The new-generation Subaru WRX will reach Australia in less than six monthsâ time and be followed soon after by its hardcore WRX STI sibling.
Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior confirmed the all-new fourth-generation WRX would land in local showrooms in March, around two months ahead of the flagship STI thatâs due in the second quarter of 2014.
The latest instalment of the Japanese manufacturerâs iconic all-wheel-drive sports car is set to be a scaled-down version of the Subaru WRX concept (below) that debuted at the New York auto show in March.
Set to be revealed at next monthâs Los Angeles auto show, the production car will be available exclusively as a sedan, as the brand aims to further distance the WRX from the Impreza small-car line on which it has been based since the first-generation WRX launched in 1992.
Subaru expects the WRXâs new turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine to make it quicker than the outgoing 2.5-litre turbo model, which accelerates from 0-100km/h in 5.3 seconds. The new model will be available with a manual transmission and (while not yet officially confirmed) an automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT) with paddleshifters.
While pricing is still to be finalised, Senior all but confirmed a price rise for the new-generation WRX, admitting retaining the current modelâs $39,990 price tag was âgoing to be a challengeâ.
âWeâve got to be realistic, itâs going to be the biggest change in the WRXâs history, so weâve got to be mindful of what weâve done, what weâve improved,â he said.
âThereâll be a lot of additional equipment, a lot of improvements, a lot of technology, so there is a bit of change around pricing, but weâve got a bit of time to work it out.â
Though he would not be drawn on specifics, Senior suggested the story would be similar with the new WRX STI, which looks set to ask more of customers than its $59,990 predecessor.
âIâm not going to talk pricing other than to say itâs challenging, but as always we will demonstrate good value for money.â
Spy shots of the Subaru WRX testing at the Nurburgring in April gave us our clearest look yet at the final form of the new model.
All is set to be revealed in around seven weeksâ time when the covers come off the WRX in Los Angeles on November 22.
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