Motoring

ROAD TEST ROAD TEST ROAD TEST

By EWAN KENNEDY

Subaru WRX, o en tagged as the “Rex” is high-performance machine that’s been a longtime favourite with Australian drivers since it rst arrived Downunder in 1994. e latest model is o ered as a sedan and station wagon. It comes in four variants: base, RS, GT and tS, and two engine/transmission combinations.

Our test car was the GT Sportwagon and we thoroughly enjoyed our week’s road test as it operates in all conditions in the country or the city with not only stunning performance but quite good comfort that makes it suited to family transport as well as a semi-track machine if you want to take to a driver’s day at a racing facility near you.

Subaru service intervals for the latest WRX are now at 12 months/15,000 km. Up from the six months/12,500 km on the previous models.

STYLING

Pumped up guards and the air intake that sits on the top of the bonnet - thankfully not underneath and out of sight as was stupidly tried a few years back.

Cladding garnishes that run all the way around the car are nished in a honeycomb texture and are said to minimise the disruption of air around the vehicle and therefore improving stability.

INTERIOR

e second row is reasonably spacious and comfortable thanks to the increased size of the new model compared to the previous WRXs. Subaru claims there’s increased space in the back thanks to its slightly larger dimensions over the outgoing model.

As is o en the way they are better suited to two people than three. Unless the driver is very tall and/or likes their seat set well back in which case the person behind them might nd legroom is fairly tight.

WRX Sportswagon 492 litres of cargo space with all seats in use. is increases to 909 litres with the second-row seats folded down in 40:20:40. ere’s a temporary spare wheel under the boot oor

INFOTAINMENT

WRX’s infotainment system is controlled through a portrait 11.6-inch touchscreen that’s easy to see and use.

You can use voice commands to operate the system but, as is too o en the way, they don’t always get the message correctly.

A six-speaker sound system is standard in the lower cost models. e WRX RS and tS sedan models have a a premium 10-speaker Harman/Kardon setup. We certainly enjoyed the quality of sound in our test car.

ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS e engine is a 2.4-litre at-four ‘boxer’ unit and drives through all four wheels by way of a sixspeed manual or a continuously variable automatic transmission.

In CVT models a variable torque distribution centre di erential has a nominal split of 45:55 biased towards to the rear wheels. e split can be altered depending on drive modes selected, with the WRX’s Sport settings have a rear-wheel bias. SAFETY

Airbags cover both rows of occupants and there are IsoFix child seat mounts on the outboard rear seats. Standard features across the complete range include blindspot monitoring, rear cross-tra c alert, lane-change assist and a rear-view camera.

For some odd reason those with a manual gearbox don’t have autonomous emergency braking and emergency steering. We feel this may come in the future as Subaru has long had an emphasis on safety.

DRIVING

e new 2.4-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine is pretty linear in its delivery and is delightful to sit behind. It’s happy to rev to close to its redline but we found it better to change a couple of hundred revs lower because it still drivers plenty of punch thank to the wide torque spread.

Subaru says the WRX will use 9.9 litres per 100 kilometres of 95 RON petrol on the combined cycle. We averaged between nine and eleven litres per hundred around town and in the suburbs. is dropped to six to seven litres on easy paced country running. If you want to have a fang in the country - and of course you do! - it’s not too bad at nine to ten litres. anks to its four-wheel drive system the WRX Sportwagon is exceptional in its cornering. e chassis is nicely balanced and the steering wheel o ers good feedback. Analogue dials with a relatively small driver-display screen which can toggle through various driving data as well as route guidance.

SUMMING UP

With its a ordable price and sharp performance the Subaru WRX has been a favourite of Australian drivers for more than two decades. is latest version is unlikely to dampen our enthusiasm one little bit.

RATINGS

Looks: 8/10 Performance: 9/10 Safety 8/10 irst: 7/10 Practicality: 8/10 Comfort: 7/10 Tech: 8/10 Value: 8/10

AT A GLANCE MODEL RANGE

WRX sedan: $44,990 (manual), $48,990 (automatic) WRX RS sedan: $50,490 (manual), $54,490 (automatic) WRX tS sedan: $56,990 (auto WRX Sportswagon: $49,990 (automatic) WRX GT Sportswagon: $55,490 (automatic) WRX tS Sportswagon: $57,990 (automatic) Note: ese prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local Subaru dealer for drive-away prices. SPECIFICATIONS (Subaru WRX GT Sportswagon 2.4-litre four-door wagon)

ENGINE:

Capacity: 2.387 litres Con guration: Four cylinders horizontally opposed Maximum Power: 202 kW @ 5600 rpm Maximum Torque: 350 Nm @ 2000 rpm Fuel Type: Premium unleaded petrol Combined Fuel Cycle (ADR 81/02): 8.5 L/100km CO2 Emissions:192 g/km DRIVELINE: Continuously variable automatic transmission DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES: Length: 4755 mm Wheelbase: 2670 mm Width: 1795 mm Height: 1500 mm Turning Circle: 11.0 metres Kerb Mass: Not supplied Fuel Tank Capacity: 63 litres BRAKES: Front: Ventilated disc Rear: Ventilated disc STANDARD WARRANTY: Five years / unlimited kilometres

July

LAUNCH

By EWAN KENNEDY

Based on the Haval H6, the H6 GT has a coupe style roo ine at the rear and a more aggressive front grille. Overall dimensions are increased over the H6 and with length of 4727 mm, width of 1940mm, height of 1729mm. Bigger overall dimensions translate into increased cabin space and a more comfortable experience for passengers, front and rear. Premium touches inside include a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and 12.3-inch central display sitting atop the dual tier dash panel. e driver and front passenger have embroidered and heated Comfort Tek leather seats. With H6 sales at record levels, the H6 GT is expected to be a popular addition by appealing to those who want a sportier SUV experience while maintaining the space and functionality o ered by a more traditional SUV. e new Haval H6 GT comes with a seven-year unlimited kilometre warranty, ve years roadside assist and ve years capped price servicing.

By DAVID PIKE

As Citroen had spent heavily on new model development and production facility expansion they were very exposed to the downturn and once again drastic action was necessary.Between 1974 and 1976 nancial restructuring took place under French government direction with the result that Peugeot acquired an 89.95 per cent stake in Citroen, with the aim of creating a global French-owned enterprise to be known as the PSA, entirely controlled by Peugeot. From 1976 to 1982 there were several Citroen models adapted from Peugeot designs. e arrival of the new medium-class BX model as a replacement for the GS signalled a new start for Citroen. Although it retained the look of former Citroen marques the BX was actually built around a Peugeot 405 oorpan and was powered by a transversally-mounted Peugeot engine. In the design stage the hydropneumatic suspension was nearly dropped but when the Citroen dealer network got wind of this plan, they threatened a minor revolt so this suspension was retained in place of the proposed Peugeot coil-spring suspension. In fact, it was preserved as a distinguishing Citroen feature. However, when installed on the BX, it was modi ed by the use of a hybrid MacPherson strut arrangement at the front, with trailing arms at the rear. Citroen’s full powered all-disc braking system was retained but the power steering was of the conventional hydraulic-ram type. e body of the BX was styled by Bertone, the Italian styling house and had bonnet, tailgate, bumpers and rear quarter panels made from plastic. Initially three versions of the BX were o ered: e BX (with a 1360 cc engine developing 46 kW and four-speed gearbox), the BX14 (with same engine but uprated to 54 kW and a ve-speed gearbox) and the BX16 (with a 1580 cc engine rated at 67 kW and the ve-speed gearbox). Later on, new models, diesel powered, proved very successful for Citroen with 295,000 being produced in 1987 alone. In the following years the range was augmented by the addition of a larger turbocharged diesel engine and larger petrol engines tted to sporting versions of the BX along with an estate version. At its peak the BX range o ered 23 di erent versions – 15 saloons and eight estates. By the time the BX was nally withdrawn from the market in 1993 over 2.3-million BX variants had been sold worldwide. In this way the BX like the GS/GSA before it was a success that saved the Citroen marque from total extinction.