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Subaru’s raptor-inspired 2015 WRX STI claws at the pavement with 6 traction modes

Stephen Edelstein
By

Rally fans rejoice: the 2015 Subaru WRX STI is about to four-wheel drift into a showroom near you.

Subaru unveiled this redesigned version of its most potent performance car at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show, complementing the base 2015 WRX unveiled at the 2013 Los Angeles show.

As always, the STI combines the practicality of an all-wheel drive compact sedan with the fire-breathing performance of a rally car. Just look at those flared fenders, that functional hood scoop, and that big rear spoiler.

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The 2015 WRX STI also features a meaner front fascia than the Impreza it’s based on, with narrower headlights (including LED low beams) that were inspired by a raptor’s stare, according to Subaru.

The front end has also been molded into a “nose-cone” which combines the grille and bumper cap into one piece, and that’s made of aluminum to save weight.

The powertrain backs up the those aggressive looks.

While the 2015 WRX employs a new 2.0-liter turbocharged boxer-four and optional continuously-variable transmission (CVT), the STI sticks with its predecessor’s 2.5-liter turbo boxer, which produces the same 305 horsepower and 290 pound-feet of torque, and is teamed exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission.

The STI benefits from the same stiffened chassis as the base WRX, which makes greater use of high-strength steel than previous models, and features extra stiffening at key points.

However, the STI features quicker steering: just 2.5 turns lock-to-lock, compared to 2.8 for the standard WRX.

Drivers can use Subaru Intelligent Drive (SI-Drive) to alter vehicle characteristics through three settings – Intelligent, Sport, and Sport Sharp – with a rotary controller on the center console.

The 2015 STI also comes standard with a Multi-Mode Driver-Controlled Center Differential (DCCD), which offers the driver six manually-adjustable modes for different traction situations. The default split is 41:59 front to rear.

More alphabet soup comes in the form of the Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) stability and traction control system.

With all of those intelligent systems, the WRX STI shouldn’t have trouble keeping all four wheels on the ground … even on the Moon.

The driver feels all of that grip through a flat-bottomed steering wheel, and there’s a 4.3-inch LCD center-stack display for monitoring key systems. Upscale WRX STI Limited models get leather trim and a Harman/Kardon premium audio system.

Subaru will kick off 2015 STI production with a batch of 1,000 Launch Edition models, with Subaru’s classic WR Blue paint and gold BBS forged alloy wheels. If owners really exercise the car’s capabilities, that paint won’t stay blue for long.

First-look video

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Stephen Edelstein
Stephen Edelstein
Contributing Editor
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Shaker hood, anyone? Dodge’s 2015 Challenger gets a new hood but stays absolutely retro
2015 Dodge Challenger

Dodge opened its 2014 New York Auto Show with a video featuring some of the world's oldest living people.
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Take the Challenger, which hasn't received any significant visual upgrades since its 2008 rebirth, and is of course based on the iconic 1971 model.
So Dodge decided to unveil a refreshed 2015 Challenger (alongside the 2015 Charger) at the 2014 New York Auto Show.
At least, that's what the press release said.
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Under the hood of base SXT models is a 3.6-liter "Pentastar" V6 that produces 305 horsepower and 268 pound-feet of torque, mated to a new eight-speed automatic.
The R/T gets the 5.7-liter Hemi V8, with 375 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. Choosing the Hemi also allows buyers to choose between the eight-speed automatic and a six-speed manual transmission.
Finally, Dodge will offer a 6.4-liter Hemi in Scat Pack models, good for 470 hp and 470 lb-ft. For the driver who has to have everything, there's the top 392 Hemi Scat Pack Shaker model, which includes the 6.4-liter motor, all of the currently-available performance upgrades, and more nostalgic buzzwords per liter than any other car.
Note that no 2015 Challenger model wears an SRT badge. Chrysler's performance division is reportedly working on a special V8 of its own for the Challenger. Called "Hellcat," it could produce as much as 600 hp.
Turning to technology, the 2015 Challenger gets Chrysler's Uconnect infotainment system and its 8.4-inch touch screen. There's a special Performance Pages feature that allows drivers to adjust parameters like shift speed, launch control, and throttle response.
A new seven-inch TFT gauge display can also display 0 to 60 mph times, lap times, and a g-force readout, because why read tweets when you've got a Hemi?
Dodge's conservative approach may seem a bit cavalier, especially with the 2015 Ford Mustang just around the corner. Yet the Challenger racked up record sales last year, which is unusual for a five-year-old design.
Maybe this old dog can learn some new tricks after all.
The 2015 Dodge Challenger arrives in showrooms in the third quarter of 2014, but customers can lease a 2014 model for one year and upgrade to a 2015 for no extra cost through the "Double Up" program.

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2015 Dodge Charger sports a new face, but the same HEMI V8 power as before
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While other carmakers focus on fuel efficiency, connectivity, and lower-case "i"s, Dodge is as committed as ever to the muscle car.
At the 2014 New York Auto Show, Chrysler's mainstream brand unveiled the 2015 Dodge Charger and Challenger, both refreshes of the tire-smoking models that have been with us for a few years.
The newest part of the 2015 Charger is definitely its face, which has traded the angry look of current models for a slimmer grille and headlights. This completely changes the look of the car, which is otherwise unchanged.
Base Chargers are still powered by a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, which produces 292 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, although an optional Rally Appearance Group boosts output to 300 hp and 264 lb-ft.
The V6 is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, and Chargers are once again available with either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
Of course, it wouldn't be a Charger without a HEMI. The 5.7-liter V8 returns for 2015 with 370 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque, also paired with an eight-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive.
Interior changes include a new steering wheel and a beefy-looking, fully-electronic shifter. The Charger also gets the latest version of Chrysler's Uconnect infotainment system, with an 8.4-inch center-stack touch screen.
The 7-inch TFT gauge cluster that's been proliferating throughout the Chrysler lineup also appears here.
The 2015 Dodge Charger arrives in U.S. showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2014, but less-patient buyers can take advantage of Dodge's "Double Up" deal, which allows customers to lease a 2014 Charger (or Challenger) for one year and trade up to a 2015 model without any increase in payment.

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Honda’s 2015 HR-V subcompact crossover makes photographic debut in New York

Honda announced the launch of its upcoming HR-V subcompact crossover at this week's New York Auto Show. While the vehicle was nowhere to be found on the show floor, the brand released a series of images of the HR-V, which is destined for the market later this winter.
The HR-V is based on the 2015 Honda Fit, and shares many of the same unique features that we've come to love in the Fit. For example, the HR-V will come standard with the Fit's Magic Seat configuration, which allows owners to move the seats in multiple configurations, making the most out of the car's tiny package. That'll be important, since the HR-V is smaller even than the Honda CR-V midsize crossover.
It's likely that the same drivetrains from the Fit will be available in the HR-V, too, meaning we'll see a revvy 1.5-liter four-cylinder, and either a six-speed manual or continuously variable transmission. Look forward to more information on the HR-V, but in the meantime, take a look at our gallery, and let us know what you think of the subcompact crossover's styling in the comments below.
Interested in more news from the auto show? Take a look at our coverage from New York.

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