Facelift For 2011 Hatch

[DR Motosport]

http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/new_y..._wrx/index.html

Looks like a new grill, headlamps and bumper for the hatchback.

Not sure if it improves it any though

Still looks to have Lexus rear lights too.

The 2011 car also gets stiffer bushes to improve the soft suspension and overlight steering.

The US which has always had a Saloon WRX, has now got the wide arch STi body, and it looks like red lens tail lights.

Now if they brought that to the UK as an STi, maybe just maybe I'd be interested............................along with a few others.

So, c'mon Subaru UK, get your act together before you go the same way as Lancia, and disappear from the UK.

Edited March 26, 2010 by DR Motosport

[wrxmania]

http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/new_y..._wrx/index.html

Looks like a new grill, headlamps and bumper for the hatchback.

Not sure if it improves it any though

Still looks to have Lexus rear lights too.

The 2011 car also gets stiffer bushes to improve the soft suspension and overlight steering.

The US which has always had a Saloon WRX, has now got the wide arch STi body, and it looks like red lens tail lights.

Now if they brought that to the UK as an STi, maybe just maybe I'd be interested............................along with a few others.

So, c'mon Subaru UK, get your act together before you go the same way as Lancia, and disappear from the UK.

The pics there are for the newly introduced US WRX which mentions a unique front end and "fender flares" etc and been on US forums for a wee bit.

Looks good but I think the new hatch in STI form looks very good with a few subtle changes anyway - lights & bushes are a VERY easy fix.

As for the saloon - I'd absolutely buy the hatch over the saloon every time now after owning it - so much more modern to look at, live with and drive IMHO

Brian

Edited March 26, 2010 by WRXMANIA

[wrxmania]

Should also say the Prodrive spring kit, coupled with the 18's makes a huge difference to the steering and suspension feel.

[StrikE]

I'd absolutely buy the hatch over the saloon every time now after owning it - so much more modern to look at, live with and drive IMHO

vastly superior to any of the saloons

[BalliSTIc]

Am gonna get waded in here too...

Can't comment on the superiority in trems of ability/ quality saloon vs hatch as have only driven the latter, but the hatch sets a pretty damn high bar IMHO.

Oh, and those headlights look preety unchanged to me. Grille is more rectangular and bumper a bit chunkier, otherwise not dissimilar to current STI.

Am intrigued to see what they have planned for the STI facelift - supposedly being unveiled at the NY Autoshow 2nd-11th April 2010. Not long.

[DR Motosport]

I would just like the choice. Hatch or Saloon.

They make both already so why not have them both available. Japanese import restrictions went out about 10 years ago, so no excuses.

Adding the wide body to the saloon in the US means the next step will be the STi saloon.

For me the hatch just doesn't work, the boot is far too small and I don't always want to fold down the seats, and yes I have actually been out with a measuring tape. It is a lot smaller.

But we've seen all this before with facelifts. The bug-eye was only out 2 years before the first facelift, then we got the blob-eye and finally they kept the best looking to last with the hawk-eye.

Same with the classics with it's various changes over the years, and the hatch will be no different.

Subaru have never built a standard model that doesn't need some modifications to improve it's driving. Be it springs, anti-roll bars, bigger alloys, bushes or geometry set-up.

I've driven more Impreza's in the last 15 years than I could probably count, and the only one that came close to being perfect was the Hawkeye Spec-C Type ra, but that's not exactly a standard model.

I'll be keeping the classic I have now, and the new-age JDM STI I've had since new.

But I worry that I'll add to them another marque before Subaru UK can offer me something I want to buy.

Davy

[wrxmania]

I think they should bring the saloon to the UK if it's available, especially in STI guise then people would have a choice and may keep sales strong.

In saying that, I don't mind jumping ship to other brands if they don't have what I need.

You are totally right to keep what you have - the cost to change etc is not worth what you get.

Brian

[DR Motosport]

I think they should bring the saloon to the UK if it's available, especially in STI guise then people would have a choice and may keep sales strong.

In saying that, I don't mind jumping ship to other brands if they don't have what I need.

You are totally right to keep what you have - the cost to change etc is not worth what you get.

Brian

I wasn't planning on trading in or selling anyway.

I sold the track car to Grant at AWD last Summer, since then I've been changing the STi to the new track car. But also been thinking about what to get as a road car now.

Would seriously have considered a new STi saloon if it was available here or even as a JDM Import.

So far looking at something with better build quality, plenty of power, nice to drive on a long journey, and plenty of space.

Audi S6 5.2 V10 is top of the list so far.

EVO X lacks the build quality, but is nice to drive.

Davy

[wrxmania]

I wasn't planning on trading in or selling anyway.

I sold the track car to Grant at AWD last Summer, since then I've been changing the STi to the new track car. But also been thinking about what to get as a road car now.

Would seriously have considered a new STi saloon if it was available here or even as a JDM Import.

So far looking at something with better build quality, plenty of power, nice to drive on a long journey, and plenty of space.

Audi S6 5.2 V10 is top of the list so far.

EVO X lacks the build quality, but is nice to drive.

Davy

Good choice. To be fair the new Impreza also lacks the build quality in the interiors and paintwork dept. too.

Brian.