[ad_1]
The Subaru WRX has always been an Impreza at heart, sharing its basic form with the relatively regular sedan. These are both compact four-door with Subaru’s famous boxer engine setup and all-wheel drive, it’s just one that’s tuned to drift on gravel roads and get out of bends. The Subaru WRX 2022 is once again based on the same architecture as the contemporary Impreza, but that’s not all: it’s built atop the Subaru Global Platform, which also houses crossovers and SUVs like the Forester and the Ascent.
This raises questions as to whether the Japanese automaker’s latest rally-derived machine is a bit soft. Subaru doesn’t think so — instead, she thinks the WRX is better for her.
The new WRX is improved in more ways than one, even before it hits the platform. There’s a bit more horsepower, new electronically controlled shocks, and the infotainment is much more modern – it’s a solid update. Plus, Subaru clearly cares about the feel of this new car; for starters, the steering rack has been specially designed to provide more feedback into the column and into the operator’s hands.
All of this was improved before this new platform appeared, and some of the improvements it offers are either extremely impressive or make you a bit curious about how the old car was built. For example, the automaker claims that the center of gravity is lower thanks to this new platform, which is great. Likewise, rigidity has been improved through the complete construction of the inner frame and the use of more structural adhesives. How much has the stiffness been improved? Well, Subaru says the suspension mounting points are now 75 percent stiffer. It’s a lot. The overall torsional stiffness of the chassis is also improved, which increases by 28%.
There are other smaller details that Subaru would like to mention as well. The suspension has a longer travel distance, which improves stability and lateral grip. Additionally, the stabilizer bar is now mounted on the chassis itself rather than the subframe – the Subaru overall platform makes this possible. This contributes to a greater reduction in the rate of roll and makes the stabilizer bar more efficient. It’s great because I’ve always been a horse for the effectiveness of the stabilizer bar.
Performance is the priority here, but it’s not the only consideration. If you’re at a high school lunch table, maybe skip this part. Improvements in noise, vibration and harshness are also noted by Subaru, although no specific figures are provided. Even though no specific data is given, Subaru sends a message by discussing it even when launching a performance car. This is telling enthusiasts that yes, that basic architecture is under a lot of other cars – only the BRZ has its own unique platform at this point – but that only makes the WRX better. Not only will it be more communicative and offer improved dynamics, but it will also be a more comfortable car to drive on a daily basis.
A tip or a question for the author? Contact them directly: [email protected]
[ad_2]
Source link