WRX pre-orders now open

Subaru of New Zealand has launched pre-orders for the fifth-generation WRX range ahead of its arrival next month.

The all-new line-up is priced from $59,990 and will come in two different body styles – the 2.4T is a wide-bodied sedan and then there’s a GT wagon.

Wallis Dumper, the marque’s managing director, says: “When creating the 2022 WRX, the engineers threw in everything from the tried and proven recipe of the past 30 years, including Subaru’s all-wheel drive, the Boxer engine and aggressive styling. 

“Then they’ve spiced it up with the addition of modern-day technological advancements, such as the driver-monitoring system [DMS] and drive mode select.

“We are pleased to no longer keep Kiwis in suspense, some of whom have been anticipating the new model for more than six months and who registered to be kept informed when the WRX announcement was first revealed.”

The WRX sedan comes with the choice of two transmissions – a smooth and direct close-ratio six-speed manual, available exclusively to the 2.4T Premium sedan, and the new automatic eight-speed performance transmission, which is standard in the sedan and wagon models.

Subaru’s performance transmission is a newly developed Sport Lineatronic gearbox. It offers automatic downshift blipping control for engaging performance and an eight-speed manual mode with advanced shift logic.

The WRX’s motorsport lineage has been handed down to this latest generation and augmented by a completely revised, powerful and responsive 2.4-litre turbocharged, horizontally opposed Boxer engine. 

It delivers enhanced performance across the range, equating to 202kW of power at 5600rpm and 350Nm of torque.

All WRXs feature dual-zone, climate-control air conditioning, a d-shaped leather steering wheel and leather gear shift.

Every WRX features sports bucket seats, which keep the driver’s body firmly in place with controls within reach and eliminating the need to re-centre the body.

The Premium sedan and wagon have all the previous-generation WRX’s favoured features, such as satellite navigation and Eyesight plus some new additions.

These include a 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with vertical orientation for intuitive operation similar to a smartphone or tablet, DMS with safety and convenience technologies, such as facial recognition, distraction warning and drowsiness warning eight airbags, reverse automatic braking and a power tailgate for the wagon.

The all-new range-topping tS models have everything the Premium range does and more.

Both sedan and wagon models receive electronic control dampers and drive mode select allowing drivers to customise key aspects of the driving experience. Electronic control dampers add increased handling by varying damper characteristics based on vehicle-data input.

STI branding on the steering wheel and instrument cluster, and the tS wagon also adds STI branded front seats and tailpipes. Both models feature machine-finished 18-inch alloys and ultra-suede trim.

The move to Subaru’s global platform enables greater stability and directional control to offer safer cornering at higher limits. 

The WRX’s new body has approximately a 14 per cent increase in front lateral flexural rigidity and around a 28 per cent increase in chassis torsional rigidity compared to the previous generation WRX sedan.

Dumper says: “We realise the recently announced news that there will not be an STI model included with this new generation WRX will be disappointing for many passionate Subaru performance-car enthusiasts. 

“However, we still retain flashes of STI’s brilliance through the tS model sporting STI branding on the steering wheel and instrument cluster, and the tS wagon also featuring STI branded front seats and tail pipes.

“We trust the long-awaited increase in the all-new WRX’s power will be well-received by Subaru drivers who have been calling for more grunt.”

The 2022 WRX Premium wagon or sedan, in either manual or automatic, comes with a recommended retail price of $59,990. The top-spec tS variants make their debut in the WRX range with sedan and wagon both priced at $64,990.

These RRPs exclude the government’s clean car programme fee. Subaru says Waka Kotahi’s advises the fee for the new-generation WRX2.4T will be $1,380 for the Subaru performance transmission eight-speed automatic sedan and GT wagon, and $3,737 for the six-speed manual transmission WRX 2.4T sedan. “The final fee will be advised prior to vehicle delivery and the rate at that time will apply to the purchase,” advises the marque.