Images of the all-new Subaru WRX have leaked, revealing the entire exterior design of the new-generation all-wheel-drive sports car.
The front and rear three-quarter images of the red WRX appeared shortly after Subaru released a teaser image (pictured bottom) of its highly anticipated fourth-generation hero car, which will make its official public debut at next week’s Los Angeles auto show.
The tightly cropped teaser shot and the first of the leaked images reveal the new face of the Subaru WRX, which is heavily inspired by the WRX concept that debuted at April’s New York motor show.
Squared-off headlights with C-shaped LED daytime running lights flank a signature rounded trapezoidal grille. Large lower side intakes with fog lights fill out a muscular front bumper, while a gaping scoop dominates the bonnet.
Angular flared front wheel arches add to the WRX’s width and sense of strength, with prominent side skirts flowing to more understated haunches over the rear wheels.
The second leaked image gives us our first undisguised look at the rear end of the new Subaru WRX, after CarAdvice’s spy photographers captured the car testing at the Nurburgring in April. The blocky tail-lights share more in common with those of the Impreza than the WRX concept’s sleeker fixtures, though the production model’s aggressive diffuser and quad exhaust outlets show clear inspiration from the concept.
Also visible from the rear three-quarter shot is an air outlet behind the front wheels and a lip spoiler on the boot lid.
Subaru Australia has confirmed the new WRX will reach local showrooms in March, around two months ahead of the flagship WRX STI that’s due in the second quarter of 2014.
Subaru expects the WRX’s new turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine to make it quicker than the outgoing 2.5-litre turbo model, which accelerates from 0-100km/h in 5.3 seconds. The new model will be available with a manual transmission and (while not yet officially confirmed) an automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT) with paddleshifters.
Pricing is still to be finalised, though Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior admitted in October retaining the current model’s $39,990 price tag was “going to be a challenge”, all but confirming a price rise for the new WRX.
Full details will be revealed on November 20 when the Subaru WRX debuts in Los Angeles alongside an all-new top-secret design concept model.
