No STI for current-gen Subraru WRX

Just out of sheer curiosity, do you think that Mitsubishi's decision to stop selling the Evo had an effect on the WRX–for better or for worse?

In reply to Colin Wood :

I don't think so. They had competition from VW and Ford with the Golf R and RS to keep driving them forward. IMHO they are more focused on the Outback/Forester/Crosstek than Impreza. With that, there would have been a significant development cost to build the new STI. They milked the old platform for all it was worth and now the cost to move to a new generation just doesn't make sense. 

When I took delivery of my BRZ, There wasn't a single sign/ad for the WRX or BRZ. They stopped BRZ orders to prioritize the resources to the core models.

I just think we are approaching the end of the road of the entry level ICE performance car and the manufactures are not willing to spend the development dollars on them and are diverting those dollars to EV development. 

Colin Wood said:

Just out of sheer curiosity, do you think that Mitsubishi's decision to stop selling the Evo had an effect on the WRX–for better or for worse?

I think it probably has more to do with Subaru leaving WRC years ago and not wanting to spend money on new development for what amounts to a trim level of an entry level car. 

The Subaru brand has grown quite a bit in the last decade, but most of the growth has been in appliance level consumer cars. It makes business sense that that's where they'd focus their money.

Wonder if they'll sell a normal WRX with the STi transmission and driver controlled center diff.  That would have been the main reason for me to get one, and otherwise, I'd rather have the softer suspension and smaller wheels of a WRX.

In reply to eastsideTim :

I very much doubt it.  Those are the expensive bits that they no longer have to spend money on developing and putting into (low scale = expensive) production by getting rid of STi as an aspirational model.  Body kits, badges, interior splashes and logos.  Those are cheap and easy to disperse around your range.

In reply to eastsideTim :

I don't even need the center diff, I just want a stronger manual. 

At least as a consolation prize for no STi, Subaru bumped the horespower of the WRX up, you know, a whole 3 horsepower. I swear, Subaru is like the anti-Chrysler. Mopar goes "You guys want more horsepower?" and people go "I think we're good" and Mopar goes "Don't care, have a Challenger that pulls wheelies and a Ram with 700hp." Meanwhile Subaru fans go "Can we get some more power? 268hp for the WRX and 305hp for the STi really isn't that impressive anymore," and Subaru goes "Best I can do is 271hp for the WRX, and, oh, no more STi."

Brett_Murphy (Agent of Chaos) said:

In reply to eastsideTim :

I don't even need the center diff, I just want a stronger manual. 

Agreed, that, and the better gear ratios.  I really disliked the gap between 1 and 2 in my 2018 WRX.

z31maniac said:

I was really bummed when I saw that a little earlier. That was one of the cars that was going to be on my radar at the end of the year.

Its really getting thin for new performance cars under $60k.

Twins 

Miata 

Mustang GT 

Camaro SS 

Supra 

New Z 

 

Am I missing anything?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even the base Mustang runs a high 13 and base Camaro runs a low 14.

I mean a TRD Camry is a "performance" car compared to what I thought was a performance car 20 years ago. I'm not trying to be provocative, I just wonder if our definition has changed. Then again...
 

I agree that it does seem like manufacturers are moving away from the lower cost fun cars, but I'm not sure if that's just my perception. Thinking out loud...In the early to mid 90s there were quite a few fun small cars that were hot versions of regular cars. Like Mazdaspeed 3, Cobalt SS, matrix XRS, neon SRT, focus svt, wrx, contour svt, and maybe more, along with the Miata, Solstice, MR-S.
 

Aside from the Miata, those are all gone. The only replacement is the Veloster N, oh and Civic type R and Golf R but they are spendy.

But you CAN get a base Mustang that will smoke most fox bodies. Same with that Camry. It's complex.

In reply to ProDarwin :

Yeah, I just don't think I could bring myself to buy the 4 cylinder version of the car that comes with a V8.

For fun I went to Ford.com. If you start with the Ecoboost Premium, add the premium package, Handling Package and Performance Package, and the B&O stereo...........you have a $46k 4 cylinder Mustang!

I am just trying to figure out how how Subaru guys will talk E36 M3 if they can't say "aT lEaSt ThEy StIlL mAkE iT"?

Jk, RIP friend. Welcome back. 

z31maniac said:

For fun I went to Ford.com. If you start with the Ecoboost Premium, add the premium package, Handling Package and Performance Package, and the B&O stereo...........you have a $46k 4 cylinder Mustang!

Last year I was considering ordering a 2.0T 1LE Camaro and found that I could get one, with no other options, for under $30k. I was also tinkering with the Ford configurator for the EcoBoost Mustang to build something comparable, and found that the Mustang ended up quite a bit pricier. Then GM cancelled the 1LE option on non-SS Camaros, and I bought a house, and that put an end to that whole mental exercise.

Translation for the press release: "It's not worth spending the money to develop a dedicated low-volume drivetrain and get it to meet the latest emissions standards".

Keith Tanner said:

Translation for the press release: "It's not worth spending the money to develop a dedicated low-volume drivetrain and get it to meet the latest emissions standards".

This, and I expect to see more of it with niche models. I think that may have been one of the reasons why the Supra is a result of a Toyota/BMW colab.

In reply to BoxheadTim :

Yeah, and people bitched. Like it was this, or nothing? Especially as a Mitsubishi guy I was like wow, just count your blessings. 

BoxheadTim said:

Keith Tanner said:

Translation for the press release: "It's not worth spending the money to develop a dedicated low-volume drivetrain and get it to meet the latest emissions standards".

This, and I expect to see more of it with niche models. I think that may have been one of the reasons why the Supra is a result of a Toyota/BMW colab.

Yeah, the Toyota exec in charge of the Supra project said if they had been forced to develop their own powertrain the car would be closer to $100k instead of starting just over $50k. 

I think we need more factory hot rod versions of normal cars. Take the little car and drop in the engine from the bigger car.

Give me a Corolla with the big Camry engine, no new engine development needed 

Just noticed that autocorrect must have added an accent to "CAFE" in the press release, making it the Corporate Average Fuel Économy.

In reply to BlueInGreen - Jon :

I agree to both. I always wanted a hotter version of my Fit, and putting the 300-horsepower V6 in the Corrolla would be an absolute riot. Even more so if it's kept front-wheel drive.

Keith Tanner said:

Translation for the press release: "It's not worth spending the money to develop a dedicated low-volume drivetrain and get it to meet the latest emissions standards".

 

The 2.4 is already in production, but based on what you and others in the business have said about certification and the like when things are changed to add power, I can see how that's a non-trivial undertaking.