Subaru's 2017 Subaru WRX STI: A Home Run with Driving Enthusiasts

Driving is Fun Again!

Subaru, the fastest-growing automaker in the U.S. for 2016 sports cars, is not only thriving on sales of its SUVs and crossovers but its performance 4 door sedan instead.

The latest Subaru WRX and WRX STI models are more than just tuned economy cars. These Impreza spin-offs each have their own turbocharged engine and advanced all-wheel-drive systems to put the extra power down. This makes them a great option for those looking for performance in a more practical package than a muscle car. They also offer all-weather, all wheel drive (AWD) capability that isn't found in rear-drive pony cars and can hit 60 mph similar times. 

Conceptual thinking

Make it big and make it boxy; that's the ethos of the WRX's styling, at least at the front end where the air intakes have never looked quite so massive, or the fenders quite so pronounced. In addition to the deep front air dam and unique grille, the WRX has its own hood, fenders, bumpers, and lighting to distinguish it from the Impreza. Key details include the more deeply set (and functional) hood scoop, LED low-beam headlights on upgraded models, and 17- and 18-inch wheels. Somehow, with all that in place, it all still reads a bit dull—not nearly as compelling as the extravagant mechanical features that lie beneath the surface. The STI gets a big wing out back, though buyers can opt for a low-profile trunk spoiler that should call a little less attention to the best sports car.

The Interior

Inside, the cabin is fairly roomy and decently finished though barely above budget grade. In the WRX, sport seats are specified and are covered in grippy upholstery. A power driver's seat is an option, and so is leather upholstery. The rear seat will accommodate a pair of adults nicely, but not three, and the trunk's cargo space is average for a compact car. The STI gets slightly nicer trim as well as a light-up shift knob.

The sedan is giving its hatchback rivals Honda Civic Type-R and Ford Focus RS plenty to worry about not just in terms of sales. It is adopting Subaru’s new global platform and is staring at a concrete possibility of getting the new 2.0L turbocharged boxer from its Japan-exclusive sibling the

Subaru WRX STI S207

While its current 2.5L boxer block generates 305hp, the smaller displacement unit can push output up to 323 hp. It comes with an AWD system that boasts a Multi-Mode Driver Controlled Center Differential, Active Torque Vectoring, and a few driver settings to choose from the Subaru Intelligent Drive (SI-Drive) system.

Stop 

Replacement for Tribeca due in 2018

Subaru is finally re-approaching a 3rd Row SUV

Subaru has confirmed that the long-anticipated replacement for the largely unloved Subaru Tribeca will begin rolling off the assembly line in 2018.

It's a given that the U.S. is likely to be the largest market for the new crossover-utility vehicle, having seen the success and growth of other three row SUV models like the Mitsubishi Outlander in 2015.  The production will take place at the Zero-Landfill Subaru of Indiana Automotive plant that was originally. The new model will become the fourth product line Subaru produces in the U.S. As a side note, production and availability of Subaru should increase at the end of 2016, as the joint manufacturing agreement with Toyota ends.

“We are delighted to be bringing even more Subaru manufacturing to the U.S. The new model will also result in increased investment at SIA and at several of our suppliers across the country,” said Tom Easterday executive vice president, secretary for the facility.

Originally launched in 2005 and known as the Subaru B9 Tribeca, the old crossover was inspired by the B9X concept vehicle.The Tribeca was Subaru’s biggest three-row model and the most expensive offering in its line-up. Sadly, it received a mixed response from critics and the public alike. Reviewers faulted the quirky front end design and felt its interior wasn’t quite up to the quality expected of something in its price class.

Sales never lived up to expectations and, despite a facelift and efforts to expand its appeal to a broader audience, Subaru finally pulled the plug on the Tribeca in 2014. In all, Subaru had sold only 58,000 of the crossovers, a rare flop for a brand that managed to gain sales and market share through a devastating recession.

Subaru officials have made it clear for several years that they intended to find a replacement for the Tribeca that would have broader appeal – no surprise considering the large demand for three-row CUVs in the U.S. and some other markets. But they’ve been vague with details.

 Earlier this year, Masayuki Uchida, the Senior Product General Manager of the Legacy program, indicated the next Tribeca would likely share a platform with both the Legacy and Outback but that it “has to be bigger” than either of those models.

The maker has shown, over the past several years, offered what insiders suggest were subtle hints of what’s to come in the form of a series of concept vehicles. The most recent, dubbed the Subaru Viziv Future Concept, was revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show late last month. But sources told TheDetroitBureau.com that the styling was not a clear indication of what the next Subaru Tribeca will look like.

Nonetheless, he added with each subsequent version of the Viziv concepts, “They get more realistic each time.”

It’s all but certain we won’t see the return of the Tribeca nameplate. As to what the new model might be called, a statement from Subaru hinted, “The new vehicle has not yet been named, but will likely carry a name synonymous with outdoor adventure, consistent with the company’s other successful crossovers; Outback, Forester and Crosstrek.”

Another question is what will power the biggest vehicle in the Subaru line-up. It would likely offer at least the 3.6-liter boxer-style six found in the Outback and making 256-horsepower. It might also offer a mileage-oriented model using Outback’s 2.5-liter four.

But there have been ongoing rumors the Tribeca replacement might also serve to debut the plug-in hybrid system Subaru is known to be working on, something that it has hinted at with the Viziv concept series, as well.

Only 400 Subaru STi S207 being made.... and apparently we can't have one

 

Subaru used the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show to launch a limited-edition version of its WRX STI, which will only be offered in Japan. Just 400 examples of the Subaru WRX STI S207 will be sold in the company’s home market, and buyers will likely be clamoring for one.

The S207 gets a number of performance and styling tweaks, starting with the 2.0-liter turbocharged boxer-four engine. It gets tuned to produce 323 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, compared to the 305 horsepower and 290 pound-feet of torque of U.S.-spec WRX STI models. As always, that power is fed to the pavement through a six-speed manual transmission and all-wheel drive.

There are plenty of chassis tweaks as well, including a faster steering ratio, flexible tower bar, adjustable dampers, and a brake-based torque-vectoring system, which helps turn the car into corners by shunting torque side to side. The S207 rides on special 19-inch BBS forged aluminum wheels, and boasts upgraded Brembo brakes and a sport exhaust system.
 

Visual changes include a new grille and larger front spoiler, different rocker moldings, and a new rear bumper with some boy racer-isn air outlets. On the inside, the S207 is distinguished by STI-spec Recaro front bucket seats and customized instruments. All seats are trimmed in black leather with silver stitching, and the obligatory S207 callouts are sprinkled throughout the interior as well.

As if a 400-unit production run wasn’t exclusive enough, Subaru will offer an even more limited run of 200 cars with what it calls the NBR Challenge Package. Its main upgrades include a big carbon-fiber rear wing and a plaque commemorating Subaru’s SP3T class win at this year’s Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race. On top of that, Subaru will also offer 100 cars in the eye-catching Sunrise Yellow pictured above. The standard colors include Crystal Black, Crystal White Pearl, and Subaru’s traditional WR Blue Pearl.

While S207 won’t be offered in the U.S., Subaru does plan to offer more performance models here in the future. It wants to expand the footprint of its STI performance brand by offering more models, although they’ll likely be along the lines of the mildly tuned tS series already offered in Japan.