The new era of WRX has dawned and Subaru of New Zealand has launched pre-orders for the heartbeat-quickening, fifth generation, all-new WRX range.

The Kiwi adventure brand has revealed the model line-up, pricing and some specification highlights and are taking pre-orders now!

Priced from $59,990 RRP there are two, distinctly different body styles available. A wide-bodied dynamic new sedan, the WRX 2.4T and the highly anticipated, sleek and sophisticated WRX GT wagon.

The top spec tS variants make their debut in the WRX range and the sedan and wagon are both priced at $64,990.

The WRX sedan comes with the choice of two transmissions. A smooth and direct close-ratio 6-speed manual, available exclusively to the 2.4T Premium sedan, and the new automatic 8-speed Subaru Performance Transmission, which is standard in both the sedan and wagon models.

Torque of the town

Subaru have spent the last 30 years perfecting performance and WRX’s regal motorsport lineage has been handed down to this latest generation and augmented by a new, completely revised, powerful and responsive Subaru 2.4-litre turbocharged, horizontally opposed Boxer engine. It delivers enhanced performance across the range, equating to an exhilarating 202kW of power and 350Nm of torque.

Subaru of New Zealand Managing Director, Wallis Dumper said, “When creating the 2022 WRX, Subaru’s engineers threw in everything from the tried and proven recipe of the last 30 years, including ultimate traction and handling thanks to 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 and Drive Mode Select.”

Subaru Performance Transmission is a newly developed, Sport Lineatronic gearbox and offers automatic downshift blipping control for engaging performance and an 8-speed manual mode with its advanced shift logic taking WRX to the next level.

Subaru DNA at the core

First launched in 1992, the WRX has become synonymous with Subaru’s performance offerings and tearing up New Zealand’s gravel roads. Globally and on home turf a whole generation of Subaru rally fans adored the blue and gold livery, and Kiwis; Possum Bourne and more recently Ben Hunt, secured multiple championship titles across Australasia pedalling WRXs.

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

• 11.6” touchscreen infotainment system with vertical orientation, allowing intuitive operation similar to a smartphone or tablet.
• Driver Monitoring System (DMS), with safety and convenience technologies such as facial recognition, distraction warning and drowsiness warning.
• 8-airbags.
• Reverse Automatic Braking.
• Power tail gate for the wagon.
• Gripper ultra-suede trim in the sedan and leather in the wagon.

The all-new top of the range tS models have everything the Premium range does, and more, including:

• 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 comfort and 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 tail pipes.
• Both models feature machine-finished 18” alloy wheels and ultra-suede trim.

The 2022 WRX line up:

Branded with the three letters that elevate any performance driver’s heart rate, the next generation W-R-X offers a bold new design, two distinct body styles and a host of performance-oriented features. This Subaru icon is destined to lift the bar even higher.

* RRPs include GST and exclude on-road costs and accessories.