The pundits over at Motor Trend magazine are reporting today that a spokesperson from Subaru of America has confirmed that the next iteration of the WRX will mark a return to a smaller displacement 2.0-liter flat four engine instead of the 2.5-liter motor used on the current model.
The Subaru rep said that new engine would be a turbocharged version of the firm’s FA20 unit found under the hood of the newly revealed Subaru BRZ and its Scion FR-S and Toyota 86 siblings, with a targeted output of around 270-horsepower.
The FA20 engine, which in naturally aspirated form produces 200-horses and 205Nm (151 lb-ft) of peak torque, is more compact than the 2.0-liter boxer from the FB family of engines used on the latest Impreza and Forester, while it also benefits from Toyota’s “D-4S” direct injection and port injection technology.
The reasoning behind the change from the current 2.5-liter turbocharged boxer unit that delivers 265HP in the WRX and 305HP in the STI, has most likely to do with the better fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions of the smaller 2.0-liter unit.
Subaru has said that the next WRX and STI models will be further differentiated from the Impreza series, though it is believed that both will be based on the same platform.
Story References: Motor Trend
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