6-inch touchscreen display, which centralizes and manages the infotainment, climate control, vehicle settings, and other important functions in a user-friendly manner.
Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, voice recognition, and front dual USB ports are ready to connect you and your personal devices to the onboard infotainment of the WRX.
Red-stitched leather adorns the center console, door panels, and passenger-side dashboard, with luxurious leather seats in the CVT WRX and classic fabric seats in the manual Subaru WRX. Metallic-colored accents around the instrument panel provide additional decoration.
The instrument cluster adopts a classic two-gauge layout, with the tachometer on the left and the speedometer on the right.
Between the meters is a 4.2-inch high-res LCD combination display for crucial driving-related information, accessed through the [ i ] cluster of buttons below the left spoke of the steering wheel. A digital boost gauge that records the peak psi value can be called up for some entertainment.
Drivers will also love the leather-wrapped transmission shift knob and rubber-studded aluminum pedals, particularly those who swear by the 6-speed manual gearbox. The driver’s seat is ultra-supportive and includes a 10-way power adjustment in the auto variants.
SUBARU WRX SAFETY
The WRX CVT variants are equipped with EyeSight version 4, Subaru’s unique Driver Assist Technology that relies on innovative stereo cameras. Significant improvements to the hardware and software make this state-of-the-art safety system even more helpful as an attentive “co-driver”.
Subaru EyeSight version 4, complete with EyeSight Assist Monitor, makes driving easier and safer with its extended suite of functions:
- Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering Function
- Pre-Collision Braking with Autonomous Emergency Steering
- Pre-Collision Throttle Management
- Lane Departure Warning with Lane Departure Prevention
- Lane Sway Warning
- Lead Vehicle Start Alert
Another major safety upgrade for the new WRX series is Subaru’s Driver Monitoring System (DMS), which uses an infrared camera to detect whether the driver is distracted or tired/sleepy/drowsy while the car is being driven, and promptly alerts him or her.
Other Subaru WRX advanced safety features include an array of airbags, a Ring-shaped Reinforcement Frame, Steering Responsive Headlights, and a rear view camera, with the WRX auto variants adding High Beam Assist, Reverse Automatic Braking, and Subaru Rear Vehicle Detection.
SUBARU WRX tS VARIANT
Available also on an indent order basis are the top-spec WRX tS and WRX tS Wagon, which fully realize their high-performance potential with Drive Mode Select.
Electronically controlled dampers with accelerometer sensors and a dedicated ECU (electronic control unit) are the basis for the system, which is connected to the WRX’s modules for SI-Drive, steering, Variable Torque Distribution, and EyeSight Adaptive Cruise Control (adjusting the ACC acceleration characteristic – Eco (gently but slowly), Comfort (smoothly), Standard (normally) or Dynamic (aggressively). The selected Drive Mode, therefore, also activates the relevant settings for these other systems.
The dedicated [MODE] button on the steering wheel puts Drive Mode Select at the driver’s fingertips and toggles between Comfort, Normal, Sport, Sport+, and Individual modes. The last mode lets the driver customize his or her own settings and save them for activation anytime.
Other equipment specific to the tS variants in the Philippines includes a Harman/Kardon 10-speaker hi-fi system with subwoofer and 8-channel amplifier for the WRX tS, and a power rear gate with Outback-style hands-free operation (put a hand or elbow near the rear Subaru emblem to open the tailgate) for the WRX tS Wagon. Both Subaru WRX tS models also sport an “STI” logo on the steering wheel, illuminated red meter rings, and “tS” badging on the boot lid.
SUBARU WRX PRICE
Prices of the WRX and WRX Wagon are as follows:
- WRX sedan M/T – PHP 2,508,000
- WRX sedan CVT – PHP 2,658,000
- WRX tS sedan CVT – PHP 2,808,000*
- WRX CVT wagon – PHP 2,558,000
- WRX tS wagon CVT – PPH 2,708,000*
* tS variants are available on indent-order basis. For more details visit www.subaru.asia/ph/en/vehicles/wrx/
