WHEN the 2018 WRX STi hits the road in the coming weeks, there will be a new king. A new top-of-the-line model that will feature Recaro seats and push out 221kW of power and 407Nm of torque. It will be known simply as the spec.R and come only with a 6-speed manual.
Major changes to the Japanese car maker’s performance twins, the all-wheel drive turbocharged WRX and WRX STi, are set to add more white-hot thrills for lovers of the brand’s pocket rockets, including the super-spec new model variation.
Driving performance and a host of new features will form the backbone of the raft of changes which includes a revised nose and more aggressive grille design, improved interiors across the range, and the introduction of EyeSight driver assist to all automatic variants.
All automatic WRX’s also add an electronic parking brake and automatic vehicle, with all variants across the range gaining a better infotainment system, steering responsive LED headlights and daytime running lights, with dusk sensing headlights and rain sensing wipers added to the base models.
Premium editions of the WRX also get an 8-way power seat with dual memory and electric lumbar support for the driver’s seat – and heated driver and front passenger seats, while the STi adds a host of new sports features.
These include yellow Brembo 6-pot front and 2-pot rear brake callipers, cross-drilled brake rotors, 19-inch alloy wheels, new front bumper and grill, red seatbelts, fully revised suspension with the addition of heated mirrors on the base STi and a front view camera on the STi Premium and STi spec.R.
The WRX STi Premium also gets a 8-way power and electric lumbar supported driver’s seat, while spec.R adds 8-way adjustable Recaro driver’s seat, designed for both excellent support and comfort.
Subaru Australia Managing Director, Colin Christie highlighted the fact the new WRX and WRX STi recapture the rallying heart of the brand and hark back to the successes they achieved in the first generation back in the late 1990s – some 23 years ago.
“WRX fans recognise the amazing value these cars represent – and also engineering integrity – which sees these fantastic fun cars growing their audience more than 23 years after they launched in Australia, to create a cult following that is now well and truly mainstream,” he said. “These comprehensive changes right across the range underline that fun, value, performance and safety can go hand-in-hand.”
As with the entire Subaru new car range, every WRX and WRX STi has an independent five-star rating for occupant safety. Pricing for the base model WRX will start from $39,000 plus on roads, while the WRX STi spec.R will hit the tarmac at $57,690 plus on roads.
