Power of revision

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

Subaru has beefed up the 2002 Impreza range by giving the high-performance 2-litre WRX more mid-range oomph and adding the RS sedan, powered by a 2.5-litre engine from the Legacy lineup.

It has also updated equipment and reduced the price of Imprezas by between $2000 and $3000.

The WRX is down from $52,990 to $49,990, last year's price for the old model.

The RX auto drops from $41,990 to $39,990 and the RX manual from $39,990 to $37,990. The new RS comes in at $39,990. The STi stays at $69,990.

The revised prices are expected to remain, despite the weakening of the New Zealand dollar after the September 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

"We had good price negotiations with Subaru Japan when we ordered the initial shipments of the 2002 models," said Wallis Dumper, general manager of Subaru New Zealand.

"The new RS 2.5-litre and our joint desire to continue momentum of the new WRX, especially after the Rally of New Zealand win, gave us strong leverage with the factory.

"But the way our dollar weakened against the yen after the attacks makes us cautious for the future.

"Who knows what future exchange rates will be. It's certainly out of the hands of the motor industry. We're all at the mercy of world events. But we are positive about the future for Subaru."

The carmaker says the RS fills the gap between the 2-litre RX and turbocharged WRX, and continues the trend Subaru set some years ago of fitting larger engines to small cars.

"We've had a 2-litre Impreza for several years," said Dumper. "Now, increasing numbers of similar-sized cars are being offered with 1.8 or 2-litre motors, so the move to a 2.5-litre gives the RS that extra grunt that many of our traditional driving enthusiasts will love."

The Impreza RS comes with a sports interior with wrap-around front seats similar to the WRX and a Momo leather steering wheel and gear lever knob.

Its 16in alloy wheels and wider 205/50R16 tyres also distinguish the RS from the RX, which has 15in wheels and 195/60R15 rubber.

With the bigger wheels come bigger brakes, which have ventilated discs at the front. The ABS system includes electronic power distribution (EBD) to provide better front and rear braking balance and extra braking effort.

There is a boot lid spoiler, front air dam with fog lamps and side skirts. Apart from the bonnet air scoop for the turbo, the Impreza RS looks like a mirror image of the WRX.

The 2.5-litre engine in the RS produces 112kW and 223Nm of torque at 3600 rpm. It pulls strongly in all gears from 2000 rpm.

Subaru says fuel consumption is similar to the small 2-litre engine. The fuel tank in the RS has 60 litres capacity, the same as the WRX. The RX has a 50-litre tank.

Subaru says engine efficiency has been improved by reducing oil pump friction with altered rotor dimensions and the use of reduced friction oil rings. The rack and pinion power steering has an oil cooler.

The transmission has a dual mass flywheel, which helps to absorb naturally occurring engine harmonics, and reduces vibration and harshness and promotes smoother clutch engagement. The centre differential is a limited slip viscous unit with active torque split to improve the distribution of power to the front and rear axles.

Suspension changes to the Impreza RS include the use of the same type of aluminium lower arms as used on the WRX. The springs and dampers have firmer settings yet still offer a high degree of comfort.

Standard equipment on the RS includes tilt adjustable steering column, height-adjustable driver's seat, electric windows and mirrors, remote central door locking, a CD sound system, cruise control, dual trip meters, outside temperature display and air-conditioning.

The ABS brakes are supplemented by twin airbags, door anti-intrusion beams, height-adjustable front seatbelt anchorages with pre-tensioners, and the bodyshell has Subaru's ring reinforcement frames.

The Impreza RS is available in white, silver, deep blue, WR blue, green, red mica and blue-black mica.

Revised gear ratios for the WRX head a list of improvements for the 2002 model. Closer ratio first, second and third gears, combined with the change to a 4.444 diff ratio, provides more sparkling acceleration between 35 and 140 km/h. The 2001 model Impreza WRX had a 3.9 final drive ratio.

A stronger Suretrac mechanical limited slip differential, like that used in the Impreza STI, has been installed at the rear. It replaces a viscous LSD.

The Forester stationwagon has also received a number of changes for 2002, including the addition of a CD player, ABS brakes and self-levelling rear suspension as standard across the range.

The Forester will continue to sell at $39,990 for the five-speed manual. The four-speed automatic version adds $2000 to the price.