2009 wrx gets mo' powa, retuned suspension

[chicken n waffles]

and is starting to look hawt (ibgabe)

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Ne ... eId=130014

CHERRY HILL, NJ — One year after releasing its redesigned WRX, Subaru is adding more performance to the cult car. The WRX's existing 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine will be bumped to 265 horsepower and 244 pound-feet of torque — a 41 hp and 18 lb-ft bump from the current car. A five-speed manual will be the only transmission option for 2009.

Stiffer spring rates, larger antiroll bars, retuned dampers and upper strut mounts from the STI will accompany the additional power. Lower-profile 225/45R17 summer tires replace the current car's 205/50 rubber to aid the attitude adjustment.

Minor styling tweaks will help distinguish 2009 model WRXs. The Aero package — previously an option — is now standard on both sedan and five-door models as is a new STI-type grille. The five-door also gets the STI's rear spoiler and diffuser.

The new-for-2009 Impreza GT model will retain the current WRX's 224-hp engine and be available exclusively with a four-speed automatic transmission.

What this means to you: Subaru has heard the cries from its loyalists and is returning the WRX to its proper station as a performance car. — Josh Jacquot, Senior Road Test Editor

now it just needs 100% less clear tails and 100% moAr sti fender flares.





edit: click for link to *large* hi-res interior shot

[complacent]

Very interesting. Now what is this going to mean for the ever-shrinking gap between the WRX and STI?

Hmmmmm...

[chicken n waffles]

i'm hoping the sti gets a bump in power to widen that gap

but i'm slightly afraid to see the bottom line price changes on all imprezas . it's stupid easy to get the 08 wrx up to 28k with a few options.

[complacent]

i'm hoping the sti gets a bump in power to widen that gap

but i'm slightly afraid to see the bottom line price changes on all imprezas . it's stupid easy to get the 08 wrx up to 28k with a few options.

Agreed. That is a *ton* of money to spend on a car.

[drwrx]

The WRX's existing 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine will be bumped to 265 horsepower and 244 pound-feet of torque . . . Stiffer spring rates, larger antiroll bars, retuned dampers and upper strut mounts from the STI will accompany the additional power. Lower-profile 225/45R17 summer tire

This all very VERY good (as long as the price stays the same).

I'd still like a limited slip dif.

[Sabre]

I'm guessing this means that the STI is going to get a healthy bump too!

[hotsam]

There's a lot of pissed off '08 owners out there.

[GaToR]

There's a lot of pissed off '08 owners out there.

I'll bet the Stage II results from '08s and '09s are all but identical. They all have the option to blow the doors off a stock 'niner.

[complacent]

There's a lot of pissed off '08 owners out there.

something something, first model year, something something.

pay to play.

*shrug*

[chicken n waffles]

^ eggzachary

[Katya4me]

There's a lot of pissed off '08 owners out there.

I'll bet the Stage II results from '08s and '09s are all but identical. They all have the option to blow the doors off a stock 'niner.

Those who race in stock class are screwed.

[drwrx]

Those who race in stock class are screwed.

I wonder how any racing body would ever know that a reflash had been done on any particular car?
They would have to know the stock MAP (ROM image) so intimately as to recognize a reworked one.
I just don't see how that would be possible. Just looking at a ROM image is not some give away to any ECU mods.
A look at a log however would be a good indicator, but I'd like to know how they would get that info.

[Katya4me]

Those who race in stock class are screwed.

I wonder how any racing body would ever know that a reflash had been done on any particular car?
They would have to know the stock MAP so intimately as to recognize a reworked one.
I just don't see how that would be possible.

40 hp = noticeable
Less body roll= noticeable
Different bodykit= noticeable

[drwrx]

40 hp = noticeable
Less body roll= noticeable
Different bodykit= noticeable

40 hp = noticeable (but only behind the wheel and only on long straights. Hey, I could just be THAT good a driver.)

Less body roll= noticeable (if you remove the stock suspension bits from an 09 and transplant them on an 08 how would anyone know the difference? My guess is that even an expert wouldn't be able to tell by looking. None of the suspension stuff is going to take seconds off a lap. And may not even be THAT noticeable behind the wheel)

Different bodykit= noticeable (My guess is there will be almost no visible difference between a 08 and a 09 WRX)

[drwrx]

Aren't you allowed to use non stock tires?

[Katya4me]

In autox, all of this is obvious, particularly in a strongly competitive class as DS is and will be next year if the '09 is kept there.

In stock class, you are not allowed to swap the rear swaybar or change springs among other things.

Shawn actually moved up a place at the DC Prosolo this year because 1st place was missing some items that he said were optional but could not produce the documentation to back up the claim. When there is money on the line, everyone will be looking for cheating.

[Katya4me]

Aren't you allowed to use non stock tires?

Stock size rims, DOT legal r-comps.

[thermobox]

no chrome is a very noticeable difference. every 08 owner hates the chrome except maybe the bling crowd.

40 hp = noticeable
Less body roll= noticeable
Different bodykit= noticeable

40 hp = noticeable (but only behind the wheel and only on long straights. Hey, I could just be THAT good a driver.)

Less body roll= noticeable (if you remove the stock suspension bits from an 09 and transplant them on an 08 how would anyone know the difference? My guess is that even an expert wouldn't be able to tell by looking. None of the suspension stuff is going to take seconds off a lap. And may not even be THAT noticeable behind the wheel)

Different bodykit= noticeable (My guess is there will be almost no visible difference between a 08 and a 09 WRX)

[drwrx]

The Aero package — previously an option — is now standard on both sedan and five-door models as is a new STI-type grille.

How insane have they gone?

"Hey them don't look like stock wipers to me."

"Hey, these aren't stock break pads?"

"I think we need to remove your upper and lower control arms. They look the stock, but we gotta be certain."

"You changed the stock grille, with an optional Subaru grille? You gotta run Modifiied Class son!"

And let's get real, if your running stock class and are really that concerned, trade in your 08 for an 09 and suck-up the $2k loss. It's the cost of a set of R-compound tires. If you can't afford it, you need to find another pastime.

[Mr Kleen]

finally! a thread that expresses my distaste for the new Impreza design AND the SCCA rule book.

[paikmanSTi]

I don't think there will be a power-bump on STi's.
Subaru had to play this hand obviously, to compete against the new Lancer Ralliart.
I forsee though hopefully, that Subaru will bump up OEM power to about 330 by 2010, I'm sure mitsubishi will follow.
Not that it matters much, you can get to 380 flywheel horsepower easily enough on any STi, esp the 08+ with dual avcs, and you can get over 420 flywheel horsepower with just ECU tuning on the new evoX's.

[Mr Kleen]

...and you can get over 420 flywheel horsepower with just ECU tuning on the new evoX's.

with that new aluminum block I wouldn't push the new Evo to anywhere near that power level until I saw proof it wouldn't azplode. but that's a discussion for a different thread.

[paikmanSTi]

Tomei actually did a lot of testing for the OEM motor for Mitsubishi.
It's a completely squared off motor ala the SR20DET, which also does well for all alum with oem forged pistons/rods. I had 420rwhp-500 flywheel hp- with just a metal headgasket for "internal" mods for 2 years, including about 10 drift events..the guy that bought my car still dailies it actually, just talked to him the other day o_O..so about 5 years running like that now
Anyways on the X, most of the vendors have been pushing ~350whp stock turbo, no problem, running fine. Their compressor housing on the X's allows them to stuff in a 20g or 25g on the stock housing easily, and those ones have been going 400-450whp.
Surprisingly, we have more blown 08 STi's documented(same problem as 07's , bad tune and weak ringlands on pistons) than them.
The tranny of course, is another issue.
You know what has surprised me the most,
VQ37HDR in the g37 coupes
handling 600whp on stock block.. it's come a long way since 400whp was the threshold when I had a Z

[paikmanSTi]

just to update from what I'm reading from announcements
MSRP DID NOT go up a cent o_o

[complacent]

It's a real shame that the flares aren't shared across the line...

It really transforms the car, for me at least.