2023 Subaru WRX Concept, Specs, Price – For the past two years, Subaru has teased fans eager for any information on the next WRX, promising that the new affordable, AWD, high-performance compact benchmark would drop the Impreza name and platform, boast at least 307 horsepower in STI trim, and come with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. We also saw a few WRX prototypes with current-generation Impreza bodywork, but we haven’t been given any clues about the upcoming WRX design. Until today, that is, when Subaru unveiled the WRX concept at the 2013 New York auto show, which served as a sneak peek of the automobile.
According to the manufacturer, the car above is based on the WRX S4 STI Sport R and features the same fascia and body cladding as the newly introduced WRX, which we recently rode. Subaru has “customized” it with a cherry-red splitter, side skirts, and a performance exhaust, among other STI-branded items. It appears production-ready with a wing-out back and an STI emblem on the nose despite being designated as a concept. This is the closest we’ll ever get to see the new WRX STI before officially announced.
The Redesign of the Subaru WRX 2023
The STI E-RA is the following concept: Subaru’s stated purpose was to obtain “experience and practice in new technologies in motorsport, which is moving toward a carbon-neutral era,” as seen in the teaser image above. It’s unknown how the car will look or whether it will be mass-produced.
The Levorg STI and the Subaru BRZ STI are the other two STI-branded designs. Don’t get too excited about seeing production models just yet, as we’ve seen STI-branded ideas for both cars in the past. The Levorg receives all of the WRX’s enhancements, while the BRZ gets its own set of STI performance bits, though Subaru doesn’t reveal what, if anything, has been done beneath the hood. The BRZ GT300 from the 2023 SuperGT season, which won overall in its class, is the fifth and only race car in the collection.
Interior
The Subaru WRX is done with carbon-fiber-like elements and red contrast stitching on the inside, similar to other modern Subaru vehicles. A steering wheel with a thick rim, a flat bottom, and analog gauges. The top-of-the-line GT grade has a Recaro front seat with microsuede upholstery. The 60/40 split-folding back seat can be used to reach the trunk from within the car.
Dual-zone climate power, heated front seats, keyless entry, cruise control, dual USB ports, and a seven-inch Starlink infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth compatibility are just a few of the features available. The rest of the interior features standard features from the Impreza series. Navigation, a Harmon Kardon surround-sound system, and an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat are all available on the Limited variant.
Engine
While Subaru hasn’t revealed any specifics about the concept’s mechanicals, we know that the next WRX will feature an all-wheel drive and a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine. In reality, the WRX engine—a turbocharged version of the 2.0-liter boxer four from the BRZ sports car—debuted in a Japanese-market Legacy sedan with 296 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque recently. We’ll take it, though we expect the WRX to produce slightly less and the STI to pay slightly more. Subaru is also likely to bring order to the WRX series, as the current Rex is faster to 60 mph than the more expensive STI.
The EPA rates the WRX at 22 miles per gallon with the manual transmission and 21 miles per gallon with the CVT automatic transmission. We haven’t yet put it through its paces on our real-world 75-mph highway fuel economy test, but we’ll let you know when we can. Visit the EPA’s website for more details on the F-fuel type’s efficiency.
The Date and Price of the Subaru WRX Concept for 2023
An introductory price of $29,105 is set for the WRX. This is one of the most expensive entry-level compact cars. The range-topping WRX GT starts at $41,895, making this Subaru more costly than its competitors at the top of the model selection.