A race car based on the Subaru WRX is entering the upcoming 2023 Nürburgring 24-Hour. The race is scheduled to take place from May 20 to 21, 2023, at the world-famous Nürburgring circuit in the Rhineland-Palatinate state in Germany.
The Subaru WRX NBR Challenge 2023 race car
The car will be competing under a team formed by Subaru Tecnica International (STI), Subaru’s performance-oriented subsidiary. Note that this is the 14th time that Subaru will enter the 24 hours of Nürburgring. This time around, it will participate in the said race under the SP4T class, which consists of turbocharged cars with up to 2.6 liters of displacement.
The STI team is then made up of an all-Japanese pool of dealership service technicians representing various Subaru outlets from their home country. Taking the helm of the endurance race team is Hideharu Tatsumi as general manager, Takuya Sawada as team manager, and Naoki Shibuya as project leader.
Team STI’s cars are then piloted by four drivers. There’s Dutch professional racer and Subaru factory driver Carlo van Dam, German racer and television host Tim Schrick, GT300 racing driver Hideki Yamauchi, and racing driver Takuto Iguchi.
With regards to the race car itself, it is a heavily modified version of the 2023 Subaru WRX sedan. Known as the Subaru WRX NBR Challenge 2023, it features plenty of additions including a large rear wing, a front splitter, additional front ducts, and a rear diffuser.
Check out that massive rear wing
STI likewise upgraded the race car with larger ball joints for its front end for better reliability and durability. The muffler was likewise enlarged to meet race regulations, and they installed a stiff draw tower bar bracket for added rigidity.
The company did not indicate anything about engine modifications for their WRX race car. As such, we can assume that it uses the stock 2.4-liter turbocharged mill that the standard WRX uses.
On the stock commercially available Philippine-spec Subaru WRX, the said engine can make up to 271 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque. Power is then sent to all four wheels via Subaru’s Symmetrical all-wheel-drive system. Locally, the WRX is available with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) or a six-speed manual transmission.
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Know more about Subaru WRX 2024
The all-new 2024 Subaru WRX is a compact, four-door sedan. Locally, it has two different variants. There’s the WRX 6MT and the WRX CVT EyeSight. The price for these ranges from Php 2,788,000 to Php 2,888,000.
Size-wise, the Subaru WRX sedan is 4,670mm long, 1825mm wide, and 1,465mm in height. It also has a wheelbase length of 2,675mm.
Under the hood of the Subaru WRX is a 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer-four gasoline engine. At maximum, this can produce up to 271 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque. Power is then sent to all four wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox or a continuously variable transmission.
Locally, the WRX is comparable with the likes of the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and Lexus IS.
>>> New and used Subaru Wrx 2024 for sale in the Philippines
Subaru WRX Launch
The all-new Subaru WRX debuted for the Philippine market in June 2022 as a 2023 model. It was introduced along with the wagon version. Currently, this model has two different variants. There’s the WRX 6MT and the WRX CVT EyeSight.
Subaru WRX Exterior
For exterior equipment, the all-new WRX gets a pair of LED headlamps with auto-leveling, LED front fog lamps, LED taillights, and power-folding side mirrors. The WRX MT and WRX CVT EyeSight then ride on a set of 18-inch Aluminum-alloy wheels.
All trims also come with sports side garnish, a trunk spoiler, and twin-dual tail mufflers. Only the top-spec WRX tS and the mid-spec WRX CVT may come with a power-sliding sunroof.
Subaru WRX Interior
The WRX can seat up to five. It then provides its occupants with fabric or suede seats, and a dual-zone automatic climate control system with rear vents. It also comes with sport pedals, rain-sensing wipers, a leather steering wheel, a push-to-start button, etc.
Technology & Safety Features
For safety, the Subaru WRX’s higher-spec variants are equipped with the EyeSight driver assist suite. This includes autonomous emergency braking, lane centering control, adaptive steering control, and lane departure prevention, among other features.
The WRX also gets a hill-start assist, active torque vectoring, seven airbags, a reverse camera, a driver monitoring system, etc.
Platform & Chassis
The all-new WRX uses the Subaru Global Platform. It shares this with other Subaru Philippine models like the XV, the WRX Wagon, etc.
It then uses a MacPherson strut front suspension and a double-wishbone rear suspension. Disc brakes then handle braking for all four wheels.
Of note, the heaviest WRX variant is the top-spec WRX tS CVT EyeSight, which clocks in at 1,612kg. The lightest meanwhile is the WRX MT, which has a curb weight of 1,515kg.
Engine & Drivetrain
Powering all variants of the Subaru WRX is a 2.4-liter boxer-four turbo engine that can make up to 271 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque. Depending on the trim, it either gets a six-speed manual gearbox or a continuously variable transmission with a paddle shifter manual mode. Like most Subarus, the WRX is an all-wheel-drive vehicle.
As an AWD sports sedan inspired by Rally, the Subaru WRX is a unique model in the local market. The closest competitors are the Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2024 and BMW 3 Series.
Subaru WRX 2024 Price List
Let's check out the Subaru WRX 2024 price in September in the Philippines.
| Variants | Price |
|---|---|
| Subaru WRX 6MT | ₱2,788,000 |
| Subaru WRX CVT EyeSight | ₱2,888,000 |
| Subaru WRX tS EyeSight (indent-order) | ₱3,168,000 |
Subaru WRX Pros & Cons
Pros
- Sleek exterior design
- Latest version of the Subaru EyeSight
- More powerful engine
Cons
- Trunk space isn't large
Subaru WRX FAQs
1. Is the Subaru WRX a sports coupe?
The Subaru WRX is a sporty 5-seat sedan to be exact.
2. Does the Subaru WRX have a sunroof?
Yes, this compact sedan from Subaru does come with a sunroof.
3. Is the Subaru WRX featured with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay?
Yes, the WRX comes with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
₱ 2,608,000 - ₱ 2,908,000
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