2022 Subaru WRX Official Announcement *Merged*

[dwf137]

Something I'm curious about - the GT trim showed different levels of steering assist. Does this mean that the WRX is going to electric power steering? Or am I missing something?

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[Straight6]

Originally Posted by dwf137

Sure. The R is more of an STI competitor. But just like people will sit around and try to decide between an STI and a WRX, the R can be put into the same category. A well optioned out MT wrx will likely be close to 36K. For only 8k more I could have a Golf R and get a much nicer car, with more power, but a little less of that raw feel. Different strokes.

OR I hope you are sitting down for this one, I can buy a base WRX for under 30K and save well over 15K...I can get much better AWD, safety, more room, better dealer service, stronger clutch, no TD1 flag when I mod it...We can do this all day with all different car comparisons. Fact remains, a WRX is not a competitor to the Golf R, it is priced at a much lower price point and competes with the GTI and GLI.

[moshter11]

Originally Posted by SLO RU

Do you think the STi will have the same, ugly, hemorrhoid rear bumper? Because if so I will just start looking at other cars now. I am losing hope for the STi as of now anyways.

The STi will probably come with an unpainted plastic spoiler to match the other plastic claddings.

[cyralax]

Originally Posted by dwf137

Something I'm curious about - the GT trim showed different levels of steering assist. Does this mean that the WRX is going to electric power steering? Or am I missing something?

WRX has had EPS since 2015.

AFAIK STI is the last Subaru with a hydraulic rack, that should be going away along with the EJ.

[subyski]

Originally Posted by dwf137

Something I'm curious about - the GT trim showed different levels of steering assist. Does this mean that the WRX is going to electric power steering? Or am I missing something?

The WRX already has electric power steering. The STI has hydraulic power steering.

[smuve740]

Originally Posted by dwf137

Something I'm curious about - the GT trim showed different levels of steering assist. Does this mean that the WRX is going to electric power steering? Or am I missing something?

The VA chassis WRX already has electric power steering. The STi uses the hydraulic rack with a faster ratio.

[ShadowIMg]

Originally Posted by Straight6

Good luck getting a CTR for under 45K and it what world does a WRX compete with the Stinger GT ? I mean I guess you can cross shop a Sprinter van with a a Miata BUT the direct competitors to the WRX on the US market are : Elantra N, Si, GLI, GTI. Not the CTR not the Golf R and certain not a KIA Stinger...BTW I can build a GTI to almost 40K...

This is the part you aren't getting. None of those are a competitor to the WRX to me. As I've said each time, it depends entirely upon your criteria as a shopper. The STI has long been a competitor to the WRX, as was the Legacy, especially the 4th gen. Part of the reason the WRX has always been held back is that very problem. So to say a car is a competitor the STI and not the WRX is disingenuous, since we know (and Subaru has even said) the STI and WRX have pulled sales from each other through the years, and been the cause of some of their choices of what to do with each car.

I fully accept those are your competition to the WRX and you'd be shopping the base model and it comes out quite well in that comparison. And that is true for a lot of other people as well.

You just need to accept for a lot of other people, they're looking at the near max-trim WRX, which is going to put them shopping against more expensive cars, where it doesn't necessarily do as well. These shoppers do have 300+hp options, so it does matter. Probably just not to you.

[12wrx1]

I'm curious if there will be any power difference between the STI and WRX. Remember, the GR WRX 265hp and GR STI 305hp with the EJ. BUT...on the Dyno they made THE SAME power to the wheels.
So, if the new WRX and STI have the same 2.4 DIT,well.....

[Straight6]

It doesn't matter what me and you think of what the WRX competes against. This isn't up for an argument. It is not a matter of opinion. The WRX directly competes against the Civic Si, Golf GTI, Jetta GLI, Elantra N. It was designed and marketed with this segment in mind. Car reviewers are going to stack it and measure it against those cars. It wasn't designed, marketed or priced to compete against the CTR or Golf R, period.

[Cowboy Neal]

Originally Posted by Straight6

It doesn't matter what me and you think of what the WRX competes against. This isn't up for an argument. It is not a matter of opinion. The WRX directly competes against the Civic Si, Golf GTI, Jetta GLI, Elantra N. It was designed and marketed with this segment in mind. Car reviewers are going to stack it and measure it against those cars. It wasn't designed, marketed or priced to compete against the CTR or Golf R, period.

Recent spy shots show 22 wrx being tested against mustang eco boost.

[Apharmd]

Originally Posted by ShadowIMg

Huh? You can go to any dealer and by a CTR for 38k listed. Stinger GTs for 35k listed. These are new no-miles cars sitting on lots waiting to go, and there's plenty on any of the auto listing sites to pick from.

A premium trim WRX for the previous gen is already 32-33k. We're not talking a different league here. All the press on the new WRX say the base price is going up to 30k from 27k. Presumably that's going to land them in the same price range. The STI is a competitor with those, but also with the WRX, even though it's 42k+ at this point.

Again, it depends entirely on what YOUR criteria are for cross-shopping. It might be AWD, it might be power, it might be purely smiles per $. For some the WRX might get tossed out purely for that CVT, when competitors offer a DCT or the modern quality geared automatics instead.

Point is, if power is your criteria, there are competitors at 300+hp. I don't personally think the WRX needs it, but - they exist.

I don't know where you live but every Civic Type R in my area has a 10k plus dealer markup. My local dealership is asking over 70k for a Limited Edition. And the Kia Stinger with AWD is around 38k, and it's only offered with an automatic, although I will grant you that it's a pretty fair competitor to the WRX, sure.


What you said is also fair btw about trim level. My WRX is a base so something like the AWD Stinger GT would have been an additional 10k for me, so closer to a base GTI or Civic Si. At the higher trims yeah there are more powerful cars (which is why those trims never made much sense to me).

[ShadowIMg]

Originally Posted by Straight6

It doesn't matter what me and you think of what the WRX competes against. This isn't up for an argument. It is not a matter of opinion. The WRX directly competes against the Civic Si, Golf GTI, Jetta GLI, Elantra N. It was designed and marketed with this segment in mind. Car reviewers are going to stack it and measure it against those cars. It wasn't designed, marketed or priced to compete against the CTR or Golf R, period.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a3...pecs-revealed/

The Golf R is literally the first comparison they make.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a3...vw-gti-golf-r/

What you're saying is what Subaru wants it to compete against, but it IS relevant what people actually shopping compare it to.

The Mustang is actually another really good option there.

[Straight6]

Nah, Ill take a Ford Van with 3.5T over those. Way more room and I can tune it too. RWD > FWD based AWD. I can also get a MDX for 45K start. 300 hp and more room than the 2.3 Mustang but then there is the Miata, ah throw in the Sienna in there too. Can you get the Sienna with AWD ?

[dwf137]

Originally Posted by Straight6

OR I hope you are sitting down for this one, I can buy a base WRX for under 30K and save well over 15K...I can get much better AWD, safety, more room, better dealer service, stronger clutch, no TD1 flag when I mod it...We can do this all day with all different car comparisons. Fact remains, a WRX is not a competitor to the Golf R, it is priced at a much lower price point and competes with the GTI and GLI.

Not for everyone, no it doesn't. AWD is more important to me, so I'm not going to compare the GTI/GLI and the wrx, ever.

We could also argue that the the GTI doesn't compete with the wrx because hatchback vs sedan... but you don't.

The point is that this car category has very few options, so it needs to be loosely defined. There is a lot of cross shopping. They're all very similar cars, at different price points, with different pros/cons...

[heavyD]

Originally Posted by fredzy

Which entirely explains their slipperiness around it. They seem to be accepting that the tides just won't change for enthusiast acceptance of a CVT sporty car.

IMO they are being a little deceptive here as they are banking on uninformed buyers purchasing the car ignorant to the fact it has a CVT.

[mcarb002]

Any takers on STI power figures lol

A whopping 5-10hp increase is my prediction.

Basically the same features as the GT as far as different modes just with a manual, Brembos and a big wing.

[dwf137]

I'm personally astounded that the GT level wrx didn't include the digital cluster that's in the Levorg.

I wonder if it'll show up in the STI?

[JustyWRC]

Originally Posted by ShadowIMg

Well, as I said, what makes a direct competitor is entirely up to your particular interests in the car. MSRP expectation for the 2022 WRX is >30k, where the two you gave are more like 25k, and the ones I listed are 30-37k.

Obviously we have different criteria on what competes, which is fine. Personally for me the power is not what would keep me away, but rather Subaru's "legendary reliability" after my last two.



Maybe, it lands squarely between the WRX and STI in price, so it's a competitor to both as far as I'd be concerned.

Also need to keep in mind most "direct" competitors don't come with a costly AWD system. A 2WD WRX would certainly be cheaper than an AWD one.

Originally Posted by SLO RU

Do you think the STi will have the same, ugly, hemorrhoid rear bumper? Because if so I will just start looking at other cars now. I am losing hope for the STi as of now anyways.

I think we need to have someone measure a current WRX bumper and the new one. That picture is clearly a lens distortion. Does it still look ugly? Subjective. I just don't think it's sticking out much more than a current bumper is.

Originally Posted by Pre

The base model, you still have to use a physical key to start it.

LMMFAO! Bean counters! Just call it dollah store Bertha.

No doubt cost cutting. I'm sure most all WRX owners would want push button; but, I still get a handful of folks every month complaining they wish they could have a turn key(on pedestrian models of course). I'm like "what"? lol

[moshter11]

Subaru enthusiasts: please make hatch version of WRX
Subaru corporate: let's make a sedan version of Crosstek

[ShadowIMg]

Originally Posted by moshter11

Subaru enthusiasts: please make hatch version of WRX
Subaru corporate: let's make a sedan version of Crosstek

It's all just a setup for the WRX Wilderness edition?


as in please park it in the Wilderness, we don't want to see it...

[Snow Drift]

Originally Posted by Cowboy Neal

Recent spy shots show 22 wrx being tested against mustang eco boost.

They also have shots of it with a Tesla Model 3. 3hp extra is probably not going to put in 3.1-4.2 seconds 0-60.

Originally Posted by heavyD

IMO they are being a little deceptive here as they are banking on uninformed buyers purchasing the car ignorant to the fact it has a CVT.

Anyone who can't figure out that it is a CVT does not care either way and cannot tell the difference between AT and CVT.

[Kostamojen]

YouTube (Short URL)

YouTube (Short URL)

Lieberman smokin the Tom Doll crack pipe

[JustyWRC]

Originally Posted by heavyD

IMO they are being a little deceptive here as they are banking on uninformed buyers purchasing the car ignorant to the fact it has a CVT.

Well........it wouldn't matter to those buyers then.....

Originally Posted by dwf137

I'm personally astounded that the GT level wrx didn't include the digital cluster that's in the Levorg.

I wonder if it'll show up in the STI?

Probably what they will do to help "separate" them some more and then some future special edition WRX will get it.

[Apharmd]

Originally Posted by Kostamojen

http://youtu.be/puTCzT65Ugo

Lieberman smokin the Tom Doll crack pipe

This dude is such a goof so of course he gets hyped by the styling. Why is most automotive media today so bad?

[WRXnick16]

Originally Posted by Kostamojen

Lieberman smokin the Tom Doll crack pipe

He even still believes that the STI will have over 400 HP