Big news from the purveyor of symmetrical all-wheel drive and devotee of horizontally opposed engines: Subaru adds a 'tweener Impreza model to slot bridging the Impreza 2.5i and the enhusiast-oriented WRX and WRX STI--which we told you about a few weeks back--and now they're pricing the new versions in the mid-$20s.

Dubbed the 2.5GT, the new Subie's turbocharged and intercooled flat four churns out 224 horses, 41 hp shy of the newly fortified WRX. Actually, those 224 horses are the exact same output as last year's WRX, so perhaps this was just a way to up the semi-soft performance of the WRX without alienating buyers who want more power with less flash. The 2.5GT is about equal in power with Mitsubishi's similarly positioned Lancer Ralliart (at 235 hp, and slotted between the econo Lancer and the Evo), though its yesteryear four-speed auto can't hope to compare with the Ralliart's slick dual clutch automated manual gearbox that features six ratios.

Alas, the autobox is the only transmission available in the 2.5GT. Thanks to a half-liter greater displacement, though, one would expect the 2.5GT to hold its own. We can only hope that Subaru adds a ratio or two in the near future to improve both performance and fuel consumption in their thirsty flat-four turbos.

The 2.5GT sedan starts out at $26,995, the five-door at $27,495, placing this trim some $2,000 higher than comparable WRX models but still significantly cheaper than the toney STI, which starts at $34,995. Included for the 2.5GT's slightly higher price than the WRX are an Active AWD version of Subaru's Symmetrical AWD as well as a power moonroof. Active AWD is simply a front-biased system that throws power rearward when slippage is detected at the front wheels through a hydraulic multiplate transfer clutch (think Honda CR-V and other soft roaders). When compared to the continuous AWD used in manual-transmission Subarus that features a 50/50 front-rear power split, Active AWD will lend the 2.5GT a less sporting, greater understeering nature through turns and during aggressive driving.

Rounding out mechanical updates to the Impreza line, the base 2.5i now receives the rear disc brakes, brake assist, and VDC (Vehicle Dynamics Control) previously standard only on uplevel models.--Colin Mathews

The guys at Subaru PR aren't dummies. They know how to set up bowling pins and knock them over. When introducing the significantly revised 2009 Subaru WRX to the press, they had us drive the new 2009 Subaru Impreza GT first.

The Impreza GT for 2009 is essentially the 2008 WRX. Follow? Media types and WRX enthusiasts have panned the 2008 WRX for being un-WRX-like: too soft, too comfortable, too mainline, too conservative. So we drove what is now called the Impreza GT, and for an Impreza, it's just fine. Then we drove the 2009 WRX. With 265 horsepower (41 hp more than the 2008 WRX and 2009 Impreza GT), the added power is felt immediately. Beyond power, everything is sharper and more focused. Our takeaway? The WRX is back.

Subaru is a small company, and its teams in the U.S. and Japan listened to the chorus of criticism regarding the 2008 WRX. Compared to the likes of Toyota or General Motors, Subaru's small size helped it to quickly divine and execute a solution.

Now the 2009 Impreza line looks like this; Impreza 2.5i, GT, WRX, and STI. All but the STI are available in four-door sedan and the shorter five-door wagonette. The 2.5i makes 170 horsepower; the GT, 224 hp; the WRX, 265 hp; and the mighty STI, 305 hp.

Outside, there 2009 Subaru WRX looks a lot like the 2008—a shape that was all new last year. To differentiate the 2009 WRX from the GT (a good idea), the WRX sports an aero package, unique alloy wheels, and specific spoilers. Inside, the interior gets spiffed up with black upholstery featuring red seam stitching.

The turbocharged 2.5-liter boxer four-cylinder produces 41 more horsepower due to a host of changes, including a larger turbocharger, higher max-boost limits (13.3 psi vs. 11.4 psi), and a bigger intercooler. While more power is always a good thing, it's the way the flat-four delivers the power that we like so much. The power comes on early so there's no turbo lag, but there is a ramp-up effect to the oomph. Technically, the power curve isn't linear, and the car has more personality because of it.

Zero to 60 mph comes up in approximately 5.4 seconds, a time aided by Subaru's trademark all-wheel drive that splits the engine's 244 pound-feet of peak torque 50:50 between the front and rear wheels. The sprint is accomplished 1.5 seconds quicker than last year's WRX and the 2009 GT. The WRX only comes with a five-speed manual gearbox. If you want an automatic (a four-speed), you'll need to settle for the Impreza GT. The WRX's power gains exacted a tiny toll on fuel economy, which now stands at 18 mpg city/25 mpg highway, only 1 mpg less in the city cycle than in 2008.

Unlike most other performance vehicles, the WRX is as accomplished off-road as it is on the pavement. We drove a gravel-road rally stage in a stock WRX equipped shod with knobby tires and found the car to be tossable, controllable, and frighteningly quick on a road surface so rough and loose that I wouldn't have wanted to drive a "normal" vehicle more than about 20 mph. In the WRX, we hit 50-plus mph and lived to tell.

Inside the WRX, things are as comfortable as any other Impreza. The space is roomy with an excess of headroom. Materials and fit-and-finish are good for a car in this class. The little touches added to the WRX's interior (over the GT) inject some visual pizzazz. The rear seat is comfortable for two and three in a pinch. The rear seat backs fold in both models, but there is an odd hump in the pass-through of the sedan restricting the height of cargo that can be stuffed in that space.

Regarding safety, Subaru is Japan's Volvo. Along with standard all-wheel drive, the WRX includes these standard safety features; anti-lock brakes, traction control, vehicle dynamic control, remote keyless entry, and six airbags (side curtains extend into the rear compartment). The WRX's instrumentation is a two-tiered affair, with analog gauges in front of the driver, and LEDs on the dash's top-center section. The LEDs were easy to read, but at times the red-on-black markings on the gauges were difficult to decipher. Plus there's no boost gauge, although Subaru does offer one as a stand-alone accessory.

In terms of features, the WRX is well equipped. Subaru addresses interior details like few other manufacturers. One item we particularly like is the lighted ring around the ignition switch. In addition to the standard play-every-format-on-a-CD audio system, air filtration system, custom LED interior illumination, and outside temperature display, there's available navigation system with video inputs. One conspicuous omission in this age of iPods is a USB interface. While all manner of MP3 players can pipe a signal into the sound system via the Aux input, Subaru doesn't offer any way to fully integrate an MP3 player like some other manufacturers (Ford's SYNC and Chrysler's Uconnect come to mind).

With the 2009 Subaru WRX, the faithful can rejoice that their hero has returned anew, better than ever, and ready to rumble.

Toyota and Subaru are working together on a rear-drive coupe for sale in 2011--and TheCarConnection.com has the first spy shots of what likely is a prototype of the car.

The joint-venture coupe has been rumored for a long time, according to spy photographers on the scene in the United Kingdom. These photos shot outside a test center in the United Kingdom reveal a lot, even if it’s just a mule with a lot of Subaru Legacy parts.

The coupe will probably be badged a Toyota in Japan and a Subaru in the rest of the world. Model names are still unknown, but it has leaked out that the engine will be a 2.0-liter boxer engine with about 220 horsepower. It will send power to the rear wheels through a six-speed gearbox. Together with its low weight, it's likely the new coupe will be a drift-happy toy--but there's still no word on whether Subaru will also offer a four-wheel-drive version that would be a spiritual successor of its wacky SVX coupe.

The 2011 Subaru coupe will be priced from under $20,000.--CarPix

UPDATE: Automotive News is reporting that Toyota has confirmed the arrival of both sportscars for 2011.


When Toyota bought into Subaru a few years ago, auto pundits assumed that the companies would start sharing brainpower at some point. Now Britain's Autocar magazine says it has the first evidence that the companies are working on a new vehicle together -- a rear-drive sportscar that would be sold by both companies.

Autocar has also published a sketch of one of the cars on its Web site. According to the report, the new car will be a spiritual successor to the Corolla GT from the mid-80s, but will be based on Impreza mechanicals. Priced from about $20,000, it could give Toyota a replacement for its MR2 Spyder and its Celica.

The magazine's sources claim that the new sportscar will be small, light and fast. They also say the 2+2 will be powered by a version of Subaru's 2.0-liter flat-four engine, making it the first Subaru engine to take a place in a Toyota vehicle.

Base cars would have a 175-horsepower version, but the turbocharged 2.5-liter four from Subaru could also make its way into the car. However, Subaru's hallmark all-wheel-drive system would be left off to save weight, or could be available on a single version of the new models.

Subaru will build both cars in a plant in Japan, with a production time frame in 2010.

Yesterday, we reported on the possible Toyota-Subaru sports car under development. And today, Toyota's confirming that it's boosted its stake in Fuji Heavy Industries, the parent company of Subaru

Back in 2005, Toyota picked up an 8.7-percent stake in Fuji after General Motors sold its shares in the smaller Japanese automaker. Toyota's new stake in the company is 16.5 percent.

Toyota says that the move will lead to a revamping of its relationships with Subaru and also with Daihatsu, a Japanese car company specializing in minicars.