|
THINK.
Feel. Drive. According to Subaru, these are words that
embody the philosophy that goes into every car that
rolls off its assembly line.
“Just
what does that mean exactly?” This writer queried Ariel
de Jesus, marketing chief of Motor Image Pilipinas—exclusive
distributor of Subaru in
Southeast Asia. Instead of answering the question and after perhaps
taking the question as a challenge, de Jesus arranged a
test drive for this writer in a brand-spanking-new
Subaru Impreza WRX—the same model that received the nod
as the Sports Car of the Year in the last Auto Focus
People’s Choice Awards.
At first
glimpse, the WRX does not look flashy, nor does it imply
that it is anything but a sedan. However, its obvious
elegance is enhanced by the Urban Grey Metallic paint
job (there are five available colors). The subtle
touches such as the air scoop that cools the
intercooler, the rear spoiler, fender bulges and 18-inch
wheels eventually grow on you.
De Jesus
says that “buyers of the WRX are those who know what
they want in their cars and who understand what their
vehicles can do. Customers who go for the WRX are
already sold on the car even before they enter the
showroom. They consider it an insult when you try to
give them a sales pitch. Instead, they want to talk
about the car’s specs. They don’t mind the stiffer ride
and like the smell of rubber. They want the power and
don’t care about fuel consumption.”
Looking
at the WRX does not evoke the same emotions one would
normally feel when viewing other sports sedans. Driving
it, however, is another story.
Although
there may be other vehicles out there—there are not that
many of them—that might best it in a street fight, its
four-cylinder “boxer” engine, which cranks out maximum
power of 230 ps at 5,600 rpm and whiplash-inducing
torque of 320 Nm at 3,600 rpm, isn’t anything to sneeze
at.
Gunning
the throttle produces a distinctive roar from the engine
compartment accompanied by a pleasant resonance from the
exhaust pipes, with boost coming in at around 2,500
rpm. That being said, turbo lag isn’t evident, and, in
fact, the engine’s response is almost instantaneous.
Whether at idling speed or full throttle, vibration is
virtually nil, owing to the horizontally opposed pistons
and connecting rods that provide smooth engine operation
and help overcome inertia resulting in greater
flexibility.
Gearing
is evenly spaced out and the five-speed manual
transmission shifts precisely, and the vehicle’s curb
weight of 1,410 kilograms gives it a power-to-weight ratio that endows it with more-than-decent
stoplight-to-stoplight sprinting ability.
 Perhaps
the WRX’s strongest asset is its handling. Point its
nose into a corner and the car turns in without
hesitation. Throw it into a high-speed turn and it
willingly obliges, tracing precise arcs that follow the
driver’s inputs behind the wheel. Powering out of
corners produces nary a twitch, thanks to the
combination of the full-time all-wheel-drive and
Bridgestone Potenza GIII tires. The car’s low weight,
low center of gravity, well-designed suspension geometry
and instant electronic torque distribution to the four
wheels, which were developed from Subaru’s experience in
the highly competitive World Rally Championship, make
the WRX one of the easiest cars to drive.
The
car’s ride is firm but far from harsh. Those who put a
premium on seat-of-the-pants driving will appreciate the
feedback from the steering wheel and the closely spaced
pedals, which include a footrest for the left foot—an
essential item that helps keep the driver in place
during hard cornering. The bucket seats provide ample
support, and are wide enough to accommodate drivers who
are on the large side and wrap around their occupants to
such an extent that they are held down securely even
when the car is flung around. The view from the cockpit
is excellent—even the hood scoop doesn’t get into the
driver’s line of sight.
For its
price, however, one would expect a telescoping steering
column in the WRX, but that it isn’t the case. Having
one would greatly enhance the ability of the driver to
find his ideal position behind the wheel.
The
interior, however, is closer to that of a road-certified
rally car than a sedan given the Spartan amenities. The
only concession to luxury is the leather upholstery
option on the WRX and a relatively unremarkable audio
system.
Safety
rates are very high on the WRX. Visibility is excellent
all around. Even the large hood scoop does not get in
the way of the driver’s vision. At night, the headlamps
offer excellent illumination and the gauges are very
readable. ABS and electronic brake-force distribution
along with air bags make the WRX one of the safest cars
on the road.
The
Subaru Impreza WRX offers something for those aged from
18 to 81, although de Jesus says those who often go for
it fall within the 35-to-45 age bracket, which indicates
that it is a hit among the successful crowd or, more
precisely, those who are able to part with P1.73
million.
After
driving it for almost a week, it isn’t difficult to
understand why. The vehicle is a sure-fire cure for
those caught in the grip of a midlife crisis. It is
invigorating and downright fun to drive. It has an
elegant design that is decent enough even for more
mature drivers to be seen driving it, yet packs the
punch to satisfy their occasional need for a shot of
adrenaline when the road up ahead is clear. |
