Subaru WRX Concept

JeffHarbert wrote: The front overhang looks impossibly short considering the engine has to fit there. Makes me wonder if they pushed the tranny back a bit.

that's what I thought too. I kind of wonder how that short overhang is possible with the WRX engine layout+radiator+US crash standards. Heck, it's less overhang than the toyobaru, which has the engine farther back. I suspect that in the production model, it will be farther out to accomodate the bumper beam, rad, etc.

Maybe Subaru learned from all of use with late-model WRXs who constantly rip the front clip off simply by looking at it wrong.

I think it looks pretty good, except for the Charger/Camaro-esque high beltline. I've always appreciated the great all-around visibility on my WRX....I'd hate to see that go away.

I LOVE it! Now make it so I don't have to take out a second mortgage and I'll be real happy!

irish44j wrote:

JeffHarbert wrote: The front overhang looks impossibly short considering the engine has to fit there. Makes me wonder if they pushed the tranny back a bit.

that's what I thought too. I kind of wonder how that short overhang is possible with the WRX engine layout+radiator+US crash standards. Heck, it's less overhang than the toyobaru, which has the engine farther back. I suspect that in the production model, it will be farther out to accomodate the bumper beam, rad, etc. Maybe Subaru learned from all of use with late-model WRXs who constantly rip the front clip off simply by looking at it wrong. I think it looks pretty good, except for the Charger/Camaro-esque high beltline. I've always appreciated the great all-around visibility on my WRX....I'd hate to see that go away.

if it used an inline 4.. I would think some Audi radiator type mounting (offset to one side) but as a boxer?

Even though I've been called a subaru fanboi on here recently....I haven't been paying attention. This new WRX is supposed to have the new 2.0L DI engine, right? Maybe the small nose is possible because of the smaller engine. I don't recall the GC impreza having all that much overhang.

Not too far out there for a concept. I'm sure the lighting and fine details will get toned down a bit, but I don't see the belt line dropping.

I like it, but I doubt I'll be in a position to buy one when they come out so my opinion doesn't matter.

They might surprise and release a mostly true to the concept car as we've been seeing a few time lately.

I may be alone here, but I hate this. At least for a WRX. I've always liked the boxy utilitarian look for Subarus. Even this last generation pushed it for me. This is a fine design, just not for the WRX.

Who doesn't want a 4-door car with absolutely no rear seat headroom?

I think it's hawt. I'm really diggin that neon green/yellow highlights.

penultimeta wrote: I may be alone here, but I hate this. At least for a WRX. I've always liked the boxy utilitarian look for Subarus. Even this last generation pushed it for me. This is a fine design, just not for the WRX.

and the latest generation of the WRX was by far the most utilitarian, seeing as it has a backseat that someone 6'4 can sit comfortably in (my 6'9 buddy regularly rides back there), as well as fold-down rear seatbacks in the sedan, which was lacking in earlier ones.

I'm less interested in the look of the new one than the performance, honestly. The looks remind me of a Scion Xc on steroids with that lowish rear roofline.

I like it. Let's hope Subaru can use modern technology to make a decent interior and be powerful yet fuel efficient like Ford and GM have been able to do with high horsepower v8s...

The fa20(which is what i am assuming this will have) is pretty close in size to the ej series.

It just hit me, it's a Hot Wheels car!

Juvenile, busy, ugly, over designed - but then Subaru design hasn't hit any home runs for quite a while. I especially resent the rip off of the GT-R front fender idea, which wasn't exactly good on that vehicle either. All in all, there isn't a new design idea on that thing, even though there are so many design elements there, all competing for attention.

penultimeta wrote: I may be alone here, but I hate this. At least for a WRX. I've always liked the boxy utilitarian look for Subarus. Even this last generation pushed it for me. This is a fine design, just not for the WRX.

Well, you're not totally alone, as there were several other negative opinions. But I think the majority, myself included, love it.

Did anything indicate it was all wheel drive? There was talk of a wrx model of the BRz platform. We always assume a subie is all wheel drive. That being said, the overhang isn't much less than normal when you factor in the full nose, the grill/radiator is quite a bit forward of the headlight area.

This design makes me think they are going to migrate the WRX moniker from Imprezza to the BRZ. Which, even though I think this looks good and I am sure it will go like stink, I too believe the utilitarianism is an attractive feature in the Subie line up.

So if the Toyota powers that now be would make the WRX and WRX STi monikers as a package (think ST) and apply it to other models that would be great, but if they are going to just pin it on the coupe, I must protest.

But it does look good.

Looks decent, but the rumormill suggests that this thing is going to have an electric turbocharger. Like the ones you would see advertised in the back of car magazines about 10 years ago. No thanks, I will pass.

In reply to SilverFleet:

I am very suspicios of rumors like that. Subaru have proven themselves to be the whatever is the opposite of innovators. Just the change to a new DI chain-timed motor is more than enough change for one generation.

I am still waiting to see the effect of the new skinny bearings. I know that is not the only factor in making big horsepower, but it sure fits in with the trend of designing engines for efficiency and not necessarily power.

Looks OK....not crazy about the rear of the car.....Kinda Cadillac CTS/ATS ish to me.......

SilverFleet wrote: Looks decent, but the rumormill suggests that this thing is going to have an electric turbocharger. Like the ones you would see advertised in the back of car magazines about 10 years ago. No thanks, I will pass.

Nope. I was part of some electric turbo development years ago. All the boost, none of the lag.

Fueled by Caffeine wrote:

SilverFleet wrote: Looks decent, but the rumormill suggests that this thing is going to have an electric turbocharger. Like the ones you would see advertised in the back of car magazines about 10 years ago. No thanks, I will pass.

Nope. I was part of some electric turbo development years ago. All the boost, none of the lag.

Interested to hear about that.

Regenerative braking to power an e-turbo would be great. Imagine programming your own torque curve for different driving conditions! And the benefits of removing exhaust restrictions to help with gas mileage and overall power potential...

I remember reading up on some of the serious electric turbochargers. At the time they required their own battery bank and were more like NOx in that you got one boost before they had to recharge

mr2peak wrote:

Fueled by Caffeine wrote:

SilverFleet wrote: Looks decent, but the rumormill suggests that this thing is going to have an electric turbocharger. Like the ones you would see advertised in the back of car magazines about 10 years ago. No thanks, I will pass.

Nope. I was part of some electric turbo development years ago. All the boost, none of the lag.

Interested to hear about that. Regenerative braking to power an e-turbo would be great. Imagine programming your own torque curve for different driving conditions! And the benefits of removing exhaust restrictions to help with gas mileage and overall power potential...

You waste the energy in the enthalpy of the exhaust, which is what makes turbos awesome as they are more efficient use of more aspects of the combustion cycle and their by-products. An electric turbo would be just like a supercharger with on demand boost.

penultimeta wrote: I may be alone here, but I hate this. At least for a WRX. I've always liked the boxy utilitarian look for Subarus. Even this last generation pushed it for me. This is a fine design, just not for the WRX.

I'm sceptical of the way the WRX is diverging from the Impreza. That's a fundamental change in the nature of the model, and outlandish styling is one of the things that it enables.

Also, I'm far from sold on the electric "turbo" concept or the notion of a hybrid WRX.