Among road-going cars with rallying heritage, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (or simply Lancer Evo) & the Subaru Impreza WRX (or simply Subaru WRX which became a standalone nameplate in 2014) were the two globally famous arch rivals emerging from Japan. The duo literally ruled the segment leaving hardly any space for any other car to occupy the territory.
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However Mitsubishi pulled the plugs off the Lancer Evo due to its financial turmoil, Subaru has still kept its faith alive in the WRX. Now the latest iteration of Subaru WRX along with WRX Wagon have been launched in Thailand at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Center in conjunction with this year’s Big Motor Sale event.
The WRX is now underpinned by the Subaru Global Platform and features a larger-capacity FA24F 2.4L turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine. The Thai-spec Subaru WRX outputs 271 hp and 350 Nm with Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system offered as standard. The WRX is available with either a 6-speed manual transmission or a CVT, dubbed as Subaru Performance Transmission.
Standard equipment includes LED headlamps and taillights, 18-inch alloy wheels, manual-adjustable front seats, a 4.2-inch multi-info display, an 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system (supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay), 7 airbags and selectable Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) modes (Normal, Track and Off).
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The CVT variant benefits from paddle shifters, SI-Drive transmission modes, an 8-way powered driver’s seat with memory function, an electronic parking brake with auto brake hold and the EyeSight suite of safety and driver assistance systems, which includes autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, front vehicle departure alert, automatic high beam and a blind spot monitor. Prices start at 2.999 million baht (PKR 1 crore 81.73 lac) for the manual, and 3.099 million baht (PKR 1 crore 87.79 lac) for the CVT variant.
The WRX Wagon is essentially a second-generation Levorg with the WRX powertrain, and comes only with a CVT gearbox. It is priced less than the WRX at 2.959 million baht (PKR 1 crore 79.30 lac). The engine specifications and list of features of the WRX Wagon are pretty much identical to the most expensive Subaru WRX variant in Thailand.
A computer animation professional with over 23 years of industry experience having served in leading organizations, TV channels & production facilities in Pakistan. An avid car enthusiast and petrolhead with an affection to deliver quality content to help shape opinions. Formerly written for PakWheels as well as major publications including Dawn. Founder of CarSpiritPK.com
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