So I had some extra time at an airport last week and I picked up the new issue of Car and Driver. They test drove a JDM 08 WRX and wrote a quick article about it: http://www.caranddriver.com/previews/13309/first-drive-2008-subaru-impreza-wrx.html According to the article, Subaru wants to appeal to a larger market, so they are making the WRX more conservative looking. They also said the power already in the WRX was sufficient, so there will be no real power upgrades (except for probably the STi). Here is the kicker - "In creating a car that has more space, better quality, and an improved ride, the ’08 WRX should appeal to the “wider audience” its bosses are looking for. But on the flip side, the bland styling and the lack of performance upgrades give current WRX owners nowhere to go. Except, perhaps, to Mitsubishi, when the sharp-looking Lancer Evolution X surfaces later this year." Nooooooooo!:wtc: This article makes me sad. WTF is Subaru doing?!?
Exactly what they wanted to do. They are appealing to a larger market so they can sell more cars. They are not going to market this WRX the same as the last one. They will market the performance but that will be secondary to the comfort, safety and luxuries. The WRX that we knew and loved from the 90's and the early 2000's is gone for ever.
It will...sorta. Expect it to get a few comforts and luxuries too. If you want a performance Subaru in the future you will be looking at the STI. All the other Subarus are being redesigned to be more upscale. Performance is secondary to luxury and comfort in the other Subaru models. STI on anything will be the only performance models we see from now on. I am disappointed with Subaru.
The brakes have been switched from the four-piston variety to cheaper two-pot sliding calipers and deliver adequate stopping power. WTF why even have them 4 pots for a year
The only Subaru I would want at this point is Legacy Spec-B. Not interested in the Impreza line any more.
i actually like the way the sedan looks(not digging the hatch) and hell, if it turns in sharper and they dialed out the understeer...sounds like a good car to me.
It is all about the benjamins...$$$$ some manufacturers are stripping down the lower end models and loading up the options on the high end ones and charging a whole lot more.
I'm not sure that is true. I am one of the less picky Subaru fans but I have no desire to "upgrade" to the 08 wrx. they may be trying to get a wider range of buyers but they are loosing a lot of the people who made the impreza work in the states in the first place, us, and I hope the new STI rocks but I and other wrx owners cant drop that kind of cash, if I could I would be driving an 07 sti . the over all public opinion of the new body is either ugly or unremarkable which is not going to help in the 08 wrx/lacer fight.