VA WRX

Subaru’s fourth-generation rally bred WRX sports sedan landed on Australian shores in early 2014 and it was a critical smash.

Retaining the same turbocharged/all-wheel-drive layout of its predecessors, the new WRX stepped things up by offering not only a manual gearbox, but also a continuously variable transmission too.

Power came from a 2.0-litre horizontally opposed ‘boxer’ four-cylinder which sang to the tune of 197kW at 5600rpm and 350Nm between 2400 and 5200rpm.

Subaru also saw fit to strengthen body rigidity by 40 per cent ensuring the WRX’s sharp handling characteristics remain on- and off-road.

Subaru’s flagship WRX STI road-going-rally-car launched just months after its softer WRX sibling. Powered by a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, the WRX STI made 221kW/407Nm and featured an active torque vectoring system.