Subaru Is Cooking Up A 2.4 400bhp Boxer, A45 2.0 Used As Benchmark
The Subaru WRX STI is a car that’s failed to move with the times. Once packing the kind of firepower that worry the average Porsche 911 owner, the flagship fast Scooby isn’t the giant killer it once was and has even been caught up (in many cases overhauled) by mere hot hatches. For shame!
This clearly hasn’t been lost on Subaru, however. According to Forbes, the Japanese manufacturer has benchmarked its latest and greatest boxer engine against the mighty Mercedes-AMG M139 416bhp inline-four, which is used in the A45 S.
The ‘FA24’ will be a 2.4-litre, circa-400bhp monster which will also kick out a muscular 361lb ft of torque. In terms of power, that’s an increase of over a third. The hot hatch world won’t know what’s hit it.
As always, this flat-four will be hooked up to a permanent all-wheel drive system, marking the Subaru out against rivals which tend to favour part-time setups. Off-the-line pace will be suitably brisk - expect a 0-62mph time starting with the number four.
It’s been suggested before that the next WRX STI will take styling inspiration from the wild Viziv Performance STI concept, which is just fine by us. We won’t be seeing it for a while yet, however - the reveal is unlikely to happen before 2021.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
This probably means that the next gt86/brz is getting the NA version :( .
That’s actually a good thing in my opinion. Toyota will probaly never put to much power in the gt86 to don’t kill the supra. Having a cheap gt86 is great and if you want to add power in the future, the tuning scene is great
And that is a good thing
Last STI in top edition was already doing 350hp, and today’s performance sedans are pushing 500s, so I’m not sure this is enough of an oomph…
The WRX is likely to be much lighter than the average sedan with 500 hp. Horsepower is not everything. When talking about acceleration or handling, power to weight is the only thing that really matters. A heavy car is generally worse than a lighter car.
The base version wasn’t, though, and that’s what this alleged 400bhp 2.4 is destined for. Any S2xx or other special edition could well make much more (but probably not as much as 500)
500hp at what price point though? Don’t forget about the money aspect of it, if the price of an STI stays relative and more power than a more expensive Supra. Fine by me.
Subaru has always been different from the others in that regard, capitalizing on their rally heritage (give me one 500hp performance sedan that can follow a WRX STI on gravel). WRC cars are pushing “only” about 380hp right now and they are the fastest thing possible on a B-road. Don’t focus on the numbers
As a Subaru fan this really warms my heart
Was kinda hoping for Subaru to do a new flat 6 engine and possibly put it in the next generation WRX :/
Im so glad that theres a new one also just in time when i will be in the market for a new car
I’m an EJ fanboy myself but im looking forward to the future of the WRX!
im so excited for this I want my next car to be an STI
The Viziv is one of the most beautiful agressive designs