AT A GLANCE:
2008 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX
ON SALE: Now
BASE PRICE: $24,995
DRIVETRAIN: 2.5-liter, 224-hp, 226-lb-ft turbocharged flat-four; awd, five-speed manual
CURB WEIGHT: 3142 lb
0 TO 60 MPH: 5.8 sec (mfr)
FUEL MILEAGE (EPA COMBINED): 21 mpg
Subaru puts WRX on a diet and fattens the torque curve
It’s refreshing to catch a glimpse of the top-mounted intercooler while looking at the functional hood scoop on the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX. So many scoops, vents and wings are purely cosmetic nowadays. That the rest of the car is as mature and functional is a bonus.
Wagon fans will notice that the wagon becomes a hatchback and goes by the term “five-door.” The change from wagon to five-door also drops 110 pounds from the curb weight, so we have no complaints. Sedans only drop 50 pounds. To simplify matters, there will be no TR model at launch, but Subaru hasn’t ruled it out for later.
An extra 3.7 inches of wheelbase (103.1 inches versus 99.4) combines with the new double-wishbone rear suspension to improve handling and interior cargo room. The sedan grows 4.5 inches longer, but the five-door comes in 6.5 inches shorter than the sedan. Framed windows make their debut and help stiffen the body as well as silencing wind noise, and back doors open 75 degrees for better access.
Subaru spent time modifying the interior, too. Rear legroom increases, and the seatback angle is more reclined for improved comfort. Slightly better materials are used all over the interior, but you’re not going to forget the WRX is based on a $17,000 car.
At first glance, the 2.5-liter boxer appears unchanged from the 2007 model. However, a more detailed analysis reveals that the 224 hp peaks at 5200 rpm and 226 lb-ft at 2800 rpm, down 400 and 800 rpm, respectively. Credit the new intake manifold, turbo and intercooler for the more accessible powerband. The engine also sits 10 mm lower in the chassis for better balance.
Because the torque curve flattened so much, the manual transmission carries several new gear ratios and now runs the same 3.90:1 final gearing as the automatic. Expect 50-to-70-mph times to drop 25 percent while fuel economy increases about 5 percent.
Die-hard WRX fans may bemoan the loss of a limited-slip rear differential, but Subaru assures us the Vehicle Dynamics Control system is a better solution because it also manages vehicle stability. The VDC manages the torque at each wheel by applying the brake when wheelspin is detected and allows for a hill-start assist in manual-transmission vehicles.
The STI edition debuts in a few months with more power and look-at-me design, and that’s what real Subaru extremists await. For the time being, WRX offers above-average performance in a less flashy package. Not a bad deal, really.
Source:
By PHIL FLORADAY
AutoWeek | Published 07/23/07
Originally Posted by raffylong
