Topic: Subaru Impreza and WRX Divorce in 2014

[Snowman]

The best thing that could happen to the WRX and STI is to be a different line. This will allow Subaru to not over-engineer the Impreza to accommodate for the handling and horsepower of the WRX and permit Subaru to improve the WRX and STi for more performance oriented purposes. Looking forward to 2014.

http://www.carbuzz.com/news/2011/7/20/2014-Subaru-WRX-and-Impreza-Together-No-More-7703925/

[initial_D]

300 Horses from a blown 1.6 will have a highboost number. Perhaps the smaller chassis size will improve the handling of STi in big way that, people will forget the soon to be extincted Mitsu LanEVO.

[Julie]

Good idea.

[Giant Dwarf]

A smaller, shorter wheelbased, two-door (non-hatchback?) next generation will undoubtedly turn away a lot of people that purchased previous WRX's because of their amazing Swiss-army-knife do everything nature.  Having a legitimate performance car that can seat 5 and carry a ton of cargo under the hatch -- in any sort of weather -- is one of the most endearing qualities of the current 'Rex variants. 

[vdk]

I'm sure they'll keep at least one version of a fast Impreza.

[sparky]

Meh, there's a ton of fast little cars. Roomy, practical, all-weather road rockets are precious and few. Don't do it, Sublie.

[Snowman]

A smaller, shorter wheelbased, two-door (non-hatchback?) next generation will undoubtedly turn away a lot of people that purchased previous WRX's because of their amazing Swiss-army-knife do everything nature.  Having a legitimate performance car that can seat 5 and carry a ton of cargo under the hatch -- in any sort of weather -- is one of the most endearing qualities of the current 'Rex variants. 

I agree to a point Jeff but Subaru needs to move on. When I get out of the S2000 and into the WRX STi it feels like I'm stepping up into a farm tractor. The ergonomics are poor in comparison and don't get me going on the handling.

[HeliDriver]

Why not build the high performance version off the Toyobaru coupe platform for rally/STI duty, and keep the WRX on the Imprezza platform for all-round utility with a dash of performance?

Or maybe the Toyobaru coupe platform wasn't designed for AWD?

[The Mighty Duck]

A smaller, shorter wheelbased, two-door (non-hatchback?) next generation will undoubtedly turn away a lot of people that purchased previous WRX's because of their amazing Swiss-army-knife do everything nature.  Having a legitimate performance car that can seat 5 and carry a ton of cargo under the hatch -- in any sort of weather -- is one of the most endearing qualities of the current 'Rex variants. 

I agree to a point Jeff but Subaru needs to move on. When I get out of the S2000 and into the WRX STi it feels like I'm stepping up into a farm tractor. The ergonomics are poor in comparison and don't get me going on the handling.

But that's not what the WRX and STI are. I agree with GD - the appeal of these cars is in the fact that they can put many other dedicated sports cars to shame, but are also practical. If you want a small, fast, sports car, then there are plenty of options. If you want a small, fast, extremely practical car, there's not many (relatively) affordable options except the WRX/STI.

I'm sure the new WRX will be an absolutely amazing car. But it's also a car I'm a lot less likely to buy compared to the current one. The simple fact is, right now the current WRX can be your only car and deliver a lot of fun. The new one might be more fun, but (for a lot of people) only if you can afford to run it as second car.

[blur911]

I guess I'm at the other end of the spectrum from most.  The current Impreza line is too big for my tastes.  For the last few generations they have been getting bigger and bigger, I mistook one for a Legacy a couple of years ago.

We have an Outback,  but I also like to have something small and AWD for winter commuting (and the occasional autocross or rallycross) and the WRX has just been getting too porky to be on my short list.
Plus, if they're going with a 1.6, it would have to be smaller and lighter to make this practical.

[safristi]

 Subie salesman circa 2014.............."Yeah BUB the regular crap is OUTBACK....tha goodstuff is in the SUBLEXUS building".......



   Maybe Subie and Lambos could hook up with JOHN DEERE.......they are making money Hand ov'r  Tractor  go back to yer ROOTS SRXi Kintie.....

[PlanB]

The worst thing that could happen to the Impreza is to be a different line. This will allow Subaru to not over-engineer the Impreza to accommodate for the handling and horsepower of the WRX and permit Subaru to improve the WRX and STi for more performance oriented purposes. Looking forward to 2014.

I bought the Impreza because it was over-built.  It's reliability is legendary and when it was new, it's standard feature list was very impressive, and IMO it had no rivals if one was looking for a practical/affordable/feature-filled/AWD hatch.  Basically, it had every single thing I wanted in a car (and then some - AWD) and it was NOT a Corolla, Civic, Mazda3 - it was different and had character (not that those other cars don't, this was just different, to me anyway)

  If/when it separates from the WRX/STI line, it will undoubtedly be because Fuji Heavy Industries wants to make the Impreza 'main-stream' and try to break out from their 'niche' brand image.  IMO, making the Impreza more main-stream will likely mean generic looks, generic engine/powertrain options, pretty much generic everything.  If this is the way they want to go, I'll not be re-upping with this brand as I refuse to be forced to get into a WRX to get what I want. 

[life in the slow lane]

The worst thing that could happen to the Impreza is to be a different line. This will allow Subaru to not over-engineer the Impreza to accommodate for the handling and horsepower of the WRX and permit Subaru to improve the WRX and STi for more performance oriented purposes. Looking forward to 2014.

I bought the Impreza because it was over-built.  It's reliability is legendary and when it was new, it's standard feature list was very impressive, and IMO it had no rivals if one was looking for a practical/affordable/feature-filled/AWD hatch.  Basically, it had every single thing I wanted in a car (and then some - AWD) and it was NOT a Corolla, Civic, Mazda3 - it was different and had character (not that those other cars don't, this was just different, to me anyway)

  If/when it separates from the WRX/STI line, it will undoubtedly be because Fuji Heavy Industries wants to make the Impreza 'main-stream' and try to break out from their 'niche' brand image.  IMO, making the Impreza more main-stream will likely mean generic looks, generic engine/powertrain options, pretty much generic everything.  If this is the way they want to go, I'll not be re-upping with this brand as I refuse to be forced to get into a WRX to get what I want. 

  I hope the deal with Toyota doesn't mean we will be getting boring cars from Subaru. I had a 1998 Impreza and it was one of the best cars that I owned. "it was different and had character", yes and thats what makes a Subaru a Subaru. They were willing to go their own way, having AWD as standard equipment and styling that had a certian appeal to it because it was different.