Topic: 2015 Subaru WRX STI To Debut In Detroit

[Autos_Editor]

Few details given on new rally-inspired compact

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[quadzilla]

One thing is for certain: there will be no hatchback.

[Snowman]

One thing is for certain: there will be no hatchback.

Agreed. WTF is happening at Subaru that allowed an icon like this to become so boring?

[MarkStevenson]

Updated with leaked pictures.

[dkaz]

305 HP, so boring!

[quadzilla]

2015 Dodge Neon SRT4 

[dkaz]

Styling is ok, it looks cute.

[dkaz]

Lol. Maybe it's just the blurred backgroud motion in the photos but it has a tilt shift effect. I just want to pick up the car with my fingers and squish it.

Joking around aside, I also like the styling. Face it, Subaru has never really been that good at exterior styling. The first gen was nice, then Subaru went through some ahem interesting designs to get to what it is now. I thought the current gen was an almost there, saved only by widebody elements to excite the boy racer in everyone. This one still has boy racer elements but finally looks refined.

[evil_twin]

Styling seems fine to me.  Looks better than the previous Gen STI sedan.   But the power output seems like basically a carryover.  Is it the same 2.5L engine?   And it's just lost some of that uniqueness/quirkiness without offering the hatch.

Just seems kinda boring. 

Again for the price, I'd be looking at a Golf R (cheaper) or even the GLA45/S3/2 series (slightly more dough).

Subaru should be building an STI that blows those cars away in performance to make up for the luxury shortcomings.   The WRX should come at this 300 hp level.

[redman]

Can't say I'm liking the rear...to bland....need more aggression to be called a STI !!!

[Noto]

Agreed. WTF is happening at Subaru that allowed an icon like this to become so boring?

...budget and sales margin?

I really like the styling, whatever bland cues we may all be able to find.  I like that they put a CVT option in there to open it up.  I will miss the hatchback, but it doesn't resonate well with many North Americans - not unless they made it the XV STI.  Face it, CUVs sell better than hatchbacks.  ...and 'boy racer' is a limited niche as well.

If Subie wants my $35-40k, they need to provide me with some serious luxury at that price.  I love my Fozzie XT at $35k, but I only got it because it was $8k cheaper than a comparable X3.  The 2014 XT at $38k narrows that gap - I'm likely buying mine out and moving away from Subaru in a few years.  Shame.  I love my Subie, but it's just getting too expensive for what you get.

[Northernridge]

The allure of mainstream and market share is almost always the culprit.

[Noto]

...sad Noto   RIP, Subaru of yesteryear

[Solstice2006]

Lol. Maybe it's just the blurred backgroud motion in the photos but it has a tilt shift effect. I just want to pick up the car with my fingers and squish it.

Joking around aside, I also like the styling. Face it, Subaru has never really been that good at exterior styling. The first gen was nice, then Subaru went through some ahem interesting designs to get to what it is now. I thought the current gen was an almost there, saved only by widebody elements to excite the boy racer in everyone. This one still has boy racer elements but finally looks refined.

Subaru may never have been great at styling, interiors, or radios!  But there great at utility, practicality, fairly reliable, and course the AWD.  Now most of their efforts go into appealing to the masses, and there sales numbers show it.  I prefer the look of the older impreza, this STI with no hatch, and mostly carry over numbers is just a sign they really don't care.  The Outback is no longer a wagon, just another boring CUV.  The Legacy holds no interest for the consumer, unless that consumer wants AWD in a mainstream brand.  So the best vehicles they make is the Forester, Impreza, Crosstek, and BRZ. 

[Black Hatch]

Will they "eventually" cave in and give the STI a CVT like the regular WRX?

[rrocket]

It's going to be hard for them to build a better Golf R or a better S3, etc. Stick to your guns with the STi would be my argument in the boardroom.

Might not be as hard as you think.  They already offer more performance than either of those models...which is most important.  If they can get the interior closer that a win IMO

[greengs]

It's going to be hard for them to build a better Golf R or a better S3, etc. Stick to your guns with the STi would be my argument in the boardroom.

Might not be as hard as you think.  They already offer more performance than either of those models...which is most important.  If they can get the interior closer that a win IMO

Not anymore.  New golf r has 290 hp and VW estimates 0-60 in 4.9s meaning it will do it faster then that as they have always been conservative in those estimates.  As always when both come out and are compared we can see what's what but VW has given the R much more power.  STI has had the same power since 2004.  Time to up it, imo.

[Fobroader]

It's going to be hard for them to build a better Golf R or a better S3, etc. Stick to your guns with the STi would be my argument in the boardroom.

Might not be as hard as you think.  They already offer more performance than either of those models...which is most important.  If they can get the interior closer that a win IMO

Not anymore.  New golf r has 290 hp and VW estimates 0-60 in 4.9s meaning it will do it faster then that as they have always been conservative in those estimates.  As always when both come out and are compared we can see what's what but VW has given the R much more power.  STI has had the same power since 2004.  Time to up it, imo.

Yeah, but in any comparison Ive ever read the VW is always last in performance, handling and fun....yeah sure, the dash is pretty.....

[Fobroader]

It's going to be hard for them to build a better Golf R or a better S3, etc. Stick to your guns with the STi would be my argument in the boardroom.

Might not be as hard as you think.  They already offer more performance than either of those models...which is most important.  If they can get the interior closer that a win IMO

Not anymore.  New golf r has 290 hp and VW estimates 0-60 in 4.9s meaning it will do it faster then that as they have always been conservative in those estimates.  As always when both come out and are compared we can see what's what but VW has given the R much more power.  STI has had the same power since 2004.  Time to up it, imo.

Yeah, but in any comparison Ive ever read the VW is always last in performance, handling and fun....yeah sure, the dash is pretty.....

That's true, but the difference in performance isn't all that great. Also, these things used to be targeted at guys in their mid 20s. Now, with the STi and Golf R in the $40,000-50,000 range we're talking about a much older client who can actually afford these things.....probably guys in their 30s. I would submit that guys in their 30s are probably a little more concerned about interior quality and design (and less of the boy-racer image) than guys in their 20s.

My mindset at 25 when I bought my first car (2007 Cobalt SS Supercharged) is completely different that when I bought my second car at 29 (2010 WRX Limited) and my third car at 32 (Acura TL SH-AWD). I would not regress to a poor interior on a DD anymore.

I might be wrong but I really think this is going to be a bit of a problem for the STi......is the mainstream 30 something (not enthusiast or cult-follower) going to buy an STi over some of the other premium offerings that now share this market space?

I think the STi, Evo and Jeep Wrangler are all one of those vehicles that you have to "get". Yeah, they are not the prettiest, or have the nicest interiors and probably have eye wateringly bad fuel economies when compared to their "competition", but they are awesome. I agree, Subaru really has to step up with the interiors and stereos.

[tortoise]

My mindset at 25 when I bought my first car (2007 Cobalt SS Supercharged) is completely different that when I bought my second car at 29 (2010 WRX Limited) and my third car at 32 (Acura TL SH-AWD). I would not regress to a poor interior on a DD anymore.

For the average person I think you need to add a decade to your listed ages.

Not many 30-35 year olds are buying $45,000 cars.  And this only makes things worse for Subaru.