| New model plans | Subaru Impreza WRX diesel |
Subaru has hinted that the current petrol-powered Impreza WRX will be phased out in favour of a new diesel-engined model. The diesel WRX will use a tuned version of the Boxer Diesel already seen in the Legacy and Outback, though tuned to around 200bhp.
Rising fuel costs and environmental concerns have pushed Subaru in this direction and one insider said the petrol-engined WRX would have only a limited life in the UK. The diesel WRX is expected in 2009 and the target is to cover 0-60mph in less than six seconds, which would make the diesel model quicker than the current petrol version.
It's believed Subaru's rally team, Prodrive, is helping to engineer the diesel WRX for the UK. As Subaru's new turbodiesel uses the same 'flat-four' cylinder configuration as the petrol engine range, it's said to be a relatively simple matter to develop the WRX. The process is also helped by Subaru readying a diesel-engined version of the Impreza that uses the existing 150bhp turbodiesel from the Legacy that will go on sale in the UK late this year.
Alisdair Suttie - 19 Mar 2008