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News: No WRX/STI variants on the new 2012 Impreza platform

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qmwdM_8Ln-...X+STi+2012.jpg

They will live on as coupes?

Source: http://brisbanetimes.drive.com.au/mo...429-1e05l.html

Quote:

New Impreza out - but where's Japanese brand's performance hero?

The future of Subaru's cult-hero WRX performance car is under a cloud following the unveiling of the brand's new Impreza sedan and hatchback.

The next-generation small car was revealed at the New York motor show last week - but there was no all-new performance model previewed, bringing the future of the WRX into doubt.

Following a statement from Subaru Australia spokesman David Rowley, it seems WRX enthusiasts could well have reason to worry.

Rowley told Drive there is "no timeframe" for the next-generation WRX, and says the brand has no plans to offer a turbocharged performance version of the Impreza small car.
"When you see Impreza launched in Australia or in any other market in the world, it will purely be the naturally aspirated Impreza - there will be no turbocharged WRX or STI version of that car," Rowley says.

Rowley says the brand's decision to split the WRX nameplate from the Impreza range - which it did in September 2010 when the updated "widebody" WRX and automatic STI models were introduced - was a conscious one.

"WRX and STI continue as is for the foreseeable future, but they are now separate models from the Impreza range," says Rowley. "Basically, WRX and STI become, to all intents, part of a performance stable, leaving Impreza as the mainstream naturally-aspirated [non-turbocharged] small car.

"It was a conscious decision to separate [the current WRX and STI] from [the Impreza] range," he says. "It's not something that we've hidden away or anything, it was a conscious decision made quite some time ago to create that specific performance stable."

Asked whether the next-generation WRX could be the Japanese brand's joint-venture coupe model which is being developed with Toyota (often referred to as the "Toyobaru" coupe and previewed at the Geneva motor show in see-through concept form), Rowley was quick to flatten the idea.

"No, because that car doesn't have a turbocharged engine - it has a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine," he says.

As Drive reported last week, Subaru's version of the car will be unique to the concept models already shown by Toyota and its youth-oriented sub-brand Scion, with the brand's project general manager Akihide Takeuchi saying the car is likely to be unveiled in the northern spring of 2012.

"We're working on it, and it is progressing very well," Takeuchi told Drive at the New York motor show. "Subaru is thinking about the aura we want to give the car. We are still tuning the car."

Subaru Australia says the new rear-wheel-drive sports car is not confirmed for local launch as yet. David Rowley says there is no timeframe for a decision at this stage because introducing that model would mean a shift away from the brand's current all-wheel-drive-only mantra

Quote:

it has a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine

:facepalm:

first evos.... no wrx/sti....
sad indeed

it's somewhat of an obvious step in order to introduce the Subaru variant of the FT-86, no? Sure they are going to be different cars but they probably target a very similar demographics

^^ lol wonder how much power it makes with a 2.0l....................

150hp with a 3000lb car = epic fail.

ew..... that's so lame

I H8 how legendary/long running vehicles get axed simply because of some supposedly "forward thinking" execs

Like the Celica :(

Get an Evo or a STI before they're all gone!
Posted via RS Mobile

DI turbo is the way to go. I am sure even the turbo diesel model will become popular if they decide to bring it here.

If you actually read the article you would realize that it's just the name. The WRX and STI are now variants of themselves. IE no "Impreza WRX". Now, it's just "WRX."

This does not mean the STI and WRX are gone.

Copying the GTR route I see

the 2011 body style will probably carry over to 2012

This is a good thing, the new Impreza looks like a Daewoo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 68style (Post 7417021)

This is a good thing, the new Impreza looks like a Daewoo.

we don't joke about that manufacturer around here

it was always stupid to say Subaru Impreza WRX STi

Pretty sure that the STi/WRX variants are to be on their own chassis, instead of based on the Impreza. 2012 will look like the old ones, 2013 will the on the new chassis and with a new face.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AWDTurboLuvr (Post 7417328)

Pretty sure that the STi/WRX variants are to be on their own chassis, instead of based on the Impreza. 2012 will look like the old ones, 2013 will the on the new chassis and with a new face.

yes, this is a good thing as now they wont need to use a base impreza chassis and stiffen the heck out of it to make it go around corners.

I hope they include a dual clutch trans. and Active Yaw Control with a engine that has better fuel economy. Had to get rid of my GRB because of the piston ring issues.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AWDTurboLuvr (Post 7417328)

Pretty sure that the STi/WRX variants are to be on their own chassis, instead of based on the Impreza. 2012 will look like the old ones, 2013 will the on the new chassis and with a new face.

And probably a hefty price hike?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Culverin (Post 7418310)

And probably a hefty price hike?

Probably won't, don't forget about the upcoming Toyota/Subaru coupe due next year. :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOPEC (Post 7417449)

yes, this is a good thing as now they wont need to use a base impreza chassis and stiffen the heck out of it to make it go around corners.

Exactly. The Impreza can concentrate being more of an economy car with better fuel economy and the STi/WRX will be more performance, without being saddled with the econo-box pinnings and interior.