Subaru’s design chief has hinted that the next-generation WRX might not be powered by an engine featuring the brand’s signature boxer configuration.
Speaking to Autocar, the Japanese automaker’s design boss, Mamoru Ishii, said that while symmetrical all-wheel drive would almost certainly remain in the upcoming WRX, its traditional horizontally opposed engine may well go.
“Four-wheel drive is critical to the power and performance levels our customers expect, but on the engine we have more freedom,” Ishii told the British publication.
Of course, the new WRX – which is due to arrive in 2020 – will run on the latest Subaru Global Platform, which has been engineered to be compatible with plug-in hybrid powertrains.
Ishii added that the Viziv Performance concept (which interestingly does employ a boxer engine) revealed in Tokyo would serve as inspiration for the new model.
“Such a car brings lots of expectation, from within the company and from our customers. What we know is that our customers’ lifestyles are changing and we have to respond to that. The question was whether we have done that in a correct way with this concept,” he told Autocar.
“For instance, we know that autonomous and connective technology are coming, and for many customers that is great, but we don’t think that is what all of our customers want. For some, driving pleasure is still very important and that is what we are exploring.”
