Subaru will pull the covers off the new, 2011 Impreza WRX at the upcoming New York International Auto Show.
With the demise of Pontiac, perhaps it should be no surprise that somebody else would be picking up the widebody theme, though Subaru?
But that’s precisely what the Japanese maker has in store with the 2011 update of its Impreza WRX, which adopts a 1.5-inch wider track, front and back, along with some added muscle to make use of that more aggressive stance.
Set for a formula debut at the upcoming New York International Auto Show, the new WRX looks more macho, with wider fenders, a modified front fascia and spoiler, and black-out grille.
But the good news is a 265-horsepower turbocharged and intercooled 2.5-liter boxer-style four-cylinder engine. Mated to a 5-speed manual, it makes 244 lb-ft of torque. As with all Subarus, the 2011 Impreza WRX gets all-wheel-drive – in this case, the maker’s Symmetrical AWD system, with a viscous coupling locking center differential.
“The new wide-body designs mark another major step on the continuous evolution of the WRX to give driving enthusiasts an even more compelling all-wheel drive performance package,” said Tom Doll, executive vice president and COO of Subaru of America, Inc.
For 2011, the Impreza WRX will be offered in both four and five-door models. The sedan, despite the changes, picks up just 34 pounds over the narrow-body original from 2010. The sedan is 6.5 inches longer than the hatchback.
Stability control is standard on both models, as is Incline Start Assist, which keeps the WRX from rolling backwards when the car is being driven away on an incline.