HYPER BLUE WRX IS A WORTHY LIMITED EDITION
The picture that comes to mind when you think Subaru WRX is a sedan adorned with scoops in the iconic World Rally Blue, which is still one of the best colours to ever adorn a Subaru. But it’s no longer my favourite.
Hyper Blue, as it is officially known, or Smurf Blue to my mind, is the latest, greatest colour from Subaru. Here’s the catch, though: there will only be 10 WRX and 10 STI in New Zealand with the limited edition Hyper Blue spec. But the colour isn’t the only change for the latest limited edition WRX, with the interior gaining a few desirable extras too.
Photo / Matthew Hansen
The first eye-popping difference over the ordinary WRX is the row upon row of blue stitching, carefully colour-matched to the Hyper Blue exterior. A gentle stroke of the finger down the multitude of stitched seams and you can feel the quality.
The next big difference is the seats, now featuring suede inserts between the leather seat bolsters.Unlike previous generation WRX, the seats of the current car aren’t nearly as supportive, but they win out in being very comfortable for passengers of all shapes and sizes, ensuring living with the WRX is now easier.
As we discussed when the MY15 WRX debuted last year, the interior is a big step up from the previous generation in terms of build quality and materials. The dash is no longer clad in harsh plastic, it now has a rubberised soft touch to the majority of surfaces.
Photo / Matthew Hansen
With the removal of the WRX hatch from the lineup, some potential buyers are lamenting the loss of the added cargo space. Thankfully the interior designers were on to it and the rear seats fold down, meaning that even with only 460 litres of space you can still fit larger items in the back.
My only initial gripe with the interior was the infotainment system. Though the eight Harmon Kardon speakers performed beautifully, the glossy touchscreen unit grew on me to the point where I was able to use it with ease, and the touchscreen is a magnet for fingerprints, which had my inner perfectionist cringing.
Performance wise the Hyper Blue WRX is on par with its non-STI brethren. Subaru moved away from the legendary EJ20 for the WRX this year (though for now an EJ25 still powers the STI), now with the turbocharged cousin of the FA20 unit in the BRZ/Toyota 86. As a Subaru die-hard I noticed a difference between the way the FA20 makes the car feel, compared to the EJ25 in the STI.
Photo / Matthew Hansen
In the STI you know you’re sitting in a Subaru, with the vibration and note of the EJ25 engine welcoming you into the car like an old friend -as you’d expect with an engine series that has evolved over 25 years .
The FA20 doesn’t have that same Subaru feel to it but it’s no dud. In its turbo form it puts out a healthy 197kW and 350Nm of power, about what the last 2.0-litre EJ powered WRX put out, but it does so using much less fuel. This is partly due to Subaru’s direct injection technology and the turbocharger, but also the 8-speed CVT transmission.
Manual is still an option, but the CVT on our car meant hassle-free commutes in Auckland’s traffic.
Photo / Zoe Puttick
With the WRX placed in intelligent or sport modes on the SI-DRIVE, the CVT shifts seamlessly through six simulated speeds. You can of flick through these yourself by flicking the stick into manual mode or playing with the steering wheel mounted paddles, but it is when you thumb the Sport sharp (S#) button on the wheel that things get interesting.
Power delivery noticeably changes with more urgency felt throughout the rev range, but the biggest change is the addition of two extra speeds on the CVT, and tighter ratios all round. While near Riverhead Forest shooting photos I spent time in S# to grips with it. It has its performance benefits, but in manual mode eight speeds can be somewhat overwhelming. No matter which gear I selected the car wasn’t quite in the zone with the tight ratios being more of a burden than an aid.
Photo / Matthew Hansen
That said it will still do the 0-100km/h dash in 6.3 seconds, just 0.3 of a second slower than the manual and on a track I’m sure the extra ‘gears’ would be welcome. If the fun and added performance of rowing your own gears calls, you’re probably better off ordering the 6-speed manual or the STI.
Subaru NZ have stepped up their game when it comes to their limited edition vehicles and the Hyper Blue WRX has to be one of the most worthy yet. It doesn’t have any of the gaudy extras, or a silly name but it does have the character to justify the special edition moniker.
SUBARU WRX HYPERBLUE
| PRICE: | $56,990 |
| ENGINE: | FA20F turbocharged 1998cc boxer engine with Subaru direct injection |
| PROS: | New FA series engine uses less fuel than old EJ derivatives, colour really stands out, interior trimmings feel quality, not a lot of harsh plastics inside |
| CONS: | Very limited edition, 8-speed CVT in S# mode a bit overwhelming |
