Motor Image Pilipinas, the exclusive distributor of Subaru in the Philippines, debuts the all-new fifth-generation Subaru WRX and WRX Wagon to discerning enthusiasts in the country. Dubbed the “all-purpose performance car,” the latest iteration of the rally car-inspired legend brings a heightened sense of performance without sacrificing practicality.
Compared to its predecessor, the 2022 WRX is 75mm longer, 30mm wider and 10mm lower than before, with an additional 25mm in the wheelbase (to 2,675mm). Meanwhile, the all-new WRX Wagon is 65mm longer, 15mm wider and 10mm taller than the previous Levorg, with an additional 20mm in the wheelbase (2,670mm).
Across the line-up is one engine and that’s the turbocharged 2.4-liter Boxer (FA24) putting out 275hp at 5,600 rpm and 350Nm of torque from 2,000 to 5,200 rpm. This is enough for a 0 to 100 km/h time of 6 seconds for the MT and 6.1 seconds for the CVT. All variants also have a 63-liter tank and come with an idle start-stop (save for the MT). All but the MT has Subaru Intelligent Drive or SI-Drive and an electronic parking brake.
While the manual has been improved, the CVT gets the bulk of the changes. It offers 30 percent faster upshifts and 50 percent faster downshifts than before. It also incorporates adaptive shift control that can quickly respond to perform rev-matching downshifts under braking, maintain the ideal ratio through corners, and respond faster on corner exit. Total ratio coverage range has been enlarged, and lower ‘fixed’ gear ratios have been revised to improve acceleration and response.
Moving on to the handling, all WRXs benefit from the Subaru Global Platform which ups the overall torsional rigidity by 28 percent; suspension mounting rigidity is also up 75 percent. It also has a longer suspension stroke for increased stability, while the rear stabilizer, now mounted directly to the body, contributes to less roll during cornering. Further differentiating the WRX sedan, it has pillow ball bushings for a more precise suspension feel, while the wagon has rubber bushings for a more pliant ride.
For its Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system, the manual-equipped model uses a viscous-coupling center differential to split the torque evenly at 50/50. For the CVT-equipped models, the all-wheel drive features active torque distribution which varies the power distribution between front and rear wheels as needed, defaulting to a 45/55 split.
In terms of exterior features, all WRX variants use LEDs for its lighting. It also has UV protection glass on all sides. A sunroof comes only on the CVT-equipped WRX sedans, and on the WRX tS wagon. The sedans ride on meatier 245/40R18 tires, while the wagons sit on 225/45R18s.
Speaking of the “tS,” this replaces the full-blown WRX STI. Fully realizing the World Rally eXperiment’s potential, it adds STI and tS badging outside and inside, while also adding electronically controlled dampers.
Inside, the WRX comes with the 11.6-inch tablet-like center information display and dual-zone automatic climate control with rear vents as standard. However, the MT variant makes do with fabric seats, while the WRX CVT variant and WRX tS wagon gets grippy Ultrasuede. The non-tS WRX wagon, meanwhile gets leather seats with contrast stitching. The WRX tS sedan receives an 11-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, while the WRX tS Wagon sticks to a regular 6-speaker system, but does get the convenience of a hands-free power tailgate.
Like all Subarus, the WRX comes with cutting-edge safety. All two-pedal variants come with Subaru EyeSight as standard which now adds autonomous emergency steering and lane departure prevention. The CVT variants also have blind spot monitoring, rear automatic braking, and auto-dimming rearview mirrors. The Driver Monitoring System, meanwhile is standard regardless of transmission as is a rear-view camera.
“The all-new WRX is here to ignite your senses. From its stunning exterior and premium interior, to the sporty sound and powerful performance of its new 2.4-litre turbo boxer engine, the invigorating smell of the exhaust and the exciting handling, the WRX gives a raw driving experience that makes burning rubber fun. I am very confident that both the all-new WRX and WRX Wagon will totally ignite your senses, and remain crowd favorites that are much-loved by Subaru enthusiasts here,” said Glenn Tan, Deputy Chairman and Managing Director, Tan Chong International Limited.
The pricing of the 2022 Subaru WRX is as follows: WRX sedan M/T (P2,508,000), WRX sedan CVT (P2,658,000), WRX tS sedan CVT (P2,808,000), WRX CVT wagon (P2,558,000), and WRX tS wagon CVT (P2,708,000). The tS variants are on an indent order basis.