Four years and three nose jobs later--when will it end?
Who knows? The last restyling was rationalized for better aerodynamics on the Subaru WRC rally car. Now Subaru claims this latest look is to coordinate the 2006 WRX, and the Impreza that it's based on, with the new Subie design language introduced with the Tribeca crossover. They say the three-section mesh-type grill is inspired by the company's aircraft
heritage (Isn't that Saab? -Ed.). It's not as bold as the Tribeca, but it does make the googly-eyed '02 WRX either a classic, or dated. You pick.
Can I go for door number three, Monte? Seriously, are the changes more than skin deep?
Across the '06 Impreza range, there are new cockpit fabrics and trim, an exterior temperature gauge, a seat back pocket on the passenger side and dust and pollen filters. (Yawn...) The base Impreza 2.5i Sedan and Sport Wagon (both $23,495) and Outback Sport ($27,895) all get a juiced-up 2.5-litre flat-four mill with a new i-Active Valve Lift system that increases horsepower to 173 from 165 making them more competitive with, say, a Mazda3. Of course, the compact Mazda doesn't come with Subaru's ace-in-the-hole, standard all-wheel-drive. The standard five-speed stick benefits from internal modifications that make it lighter with shorter throws. There's also a new four-speed automatic that
was designed to communicate electronically with a revised all-wheel-drive system. Just stick with the stick, right?
Right! The cooking Imprezas certainly are nice driving cars, but what are the specific upgrades to the perennial sports compact fave, the WRX?
I thought you would never ask. The most interesting change is under the WRX's front hood's characteristic scoop. For '06, the WRX (sedan or wagon, $35,495) has adopted a detuned version of the higher-performing STi's ($48,995) engine. That means 2.5-litres instead of last year's 2.0. Horsepower doesn't increase that much (to 230 from 227), but the pound-feet of torque rating gets a nice bump from 217 to 235, peaking at a 10% lower engine speed.
Can you feel the improvements out on the road?
Definitely the newly found torque. The WRX now has one of those rare turbo fours where throttle response is almost immediate. As long as the tach is reading above 3,500 r.p.m., power is always there, with turbo lag
reduced considerably compared to last year's 2.0-litre unit. Already a very good setup, Subaru has also tweaked the WRX's suspension for '06. For starters, standard rubber is up an inch to 17, and there's a slightly quicker steering ratio. Like all of this year's Imprezas, the WRX benefits from electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) being added to the already standard ABS. Oh, and the brakes are slightly bigger with seemingly mandatory red exterior paint. For improved handling and traction, a viscous type limited slip rear diff has been added as well. After driving my WRX sedan test car for a week, it's safe to report that all of the improvements only add to the WRX's already excellent compromise between ride and handling. The generous wheel travel really makes a difference on our poorly maintained roads. A day spent exploring the new '06 WRX sedan on the back roads around the Mount Tremblant ski area north of Montréal confirmed that the WRX is as competent and poised over good pavement as well as bad. Of note: Turn ins are quick, and the new suspension upgrades add a sense of high-speed stability that the previous WRX lacked.
Who knows? The last restyling was rationalized for better aerodynamics on the Subaru WRC rally car. Now Subaru claims this latest look is to coordinate the 2006 WRX, and the Impreza that it's based on, with the new Subie design language introduced with the Tribeca crossover. They say the three-section mesh-type grill is inspired by the company's aircraft
 |
| (Photo: John LeBlanc, straight-six.com) |
Can I go for door number three, Monte? Seriously, are the changes more than skin deep?
Across the '06 Impreza range, there are new cockpit fabrics and trim, an exterior temperature gauge, a seat back pocket on the passenger side and dust and pollen filters. (Yawn...) The base Impreza 2.5i Sedan and Sport Wagon (both $23,495) and Outback Sport ($27,895) all get a juiced-up 2.5-litre flat-four mill with a new i-Active Valve Lift system that increases horsepower to 173 from 165 making them more competitive with, say, a Mazda3. Of course, the compact Mazda doesn't come with Subaru's ace-in-the-hole, standard all-wheel-drive. The standard five-speed stick benefits from internal modifications that make it lighter with shorter throws. There's also a new four-speed automatic that
 |
| (Photo: John LeBlanc, straight-six.com) |
Right! The cooking Imprezas certainly are nice driving cars, but what are the specific upgrades to the perennial sports compact fave, the WRX?
I thought you would never ask. The most interesting change is under the WRX's front hood's characteristic scoop. For '06, the WRX (sedan or wagon, $35,495) has adopted a detuned version of the higher-performing STi's ($48,995) engine. That means 2.5-litres instead of last year's 2.0. Horsepower doesn't increase that much (to 230 from 227), but the pound-feet of torque rating gets a nice bump from 217 to 235, peaking at a 10% lower engine speed.
Can you feel the improvements out on the road?
Definitely the newly found torque. The WRX now has one of those rare turbo fours where throttle response is almost immediate. As long as the tach is reading above 3,500 r.p.m., power is always there, with turbo lag
 |
| (Photo: John LeBlanc, straight-six.com) |