2011 Subaru Impreza WRX Widebody Debuts – New York Auto Show
At the 2010 New York Auto Show, Subaru unveiled the 2011 Impreza WRX. Redesigned for the new model year, the WRX now wears the signature widebody fender flares of its big brother, the WRX STI. The front and rear track has been increased by about 1.5-inches and the tire size has rightfully gone up from 225/45/17 to 235/45/17. The WRX’s wheels have also increased by 1-inch in width to 17×8-inches.
“The new wide-body designs mark another major step on the continuous evolution of the WRX to give driving enthusiasts an even more compelling all-wheel drive performance package,” said Tom Doll, executive vice president and COO of Subaru of America, Inc.
The Subaru WRX continues on with the same 265hp and 244 lb-ft of torque 2.5-liter flat-four engine that has powered it since 2009, teamed with a 5-speed manual transmission. Stiffer rear subrame bushings have also been added out back, although the rest of the suspension remains the same as in 2010.
The big news for the new model year is the widened body, which was designed by Subaru for looks as well as functionality. Although the factory has only increased tire width by 10mm, we bet that a minor fender trim or roll will allow the use of a better offset, increasing the amount of tire that can be fit. We wouldn’t be surprised if the first batch of 2011 WRX owners find ways to easily bolt on 245 or 255-width tires.
Subaru claims that the new body weighs only 33-lbs more than the “standard” body design. As before, the Impreza WRX will be available in both a four-door sedan and five-door hatchback version.
Source
Subaru
www.subaru.com
