This car was never meant to see the light of day, decades after it was made. However this one-of-three VH SL/E styling prototypes is the sole survivor and a very rare find.

What year? That’s the debatable thing. It’s actually a VB Commodore mocked up to a VH. Essentially it was the styling mule for the cosmetics of the upcoming model and was used by the marketing department for mock-ups and photography. Some features never made it into production.

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It’s an insight you just don’t see these days. Former owner Barry Fielding says it ‘escaped’ Holden as it was given to a TAFE in the Murray Bridge area, to use for students in automotive subjects. However the institution hit hard times and was to be shut down, so the car was put in storage by one of the teachers. And there it stayed for decades.

| Read next: 40 years of VH Commodore

Current owner Marcus Hume is the boss at Motorvation Garage, which specialises in pre-1980 mostly-Australian classics. “We travel all over the country buying and selling and placing these cars for our clients,” says Marcus, “Because we’re a licensed dealer, people open up to us as they know we’re serious.” Marcus has been around the trade for a couple of decades and has, during that time, hung on to an XR Fairmont he bought back when he was 19. “That’s never going to be for sale,” he grins.

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“We buy or place the cars and people don’t have to advertise and have strangers coming to their house.

“And that’s show we came across the VH. We went to see Barry and were buying some cars out of a collection. We ended up going up to Stawell and buying four cars in one hit.

“We originally spoke to Barry about a WB Holden. He mentioned this car over the phone and I thought, really, brand new?

Okay, we’ll have a look. Sure enough, it was a prototype VH SL/E.”

The VH was in a shed, essentially being used as a shelf. It had a dropsheet over it and had some miscellaneous gear sitting on top.

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From a few metres away it looks just that – a showroom-condition VH. That’s until you get close and start to spot all the detail work that went into the car. It’s incredible.

For a start, the bodywork has been reshaped by hand. Look very carefully at the real thing, and you can find a seam where the nose has been modified. Then lift the bonnet, which is a two-person job. It’s heavy and is made up of an incredible parquetry with fiberglass over the top. Who knows how long that took to make. Days? Possibly weeks.

Touches like that are all over the car. As Marcus’ offsider Jack Hegarty can tell you, restoring some of the pieces can take days of mind-numbing work. For example the grille is made up of individual timber slats held together with hand cut plastic clips. Some of the left-over modelling clay used for other pieces of trim are still in the boot.

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The radio head unit is completely made-up, by hand, with bits of wood and hand-applied graphics. The list goes on.

That the car has survived at all is a minor miracle. That it’s been presevered is just fantastic.

Motorvation Garage can be found online at motorvationgarage.com.au

From Unique Cars #462, Feb 2022

Originally published at our sister site, Unique Cars.

The updated 2023 Lexus UX small SUV has debuted ahead of its Australian launch in the second half of 2022.

As standard, the UX will feature a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen positioned closer to the driver, replacing the existing 10.3-inch unit.

Utilising the new ‘Lexus Interface’ infotainment system – also used on the latest NX and LX – it boasts a crisper high-definition display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, over-the-air software updates and ‘Hey, Lexus’ voice control.

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First launched in 2019, the UX was one of the final Lexus models to feature its previous infotainment version, which required users to operate a touchpad positioned between the front seats to move a cursor around on the screen.

The transition to a touch-based system has seen the removal of the touchpad, with relocated controls for the available heated/ventilated seats and heated steering wheel now occupying the space.

DAB+ digital radio will become standard on the entry-level UX 200 Luxury, along with a 10-speaker audio system replacing the previous eight-speaker setup.

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Lexus Connected Services also appears across the UX line-up for 2023, allowing owners to use their smartphone as a digital key, in addition to SOS emergency calling, automatic collision notification and stolen vehicle tracking.

The standard autonomous emergency braking system now features daytime cyclist detection, improved low-light pedestrian detection, and intersection support.

Additional active safety technology improvements include; an updated lane-keep assist system with artificial intelligence and curve-speed control to assist acceleration and deceleration around corners in conjunction with adaptive cruise control.

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There is also a new underbody transparent display, as seen on the larger LX and the Mazda CX-60, that utilises the front, rear, left and right side cameras of the vehicle.

In addition, F Sport variants now include body-coloured wheel cladding, an aluminium footrest trim, and a steering gear brace to complement electronically adaptive suspension (known as Adaptive Variable Suspension in Lexus speak) and rear performance dampers.

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So far, Lexus has only detailed updates for the internal-combustion 2023 UX range, with details surrounding the fully-electric 2023 UX 300e expected in the coming weeks.

The current internal-combustion range kicks off from $44,455 before on-road costs for the front-wheel-drive UX 200 Luxury, stretching to $64,100, plus on-roads, for the flagship UX 250h F Sport AWD.

When will the 2023 Lexus UX come to Australia?

Lexus has confirmed the updated 2023 UX will arrive in Australia during the second half of 2022, with pricing to be announced closer to launch.

Ford’s Focus and Fiesta hatchbacks have been recalled, affecting examples delivered between 2018 and 2022.

Impacting a total of 691 vehicles between the Focus and Fiesta, the issue reportedly stems from a manufacturing issue which may have damaged the right-hand engine oil separator.

If this part is damaged, it could lead to an oil leak, with a higher risk of igniting if it hits an ignition source within the engine bay, putting occupants at risk.

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Ford says it is contacting affected owners in writing and requesting they make an appointment with their preferred Ford dealer, both to inspect and rectify the issue.

Any customers who are unsure as to whether their vehicle is affected can contact their Ford dealer or Ford’s Customer Relationship Centre on 1800 503 672.

Given the pair only share one powertrain, it’s likely those impacted by the recall are fitted with Ford’s 1.5-litre, three-cylinder turbo engine which was fitted to the Fiesta ST and non-ST variants of the Focus.

A list of VINs for affected vehicles can be found here.

The tribute will have a production run of 30 cars, each of which will be built to individual requirements.

Specialising in development projects for motorsports and OEM, the RML Group is responsible for the only street-legal Aston Martin Vulcan as well as the classic Aston DB5 continuation cars.

RML took its design inspiration for the SWB (short wheelbase) V-12 from one of the most beautiful cars ever, the Ferrari 250 GT SWB.

Power comes from a naturally aspirated 5.5-litre V12 normally found in a Ferrari 550 Maranello. Drive to the rear wheels is through a six-speed manual gearbox.

Output is 351kW and 568Nm for a zero to 100km/h time of 4.1 seconds, and a top speed estimated to be in excess of 298km/h.

Although the RML SWB uses the Ferrari 550 Maranello as its base, it has a shorter wheelbase and more compact body.

While the car can be serviced by Ferrari workshops, RML offers owners a Flying Spanner service where technicians will travel to where the vehicle is situated to perform the necessary maintenance.

See rmlgroup.com.

From Unique Cars #465, April 2022

Originally published at our sister site, Unique Cars.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S450 has been recalled again, this time thanks to a mounting issue for its airbag control unit.

Having been recalled four times before – twice for an SOS emergency function failure and once each for airbag software and loss of power issues – the current recall impacts 27 examples of the Mercedes-Benz S450 built last year.

The recall notice states a manufacturing issue may have caused the airbag control unit to not be properly secured, potentially leading it to detect incorrect readings in the event of an accident which would prevent the airbags and other occupant restraint systems from deploying.

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Mercedes-Benz has asked customers to contact their most convenient Mercedes-Benz to have the necessary work carried out, free of charge.

Those who are unsure as to whether they are affected can contact Mercedes’ customer assistance centre on 1300 300 896 or [email protected].

A list of VINs for affected vehicles can be found here.

UPDATE, May 11: Rivian posts huge Q1 loss, small revenue gain

Times are tough for electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian, as the start-up posted a monumental loss to start the year.

For the opening quarter of 2022, the California-based carmaker announced it had recorded a net loss of US$1.6 billion (AU$2.33bn), having only amassed US$95m (AU$138m) in revenue, according to Automotive News.

In the same period a year ago, it lost only US$414m before production began at its facility in Illinois, although its forecast of 25,000 units this year seems a near-impossible task given it has shipped just 1227 vehicles in the opening quarter.

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With more than 90,000 pre-orders for the R1T pick-up truck and R1S SUV, a letter from Rivian to its shareholders says the production issues are the fault of its suppliers.

“Supply chain continues to be the bottleneck of our production,” said Rivian.

“We have been forced to stop production for longer periods than anticipated, resulting in approximately a quarter of the planned production time being lost due to supplier constraints.”

May 10: Rivian stock prices tumble as Ford plans to sell eight million shares

Rivian’s share price freefall has continued as reports reveal Ford plans to sell just under 10 per cent of its shares in the manufacturer.

According to CNBC, Ford is looking to move on eight million of its shares in Rivian with the sale to take place through Goldman Sachs after the lockup period passes.

Having purchased 102 million shares for electric vehicle start-up Rivian, Ford posted a quarterly net loss to start the year (further below) thanks to the drop in share prices in Rivian – having gone public in 2021 and dropping from a peak of US$172-a-share to US$22.78 at the time of writing.

April 29: Ford announces US$3.1 billion quarterly net loss due to Rivian stock dive

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Ford’s first-quarter revenue has taken a hit to the tune of US$3.1 billion (AU$4.35bn), with its investment in Rivian behind the drop.

The American manufacturer ran at a profit in the opening quarter of the year before its investment in Rivian was taken into account, resulting in the net revenue loss thanks to the EV start-up’s value dropping by US$5.4bn (AU$7.58bn).

Rivian went public late last year and quickly became the fifth-highest valued car manufacturer in the world, before its shares took a significant dive from a peak of US$172-a-share on November 16, 2021, to US$32.18 at the time of writing.

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On top of the Rivian issues, Ford recorded a nine per cent quarterly drop of wholesale shipments to 970,000 vehicles, as roughly 53,000 are currently waiting to finish production due to the ongoing parts supply shortage.

Despite this, revenue only fell by five per cent to US$34.5bn (AU$48.44bn), while optimisim remains with a healthy order bank of 400,000 vehicles at the end of March, representing roughly US$17bn (AU$23.87bn) in revenue.

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Ford is encouraged by the strong interest shown in the US for its F-150 Lightning electric pick-up, with CEO Jim Farley believing the EV truck and other premium offerings can lead its bounceback from the loss of revenue.

“The appeal of these products – Bronco, Bronco Sport, Maverick, Mustang Mach-E, E-Transit and now the F-150 Lightning – is undeniable,” said Farley.

“That’s translating into orders, typically with rich configurations that deliver great experiences to those customers and healthy pricing for us. Now, we’re breaking constraints wherever they exist to get more Ford vehicles – including our innovative EVs – to more customers as quickly as possible.”

Production of Ford vehicles has been impacted worldwide, with eight American plants grinding to a halt in February while pauses at its European sites have hit the Focus and Fiesta.

UPDATE, May 13: Edition 55 models confirmed for Australia

Mercedes-AMG has locked in a local launch for its limited-run “Edition 55” grade, set to be added to the A45 S 4Matic+ and CLA45 S 4Matic+ models.

Previously confirmed for the European market on the lower-powered A35 and CLA35 (more further below), the Edition 55 adds Mercedes-AMG’s visual packages to the performance A-Class and CLA models, with additional aerodynamic, technology and interior upgrades.

Dropping the matte grey 19-inch AMG alloy wheels found on the A35 and CLA35 Edition 55s, the A45 and CLA45 ride on a set of titanium grey 19-inch AMG cross-spoke forged wheels, featuring Edition 55 lettering to stand out further.

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Both models continue with the existing 2.0-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder engines developing 310kW and 500Nm, sending drive to all four wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

AMG says the first examples are due to arrive in Australia before the end of the year, with pricing to be confirmed closer to launch.

Based off European prices for the Edition 55 models we can speculate the package will add roughly $20,000 to the list price of each model, as the A45 S 4Matic+ currently starts at $99,895 while the CLA45 S 4Matic+ is on sale from $118,496 – both before on-road costs.

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The story to here

April 22: Mercedes-AMG A35 and CLA35 Edition 55 revealed to mark anniversary

Mercedes-AMG has unveiled the A 35 Edition 55 and CLA 35 Edition 55 to celebrate its anniversary.

With the performance marque turning 55 this year, it has released the limited models to allow customers to join in on the festivities.

While 55 years may seem like a strange number to celebrate, it’s possible the German performance brand wants to remind everyone it has been around for longer than BMW M, which just entered its 50th year of operation.

Currently, the A35 Edition 55 and CLA35 Edition 55 are exclusive to Europe.

A spokesperson for Mercedes-Benz Australia said the brand has “nothing to announce at this stage regarding [the] introduction of the A35 and CLA35 Edition 55 variants to Australia.”

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Available in cosmos black or digital white, each Edition 55 features a dark stripe on the lower door panel with a partial AMG logo.

There is also a set of lightweight 19-inch AMG alloy wheels with a matte grey finish, AMG-branded fuel cap, dark chrome trim, and tinted windows.

The optional AMG Aerodynamics Package comes as standard on Edition 55, bringing a larger front splitter, a rear wing, and a high-gloss diffuser and air outlets.

A gloss black finish is also prominent outside, with the standard AMG Night Package and Night Package II darkening most exterior trims.

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Inside, both the A35 and CLA35 sport two-tone red/black leather, while the alcantara steering wheel includes ‘AMG 55’ badging at the six o’clock position.

The unique badging also extends to the carpet floor mats, along with an illuminated AMG logo on the door sills.

An AMG-branded car cover is also included with each purchase.

Under the bonnet, the A35 Edition 55 and CLA35 Edition 55 remain unchanged, featuring a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 225kW of power and 400Nm of torque.

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In Germany, both Edition 55 models are on sale now, at an additional €12,614 (AU$18,395) to the cost of a regular A35 or CLA35.

Mercedes-AMG also unveiled the G63 Edition 55 last month, with similar additions to its smaller family members.

This includes; an AMG-branded door stripe, 22-inch forged matte grey alloy wheels, AMG Night Package and a red/black colour combination inside.

The unveiling of the latest special edition Mercedes-AMG models follows the marque’s collaboration with skateboard brand Palace. The one-off collection includes the A45 S, SL63, GT63 and G63, with each finished in a unique design to represent the company’s four global flagship stores.

Jeep is more than two years into an ambitious, but carefully laid, plan to reinvigorate the brand in Australia.

With a comprehensive strategy, the iconic brand says it has the potential to fill some of the void left by departed Australian manufacturers.

Revised messaging, refreshed vehicle line-up and a rallied dealer network are all starting to turn the tide on six years of sliding sales, but the company says it can do more to make the seven-slot grille a more patriotic symbol for an Australian audience.

Speaking to Whichcar, Jeep’s Senior Vice President for the India and Asia Pacific region, Billy Hayes, said the company saw parallels between the Jeep brand and departed home-grown vehicles from Ford and Holden, and it now has the potential to offer something that’s been missing ever since.

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“The Jeep brand should be as close to what a domestic brand should be in Australia,” he said. “If there was a brand that was made here and people would be proud of, it would be Jeep.

“It’s an opportunity for us to occupy some of the space that some of the other brands were.”

Australia’s demand for rugged go-anywhere SUVs at the larger end of the spectrum would certainly suggest Jeep has greater potential than its current 0.6 per cent market share, as Hayes went on to explain.

“Jeep matches so well with Australia. You have very high standards, you’re outdoors people, adventurous. It’s a perfect match.”

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Over the coming months and years, the company will continue to roll-out its strategy to capture a greater chunk of Australia’s hearts and minds, which started almost three years’ ago with a top-to-bottom revision of local operations, as well as tailored promotional activity and a revised product range.

More recently though, the appearance of development prototypes on local roads has not only allowed Jeep to produce better vehicles for Australia and all global regions, but a range that has a little bit of Australia in their fabric.

The all-new Grand Cherokee and its stretched L sibling are the latest models to arrive following local testing, where the Northern Territory’s corrugated roads provided conditions the Jeep engineers had never previously encountered.

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Before that, the current-gen Compass cut its teeth Down Under, along with the JL Wrangler and its Gladiator ute cousin, and Hayes says Jeep has “made a commitment to testing in Australia”.

Jeep Australia’s managing director Kevin Flynn repeated Hayes’ sentiments that the brand has more to do in appealing to Australian customers old and new, but said any patriotic association must be earned over time and not merely assumed.

“That’s a desire we could have, but we can’t dictate that,” he said. “We can make sure we have the right products that create that appeal, but that’s something we earn.

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“If I look at the model plan and the strategy we have on electrification, I know we can become a credible player and take our rightful share in this market – and getting Jeep to be synonymous with Australia”.

Jeep will introduce a plug-in hybrid version of the Grand Cherokee to the local market and is expected to roll out a range of pure EVs after that, calling on a choice of vehicles and four dedicated EV platforms that became available with the creation of Stellantis.

March 2024: Solterra driven in Australia

It’s Subaru’s first EV and its most expensive model, but can the Solterra trouble big-name rivals that include the Tesla Model Y?

Story continues: Solterra timing confirmed

The Subaru Solterra, the Japanese firm’s first electric vehicle, will launch in Australia in 2023.

Wheels understands Subaru has secured a production slot for the first half of the year, making a mid-2023 or third quarter arrival likely.

Blair Reid, Managing Director of Subaru Australia, said: “We are excited to confirm Subaru Australia will continue its electrification journey with the introduction of our first battery-electric vehicle, the Solterra, in 2023.

“Solterra starts a new era for Subaru by combining electric vehicle technology with Symmetrical All Wheel Drive. This delivers the all-terrain capability Subaru owners have enjoyed for decades.

“We look forward to sharing more about the Solterra with Australians soon.”

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Although Australian spec has not yet been revealed, in its Japanese domestic market, the Solterra features the brand’s X-Mode AWD system, a hexagonal grille and a choice of 18- or 20-inch wheels.

The Japanese five-seat model is 4690 millimetres long, 1860mm wide, and 1650mm high, with a 2850mm wheelbase and 210mm of ground clearance, and weighs in at 2020 kilograms. That makes it larger than the Forester, but smaller than the Outback.

It’s electric driving range is a claimed 460 kilometres coming from a 71.4kWh lithium-ion battery pack, and the Japan-spec version has two motors capable of churning out a combined 160kW of power – though there will also be offered a front-wheel-drive option with a single 150kW motor.

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In fact, the addition of front-wheel drive to the Subaru line-up makes the Solterra its first FWD since the late-1990s’ Liberty, and only the second two-wheel-drive offering from the manufacturer this decade after the BRZ – also developed alongside Toyota’s 86.

It’s unlikely the FWD Solterra will be offered in Australia, however, with Read indicating all-wheel drive makes the most sense for our market.

While the Solterra’s AC charger has a maximum output of 6.6kW, the DC fast-charger’s 150kW output will allow the battery to be taken from a 0-80 per cent state of charge in roughly 30 minutes.

The Solterra will be based on the collaboratively created e-TNGA EV platform that we’ve already seen forming the basis for Toyota’s upcoming bZ4X electric SUV.

However, Subaru has given its version of the skateboard-style electric chassis architecture a different name – the e-Subaru Global Platform (e-SGP).

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Asked whether the Solterra will come to Australia in one high-spec variant or whether there will be a more affordable option offered too, and what his hopes for a volume-selling model might be, Read remained tight-lipped.

“We haven’t finalised spec and features completely yet, we still have some time to do that. So we’ll watch what customers are looking for in that space, at how the landscape for those vehicles might change, as well as what the latest offering from the factory is in terms of what we can include in that vehicle,” he told Wheels at the recent launch of the brand’s WRX.

“Symmetrical AWD has been an iconic part of the brand since its inception, and combining it with an EV powertrain allows for some really exciting developments in how those two come together – as well as how electric power generation can be used, not just from a powertrain perspective, but in terms of ride and handling and how you distribute power.

“It’s a dynamic market…when we get to 12 months from now it could be very interesting.”

UPDATE, May 13: 2022 Subaru WRX launches in Australia

The new-generation 2022 Subaru WRX is now on sale in Australia, with prices starting from $44,990 before on-road costs.

Note: This article has been updated to include specs of the Sportswagon following the model’s local launch this week.

Subaru offers the new WRX in both sedan and wagon bodies, with both versions available in three variants – a base model, an RS grade for the sedan and GT grade for the Sportswagon, and a flagship auto-only tS grade.

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The all-wheel-drive WRX is powered by a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 202kW and 350Nm.

Sedan buyers have their choice of either a manual or a ‘Sport Lineartronic’ automatic transmission in the base and RS models for an additional $4000, but both the Sportswagon and flagship sedan WRX tS variants are only available with the auto.

While power is up by 5kW over the previous model, prices have also increased by $4000 for the entry-level WRX.

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Subaru has confirmed it will not be producing a high-performance WRX STI for this generation – the first time an STI won’t be part of the range since it debuted in 1994 – though the new range-topping WRX tS now costs around the same as the outgoing STI, despite no additional power.

The new model does boast a 28 per cent increase in chassis torsional rigidity over the previous-generation WRX sedan, to help improve handling and ride comfort.

2022 Subaru WRX Australian pricing

Note: Prices exclude on-road costs.

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Features

WRX (base)

WRX RS (in addition to WRX sedan)

WRX GT (in addition to WRX Sportswagon)

WRX tS (in addition to RS sedan and GT Sportswagon)

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Engine and driveline

The 2022 Subaru WRX retains its trademark ‘Boxer’ horizontally-opposed four-cylinder engine, with the turbocharged 2.4-litre petrol engine putting out 202kW at 5600rpm and 350Nm from 2000 to 5200rpm.

Power is sent to all four wheels through either a six-speed manual or a CVT automatic – named ‘Sport Lineartronic’ and simulating eight gears in manual mode.

Torque split 50:50 front-to-rear for cars with a manual transmission, mated with a centre limited-slip differential, while automatic WRXs are split 55:45.

Subaru hasn’t disclosed the 2022 WRX’s 0-100km/h sprint time yet, but expect acceleration to be roughly on par with the outgoing model’s claim of six seconds.

Dimensions

The 2022 Subaru WRX sedan has had its wheelbase increase by 22mm to 2672mm over the previous model.

The sedan has also grown in almost every dimension, being 4669mm long and 1826mm wide, though it does sit 7mm lower at 1468mm.

The WRX Sportswagon is 4755mm long, 1780mm wide – missing the grey plastic wheel cladding found on the sedan – as well as being slightly taller at 1500mm high, and has a wheelbase of 2670mm.

Boot space for the 2022 WRX Sportswagon is 492 litres (VDA test), with an additional 69L found under the false floor.

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Safety

Each variant includes the following active safety equipment as standard:

The following active safety equipment is exclusive to variants fitted with a CVT automatic transmission:

Warranty

All Subaru models come with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

When is the 2022 Subaru WRX on sale in Australia?

Order books for the 2022 Subaru WRX have just opened in Australia, with deliveries to begin in the coming months.