Currently reading: Subaru WRX sale in UK 'remains in doubt'
Final production version of WRX concept will be at LA show, but Subaru yet to discuss plan to bring it to the UK

A production version of the new Subaru WRX is expected to be revealed at the Los Angeles motor show in November – but its presence in the UK remains in doubt.

Subaru brought its concept version of the new WRX to the Frankfurt motor show, and Subaru product chief Toshio Masuda confirmed to Autocar that the concept would spawn “a production car on which it is based”.

For production, the WRX is likely to keep the rear doors of the concept to become a four-door saloon rather than a coupé. The more rakish profile is also set to remain.

The powertrain remains unclear, although hybrid would appear unlikely as Masuda suggested Subaru’s hybrid technology was some way from coming to market at an affordable price. However, the model will remain all-wheel drive and be offered with a manual gearbox, he confirmed.

The new WRX will be based on a new platform, which Masuda describes as “a very firm and rigid structure”. There will also be a reduction in weight over the current WRX, which should also improve the performance according to Subaru's product chief. 

Officially, there is no decision from Subaru in the UK as to whether or not to import the car. It's understood a UK delegation will soon head to Japan to see it, and discuss a plan on whether to put it on sale here.

Click here for more Frankfurt motor show news.

 

Mark Tisshaw

mark-tisshaw-autocar
Title: Editor

Mark is a journalist with more than a decade of top-level experience in the automotive industry. He first joined Autocar in 2009, having previously worked in local newspapers. He has held several roles at Autocar, including news editor, deputy editor, digital editor and his current position of editor, one he has held since 2017.

From this position he oversees all of Autocar’s content across the print magazine, autocar.co.uk website, social media, video, and podcast channels, as well as our recent launch, Autocar Business. Mark regularly interviews the very top global executives in the automotive industry, telling their stories and holding them to account, meeting them at shows and events around the world.

Mark is a Car of the Year juror, a prestigious annual award that Autocar is one of the main sponsors of. He has made media appearances on the likes of the BBC, and contributed to titles including What Car?Move Electric and Pistonheads, and has written a column for The Sun.

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bomb 12 September 2013

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The back end looks wrong, could be anything but a Subaru. They used to have a lovely range of cars but they've been replaced with ugly, mediocre and outdated machines.
The public have voted with their feet, less than 1,100 Subarus have been sold in the UK this year.

Peter Cavellini 12 September 2013

Ahem!!!!!

So, going by some of the posts, this car's a minger,right?,don't be daft!,this is where Subaru should've been all along.

Factczech 11 September 2013

Hamming it up!

This is a typical ploy, to drum up demand!

Subarus are always well supported in the UK, so why all the gamesmanship?

Andrew 61 11 September 2013

Factczech wrote: This is a

Factczech wrote:

This is a typical ploy, to drum up demand!

Subarus are always well supported in the UK, so why all the gamesmanship?

It may be a ruse to drum up interest but I would not say Subaru are now well supported in the UK. I would like to now the number of registrations today compared with 2000, would bet its a lot less. My local (25 miles away) dealer gave up selling the brand and started selling, nearly new, Audi's, BMW's,
Merc;s. I have owned two Subaru's in the past and have just sold the last one and it wasn't replaced by one of the current Subaru models.