New Subaru WRX STi and VIZIV 2 concept unveiled

There was a trio of debuts at the Subaru stand in Geneva as the manufacturer showed off the latest WRX STi, its racing counterpart and an all-new concept car.

A 2.5 litre engine producing 296bhp will power the new WRX STi, and this helps it cover the 0-62mph sprint in just 5.2 seconds.

The car is only available with a six-speed automatic, and as is fitted with symmetrical all-wheel drive as standard. This has three driving modes to choose from – Intelligent, Sport and Sport Sharp.

There are also six different settings to choose from on the cars central differential, with a split of 41:59 front to rear the standard setting.

The VIZIV 2 was also on show at the manufacturer’s stand and is classed as a new crossover concept and is just slightly bigger than the new Nissan Qashqai. It gives an idea of the maker’s design and technology direction for the future.

The plug-in hybrid system combines a 1.6-litre direct injection turbo engine alongside a hybrid, providing a hint at what we could see from future Subaru powertrains. According to Subaru, this is a three-motor hybrid vehicle, with the front axle driven by the engine and one motor and the rear axle driven by two motors alone.

This is paired with a CVT gearbox and gets a symmetrical all-wheel drive system with torque vectoring to send more power to the outside rear wheel when cornering.

Subaru has also shown the WRX STi in race-prepared form at the Tokyo Auto Salon in Japan. The car will be entered in the Nurburgring 24-hour race in June.