Fifth Gear - VW Golf GTI Vs Subaru Impreza WRX
This week it’s two grown up hot hatches - the Volkswagen Golf GTi and the new Subaru Impreza WRX
Subaru Impreza WRX
The engine used is still the EJ255. Peak power and torque as the same, but the peak power will output at 5200 rpm (400 rpm lower)and the peak torque delivery will be at 2800 rpm (800 rpm lower). The 0-60 time for the WRX maintains the 0-60 sprint of 5.8 seconds, like the predecessor, while decreasing the 50-70mph time due to the improved torque delivery. The transmission is similar to that of the previous model, only the ratios are slightly wider in the low gears with a final drive ratio of 3.9 instead of 3.7. The sedan version has a two exhaust outlets while the hatchback will have one exhaust outlet on the right. The car is based on a shortened Legacy platform. The front suspension uses a MacPherson strut setup while the rear is a new double wishbone suspension. The steering ratio will be 15:1. The interior will borrow from the Legacy interior. The US-spec WRX will revert back to a 2-piston/1-piston sliding calipers (dropping the 4-piston/2-piston fixed caliper setup), but have grown 0.1in. larger in the front and 0.1-0.2in larger in rear with premium package. The calipers and rotor setup are the same found on the BL5-chassis US-spec Legacy 2.5GT and Spec B. The wheels will be 17? x 7? and will wear 205/50 R17 all season tires. The gas tank has grown from 15.9 gallons to 16.9 gal. The car’s weight has decreased and will be 3142 lb (1425 kg) for the 5 speed manual and 3208 lb (1455 kg) for the 4 speed automatic.
VW Golf GTI
It features an updated 3.2-litre unit than of that fitted to the previous version, with an extra 10 bhp (7 kW) courtesy of a reworked inlet manifold. Maximum power is now 250 bhp (186 kW) at 6,300 rpm; torque is unchanged at 236 lb·ft (320 N·m) but comes in 300 rpm lower down the rev range. It reaches an electronically-governed top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). Going from 0 to 100 km/h will take 6.5 s, reduced to 5.8 s with the direct-shift gearbox.
Compared with the previous Mk4 R32 that is 0.1 seconds faster for the manual version while the newer R32 is about 40 kg heavier. As with the previous R32; there is 4MOTION part-time four-wheel drive through 18? Zolder 20-spoke alloy wheels. Stopping the R32 comes in the form of blue-painted brake callipers with 345 mm discs at the front and 310 mm disks at the rear. The Mk V R32 was released in the US in August ‘07 with a starting MSRP of $32,990.
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