2011 Subaru WRX Beefs Up!

There are a lot of nice things to say about the current WRX sedan. It's way more comfortable than the old ones, it feels less like a McDonalds toy inside, that 2.5L turbo flat four is epic, and it still is one of the quickest ways to get from Point A to B when there are curves and nasty stuff in between.  What you couldn't say, though, was that it looked good.  In fact, it sort of looked like a fat Corolla with a hood-scoop.

Well, no more!  Today, images of the 2011 WRX leaked out ahead of it's debut at the 2010 New York Auto Show, and the improvement is drastic.  The main visual difference are the STI-style flared fenders, which increase the track width 1.5" in the front and rear.  There's also a new blacked-out grille that's way more attractive than the old one, and various and sundry other small changes.

Mechanically, the biggest difference is that the WRX inherits the stiffer bushings for the rear subframe from the STI.  Otherwise, the only greasy important bits are the 17x8" alloys which put some more rubber on the road - the benefit of those big flared fenders, obviously.  All this additional stuff only weighs 34 pounds more than the decidedly wimpy-looking 2010 WRX, and the extra grip and stability will certainly not be unwelcome.  Even better news?  All these changes carry over to the 5-door WRX as well.  The only real bad news is for STI owners, who are now going to have a hard time telling their cars apart from the more "plebian" WRX's.  Ah well, life's tough.

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