2014 Subaru WRX Spied at the ‘Ring

At the New York Auto Show, Subaru wowed the crowds with the stylish WRX Concept, and now the brand is testing what will actually be the new WRX, with our spy photographers managing to grab some pictures of it on the Nurburgring.

The new WRX was originally expected to sit on an entirely new platform separate from the current Impreza, but Subaru confirmed to AutoGuide at the New York Auto Show that the basic underpinnings will remain shared between the two cars. Compared to the current WRX, the auto show concept is 2.3 inches shorter in overall length, 3.7 inches wider and 3.7 inches lower.

The concept also debuted with a radical new look, which only partially carried over to the car we see testing in these photos.

For power, the WRX is likely to adopt the turbocharged 2.0-liter FA20 engine that is found in the Forester XT and the Japanese market Legacy. In the Forester XT, it puts out 250 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, while in the JDM Legacy the engine makes 296 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque.

Subaru also said that the new WRX is set to become “much more street targeted,” rather than staying setup for off-road use, as the WRX has traditionally been known as a rally car. That probably means that the suspension will be stiffer, with less travel, providing better on road, and on track dynamics.