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Subaru Australia has ticked over 70,000 gross sales of its rally-bred WRX, a big milestone achieved over 5 generations for the reason that iconic mannequin launched regionally in 1994.
Characterised by rumbly turbocharged boxer engines and Subaru’s signature ‘Symmetrical’ all-wheel drive system, the WRX and the warmer WRX STI grew to become legendary by means of their involvement in international rally competitors and have lengthy introduced “unmistakable character” to showrooms worldwide.
Subaru Australia says the WRX “performed a defining position” in cementing the model’s efficiency pedigree, supported by a “passionate proprietor group” for one of many few remaining Japanese hero automobiles of the Nineteen Nineties.
“WRX has at all times been greater than only a automotive. It represents a spirit of enjoyable and connection that has resonated with Australians for greater than 30 years,” stated Subaru Australia normal supervisor Scott Lawrence.
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“There’s one thing particular about the way in which it makes individuals really feel – that confidence behind the wheel, the sense of management, the grin it places in your face.
“We’re grateful to each WRX proprietor who’s been a part of the journey. Whether or not you’ve simply picked up your first ‘Rex or have owned a number of over time, your enthusiasm has helped make WRX what it’s in the present day.”
The WRX began life as a hotted-up variant of the usual Impreza sedan, and was first previewed in Australia on the 1993 Sydney motor present. It was launched in Australia the next 12 months, bringing with it a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder boxer engine (bearing the enduring EJ20 designation) and all-wheel drive.
The primary Impreza WRX STI launched regionally in 1998, bringing extra energy and improved performance-focused componentry. It was adopted by the introduction of the limited-edition WRX STI 22B. Solely 5 of the 424 examples constructed had been imported to Australia by Subaru.
Developed as a halo automotive to commemorate Subaru’s fortieth anniversary and its success within the World Rally Championship (WRC), the 22B was characterised by its bigger 2.2-litre boxer engine and distinctive ‘widebody’ fender flares.
That rally pedigree is a core motive the WRX exists in any respect, as evidenced by Subaru’s declare that the identify stands for “World Rally Experimental”. The WRX even competed within the WRC till the top of 2008.
The second-generation WRX launched in 2000, and went on to obtain two facelifts which have been affectionately named ‘bugeye’, ‘blobeye’, and ‘hawkeye’ by their followers – describing the distinctive form of every model’s headlights.
The mechanical components remained the identical although, because the automotive continued to be powered by EJ boxer engines with all-wheel drive as normal.
Subaru launched the third-generation Impreza WRX in 2007, introducing a hatchback physique for each WRX and WRX STI variations for the primary time. Wagon derivatives had been out there in each earlier generations, however there had by no means been a devoted hatch.
A sedan model of this mannequin was additionally out there, and the third era was the final WRX to be straight based mostly on the Impreza. 2014 introduced the arrival of the primary WRX constructed on Subaru’s new international platform, marking the primary time in its historical past that it was separated from the Impreza.
The fourth-generation mannequin (designated as VA) nonetheless shared some elements with the usual Impreza, nevertheless it was the primary WRX to be out there with the brand new FA household of boxer engines. Its STI different was nonetheless out there with the EJ engine, both as a 2.0-litre or 2.5-litre, relying in the marketplace.
Although formally thought-about the fourth era of the WRX household, the VA mannequin was technically the first-generation WRX, given the delineation from the Impreza nameplate. The EJ engine additionally exited manufacturing with the VA WRX STI in 2021.
The present-generation ‘VB’ WRX launched in 2022, persevering with with a turbocharged FA engine however with no correct STI variant for the primary time. It’s out there in each sedan and Sportswagon physique types, the latter changing the Levorg wagon in Australia.
Subaru celebrated 30 years of WRX in Australia in 2024, and there have been a few STI-like particular editions of the VB-series WRX because it launched. This contains the Membership Spec of 2024, and the tS Spec B of 2025.
STI additionally developed the limited-edition S210 based mostly on the VB WRX, persevering with its line of unique, high-performance ‘S’ autos out there all through the WRX’s storied historical past.
Subaru is making ready to disclose two STI ideas on the Tokyo motor present late this month. One can be a petrol-powered mannequin rumoured to be an STI hatch model of the present VB WRX, and the opposite can be an all-new mannequin that would preview STI’s electrical future.
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