The Next Subaru WRX May Not Have A Boxer Engine

Subaru's design boss has said that only symmetrical all-wheel drive is "critical" to customer expectations, hinting that the next WRX may be powered by something other than a boxer-four
The Next Subaru WRX May Not Have A Boxer Engine

As time goes on, we’re getting a better idea of how the next Subaru WRX will shape up. We know it’ll take styling inspiration from the muscular Viziv concept (above), and it’s looking likely that hybrid power will be involved. Most importantly, the quirky turbo boxer-four configuration may be for the chop.

Recently, Subaru Europe’s sales and marketing manager, David Dello Stritto, said that the turbocharged boxer four-pot “can simply not exist in the future,”, and now we’ve a further sign the Japanese company is looking to drop one of the WRX’s defining features.

Speaking to Autocar, Subaru’s design boss Mamoru Ishii suggested that to satisfy customer expectations, the next WRX has to come with symmetrical all-wheel drive. But a flat-four? It seems that’s considered optional.

“Four-wheel drive is critical to the power and performance levels our customers expect, but on the engine we have more freedom,” he said. So while the death of the boxer in the WRX isn’t definite yet, it seems Subaru is keen to investigate other engine arrangements.

While the left-field flat-four is one of our favourite things the car, we do get why it might have to go in the current climate. A particularly shocking thirst for unleaded and high emissions has made the current car look unattractive compared to conventional rivals like the VW Golf R, leading to low sales in the UK. As a consequence, Subaru UK announced it was to stop selling the current car here altogether.

Whatever Subaru decides, make no mistake - for better or worse, the next WRX is going to be the most radically changed version of the car we’ve ever seen.

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Comments

FMLNathan

Bummer

12/18/2017 - 15:53 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

The protec the atttac the boxer wont be bac

12/18/2017 - 15:55 |
10 | 10
Ali Mahfooz

But… but the rumbling sound of the unequal length headers. 😟

12/18/2017 - 15:56 |
86 | 2

Aren’t crate boxer engines manufactured….. somewhere?

12/18/2017 - 16:48 |
8 | 4

They would probably get rid of that anyways like they did with the BRZ and WRX because equal length headers offer much better performance.

12/18/2017 - 18:28 |
14 | 2
The Next Subaru WRX May Not Have A Boxer Engine
Alexander Kieran Fitzpatrick

In reply to by Ali Mahfooz

its not the same

12/18/2017 - 18:30 |
0 | 0

Mine doesn’t have them

12/18/2017 - 18:34 |
0 | 0
GTRTURTLE 🔰 🐢(Oo \ S K Y L I N E / oO) (Koen

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

12/18/2017 - 15:56 |
74 | 6
5:19.55

No need for new boxer anyway, but you better get your example now before prices rise through the sky

12/18/2017 - 15:57 |
2 | 2
GTRTURTLE 🔰 🐢(Oo \ S K Y L I N E / oO) (Koen
12/18/2017 - 15:57 |
16 | 2
Aayu1302

Shit

12/18/2017 - 15:59 |
4 | 6
German Perfectionist

To be honest, that’s still better than “The Next Subaru Impreza May Be A SUV” COUGH Mitsubishi COUGH

12/18/2017 - 15:59 |
390 | 4

The all new Subaru Impreza Crossover. With mitsubishi DNA.

12/18/2017 - 16:11 |
18 | 2

Mitsubishi needs to get back up there. It will be a while until they hire an actual Petrolhead for the CEO position. Look at Mazda already coming out with sexy designs for a hatch called the Kai and a Rx9

12/18/2017 - 16:26 |
60 | 2

It is like saying cake without cream

12/19/2017 - 01:40 |
4 | 2
b0mbsh0ck
12/18/2017 - 16:02 |
46 | 2
Deadpool (Cam's much sexier twin) (Official Demon Fangirl)

How much you want to bet it still won’t crack 300hp?

12/18/2017 - 16:07 |
4 | 8

Gotta love the fact that there is a factory civic with more power than a brand new STI.
Just imagine if the original GC8 STI only had 180hp.

12/18/2017 - 19:23 |
2 | 0