Six Star Magazine Six Star Magazine 2014 | Page 33

For many years a well-known tire manufacturer and supplier to every Formula 1
racing team has used the following advertising slogan - “Power is nothing without
control.” It’s meant to underscore the product’s importance to overall automotive
performance.
Subaru took a similar perspective when it came to redesigning and reengineering two high performance sports models – the WRX and WRX STI.
Both models are all new for 2015 with a look and attitude that can be summed
up simply in one word – refined.
Previous models were known for being fast. Very fast. That’s because they were
born out of Subaru’s rich history in rally racing. In developing the next-generation
models, there was a decision to make. Do they emphasize horsepower? Or
control? To put it another way, which would you rather drive – a bucking bronco
or a thoroughbred? One look at both new models demonstrates which side won.
“We chose to deliver more refined performance rather than just more raw
power,” says Peter Wendel, Assistant Manager - Product Planning at Subaru
Canada. The result – both cars still go very fast in a straight line but they also
deliver precise handling and control in corners. According to Wendel, “That
makes the overall driving experience that much more enjoyable.”
It makes sense. No one drives in a straight line all the time. Even our highways –
bastions of linearity – still have on and off ramps. Take back roads instead and
you face more twists and turns than the plot of a Hitchcock thriller. City driving?
It’s all