Six Star Magazine Six Star Magazine 2014 | Page 34

WHAT’S NEW ON THE OUTSIDE
The all-new exterior styling on both
vehicles pays homage to Subaru’s racing
heritage. It’s a wider, lower evolution of
the Impreza (the model that gave birth to
both the WRX and WRX STI) designed to
deliver a more aggressive and refined look.
The front is sportier with a solid-looking
nose built around the new hexagonal grille.
The headlights have been redesigned to
emphasize the car’s wider, lower stance.
But one thing hasn’t changed. Both the
WRX and WRX STI still come with that
distinctive, yet functional hood scoop
that’s part of their heritage. This time it’s
a little lower and a little wider for better
intake efficiency and driver visibility.
Look at both vehicles from the side and
you’ll notice a cleaner, more aggressive
stance, much like a wild animal in launch
mode. The front pillar has been pushed
forward and the rear pillar transitions
smoothly into the trunk to create a
smoother, more flowing silhouette.
Completing the jungle metaphor are the
more pronounced front and rear fenders.
They look like muscles tensed for action,
barely containing the power that the
wheels beneath have unleashed. Plus, the
wheel arches on both cars incorporate
cooling vents that draw heat away from
the engine. But that’s their technical
function. What they really do is make
both models incredibly tough looking.
In the back, the rear diffuser* is
now integrated into the rear bumper.
Combined with the new stainless steeltipped quad exhaust pipes, it emphasizes
the car’s lower centre of gravity. This
combination further adds to the new,
sportier appearance of both cars.
Look closer and you’ll see the new,
sculpted LED taillights that accentuate
the wide fenders and improve
aerodynamics. You’ll also see that the

spoilers are back on both models, albeit
new and improved. The WRX STI Sport &
Sport-tech models feature a massive rear
spoiler for increased downforce while the

Both models have been improved
to allow all the power from the Subaru
BOXER engines and all the traction
available from Subaru’s symmetrical

equivalent WRX models feature a smaller,
lower-profile rear spoiler that also reduces
overall vehicle weight.
* ditor’s Note - According to Wikipedia,
E
“A diffuser is a shaped section of the
car underbody which improves the car’s
aerodynamic properties by enhancing
the transition between the high-velocity
airflow underneath the car and the
much slower freestream airflow of the
ambient atmosphere. The diffuser itself
accelerates the flow in front of it, which
helps generate downforce.”

full-time AWD to be fully realized. The
suspension was tuned for improved
handling and performance, but also
with an eye towards better comfort and
reliability. Other changes include stiffer
springs, larger diameter stabilizer bars
and dramatically increased torsional
rigidity for all suspension components.
Subaru engineers also added a new
Torque Vectoring system to improve
agility. Essentially, this system senses when
you’re turning and applies a small amount
of brake pressure to the inner front wheel
during the turn. This distributes more of the
engine torque to the outer front wheel to
improve the vehicle’s cornering capabilities.
It pairs with the standard Vehicle Dynamics
Control system to create crisper, more
connected handling and unrivalled levels
of control.

WHAT’S NEW UNDER THE SKIN
Sometimes it’s the changes that
you don’t see that make the biggest
difference. That’s very much the case
when it comes to the all-new 2015 WRX
and WRX STI. Chassis and suspension
improvements are often overlooked
when discussing new cars because,
well, there’s nothing to see. And let’s
face it; they’re just not sexy. But true
driving enthusiasts will tell you that
this where the pure driving enjoyment
comes from. So Subaru invested
heavily to improve the foundation that
holds these two cars together.

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Watch a video
of the WRX
STi in action!