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Subaru Impreza WRX packs turbo power in a rally-style racer
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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BIGELOW, Ark. -- Rack the sporty four-spoke Momo steering wheel hard to the right, then quickly back to the left, now right again to make yet another chicane kink of a blacktop slalom course draped through deep folds of the Ouachita Mountains in western Arkansas.
Our turbo-charged sports sedan from Japanese automaker Subaru -- the Impreza WRX, hunkering low against the road and hugging hard through each tight curve with all four tires clawing for traction -- cuts a precise and controlled line at a quick clip.
Actually, we're sailing through the convoluted course, running flat-out with turbo whining and tire rubber wailing simply to see just how good this WRX really is.
And it shows us.
The rigid platform, drawn in wide-track stance with wheels floating independently at the corners, sets up a nimble package of subcompact dimensions and equipped with all the right stuff to let it romp on pavement.
It's also fired up for fast work, thanks to a unique little engine that produces big-time muscle and torque from an engine of relatively modest displacement.
The 2.0-liter plant has four cylinders opposed horizontally and set perpendicular to the drive line, then linked with equal-length drive shafts so pairs of cylinders act like boxers jabbing at one another in counterbalanced movements that negate the typical engine's vibrations.
Next, a turbo-charger and inter-cooler boost the engine's output to score serious numbers.
It makes 227 hp at 6000 rpm plus as much torque as 217 lb-ft at 4000 rpm.
All of that power channels through either a four-speed automatic transaxle with electronic controls or a tight-shifting manual five-speed stick -- and we of course select the do-it-yourself stick.
There's no choice about the traction mechanism, however, as all of the vehicles that Subaru ships to America arrive with an all-wheel-drive system that's always engaged.
That muscle from the turbo-charged engine moves directly through an electronically-controlled intelligent transfer case to whichever wheels can maintain a bite of traction, with scant loss of energy in the process.
All of these ingredients in the WRX -- a small package with wide track and independent suspension plus turbo-charging of a horizontally-opposed engine teaming with a close-ratio five-speed manual transmission and the all-time four-wheel-drive mechanism -- are also the components that make up Subaru's trophy-collecting rally cars.
What's a rally car?
It's a race car usually of small scale with some stock equipment aboard but also a high-output engine and modifications for added safety like a protective roll cage and five-point racing harnesses for the two front seats.
Rally races pit a driver and co-pilot/navigator strapped in a special race car against a stopwatch and detailed route maps, with daredevil competitors tearing across treacherous roads laced through cities and countryside, each vying to nail all checkpoints on time and beat the clock across a finish line.
Beyond North America in countries around the world, automobile rally racing receives the kind of sports attention that football fans in the United States reserve for contests like the Super Bowl. And over the past six seasons of the World Rally Championship, Subaru has racked up more wins than any other automaker, thanks to the wily nature of rally cars built off the subcompact-class Impreza platform.
The WRX, also using the Impreza as its foundation, emulates those Subaru rally cars, only without roll bars and five-point safety belts.
In fact, the new Subaru WRX rally race car is based on the production model WRX.
Differences between the street car and rally racer concern special modifications to the engine plus the addition of heavy-duty and adjustable suspension components, special seam welding of the structure to endure harsh punishment on a rally course, and the rally roll cage.
Impreza, root vehicle behind both the WRX production car and Subaru's special rally racer, has been redesigned in a second generation of models for 2002. Collectively, these new vehicles are stronger, more powerful and more serious than the previous Imprezas.
The series consists of three wagons and two sedans. Impreza sport wagons include the 2.5 TS, Outback Sport and turbo-charged WRX, with performance sedans cast as the 2.5 RS and WRX turbo.
New WRX uses exclusively the 2.0-liter turbo-charged and inter-cooled twin-cam four-pack engine. Standard equipment extends to sporty suspension tuning and the Momo steering wheel, frontal and side air bags for front seats plus a sound system with six-disc CD changer in the dash.
Other Impreza models for 2002 show the previous 2.2-liter engine replaced by a 2.5-liter plant lifted from Subaru's Legacy and Outback series, as rated for 165 hp.
The 2.5 RS sedan earns suspension tuning similar to the WRX, while the 2.5 TS wagon gains standard features.
WRX looks as strong as it acts.
Styling, inspired by Subaru's World Rally Championship racer, capitalizes on the wider wheel track by adding squarish blister fenders to bulge the front end.
Its bold face, etched with oval headlamps flanking a trapezoidal grille, includes an integrated spoiler down low with a wide air intake port plus foglamps.
The contoured aluminum hood supports a functional air scoop just ahead of the raked windshield. At the blunt tail, the lowered trunk deck with wraparound corner lamps enhances rearward visibility for the WRX driver.
A functional cockpit design positions two sporty bucket seats beside a central console housing the shifter stick.
The back bench makes room even for large passengers and applies sedan conventionality to the sporty concept.
WRX arrives fully equipped with standard features ranging from the four-wheel-drive system and air conditioning to cruise control, a remote keyless entry system and power windows and door locks. Options include premium audio equipment and a spoiler on the rear deck, plus the automatic transmission that comes with variable torque distribution for the all-wheel-drive system.
Pricing for WRX runs from about $24,500 to $28,000.
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX Specs |
| Description: |
Subcompact sports sedan
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| Model Options: |
Subcompact sports sedan
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| Wheelbase: |
99.4 inches
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| Overall Length: |
172.2 inches
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| Engine Size: |
DOHC 2.0-L H4 TI
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| Transmission: |
Manual/5, Auto/4
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| Drive: |
AWD
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| Braking: |
Power 4-disc/ABS
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| Airbags: |
2 (front) + 2 (side)
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| Gas Mileage: |
M/5: 20/27 mpg
A/4: 19/26 mpg
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| Price: |
$ 24,500 to $ 28,000 |
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