2008 Subaru WRX spotted with different grille and wheels
An alert Subaru fan with a camera phone caught this WRX out on the street. The vehicle was sporting New Jersey tags which suggests it was a test vehicle coming from SOA's Cherry Hill, NJ, headquarters.
Of more interest is the fact that it has a different grille and wheels from what Subaru announced at the NY auto show earlier this month. Anybody following this Impreza saga knows that the '08 grille has been a big issue with Subie fans...
Most hate it. So that begs the following questions:
• Is Subaru bowing to fan pressure, and that this grille is "Plan B" that is quickly being put in place?
• Might this be the grille from yet-to-be-announced STI that somehow found its way on to a WRX?
• Or better still, might this actually be the STI (there were no ID badges on the car)? Remember there is a low-key STI Limited without the huge boy-racer rear wing. Might this be that model? In keeping with that thought, is that a boost gauge on the top of the dash—something that might be found on an STI? Maybe even a "Tuned by STI" model which is a special
designer trim level found in Subies in other markets?
• Will this be an optional accessory grille? Subaru has offered optional grilles in the past, so this is a possibility.
• Is this merely an aftermarket grille?
Full story (and more images)
here.
- Permalink | Comments (11)
- Posted by: Bob Holland April 23, 2007, 6:13 AM
- Categories: Future Vehicles, Hatchbacks, Subaru
Bob,
My gut instinct says STI...larger wheels, different grill, boost gauge, different shift knob
Serge
It looks a bit like a last-generation Toyota Camry SE. Those gold wheels make me think STI, though.
I'm more inclined to think it may be a yet-to-be-announced trim level of the WRX. Perhaps the "Tuned by STI" model I mentioned. I don't think it's a "real" STI, as it doesn't appear to have a 6-speed tranny, judging by the interior shot over at NASIOC.
However...
It could well hint as to what the STI might look like.
That's a definite improvement. I'm going to guess it will be an SPT accessory, and/or a port-installed options.
The Tribeca SE had an optional grille, so there is a precedent with Subaru.
It's interesting that it has what appears to be a Type RA-R shift knob even though the tranny is probably the "venerable" 5MT. The brakes look the same as the regular WRX.
Update: That may not be a Type RA-R shift knob. It may simply be a JDM STi shift knob as noted by "CreoWRX" on NASIOC.
http://www.renickmotorsports.com/oscommerce/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=2143
The grille definately looks better. I'm not saying I like it, but it is a whole lot better.
I'm gonna have to say it's an STi, too. I don't think the gold rims ever came on anything else. The tranny is perplexing though. Maybe they just wanted to test a regular WRX and they wanted to see how the rims looked while they were at it.
On another note, lose the taillights! You can't have an otherwise chromeless car with vibrantly chromed taillights. It doesn't look right.
The rear chrome made more sense with the chrome accented grille, which other Imprezas have.
I don't know if I'm comfortable admitting this, but I really like the way this ones looks. I mean REALLY like it.
My face is still scrunched up concering the rear. The rest looks fine as it reminds me of the MazdaSpeed3, which certainly isnt a bad thing.
the grille is an improvement but lose the chromed tailights it really throws the look off and makes it look unblanced. Think about it for a second you have this new grille with barely any chrome on it and chromed rear tailights. It would look a little akward to most people. but compared to the Grille we saw at New York this one is a drastic improvement
I have discovered from looking at the Japanese Subaru page that this is most likely an Impreza with JDM accessories. The turbo timer and grille are options on the JDM Impreza S-GT, the Japanese equivalent of the WRX. The rims, however, are probably aftermarket.
Update 1: The grille is a USDM feature for the Impreza WRX that has a MSRP of $277. However, I do not see the turbo timer as an option for the USDM WRX.