[Marine06]

Actually instead, Ford and others are turboing their small cars i.e. the focus to compete with the WRX. Looks like the giant will have to play catchup...

 

[Soopafly]

hey, anyone think subaru will ever make a small two box hatch? light weight, compete with the focus, 206, corolla, etc... A small subie hatch with twin twin scroll turbos on a stroked flat six would be a world beater!!!

Hey super_bean21, if SOA came out with a little AWD hatchback, they would have that market on lockdown turbo or not, though if they did put a turbo on one that would be a pretty awesome little car.

 

[jbhebert]

I was just thinking that Subaru should make a small, quality hatch to compete in WRC. The only way they'll really be competitive against Peugeot and Citroen is with a smaller car. And then we'd get the benefit of a sweet AWD hatch. I'd grab one as a second car, even if it wasn't a turbo.

 

[SnowbordrWRX]

I was just thinking that Subaru should make a small, quality hatch to compete in WRC. The only way they'll really be competitive against Peugeot and Citroen is with a smaller car. And then we'd get the benefit of a sweet AWD hatch. I'd grab one as a second car, even if it wasn't a turbo.

Wouldn't this be called the STi Wagon? :lol:

 

[91TB78]

Perhaps something like RSX sized AWD sports car...

 

[jbhebert]

I was just thinking that Subaru should make a small, quality hatch to compete in WRC. The only way they'll really be competitive against Peugeot and Citroen is with a smaller car. And then we'd get the benefit of a sweet AWD hatch. I'd grab one as a second car, even if it wasn't a turbo.

Wouldn't this be called the STi Wagon? :lol:

Granted, what Subaru is offering as a "wagon" right now for the Impreza is really a 4 door hatch, it's still too big. 2 doors, the size of a Golf. That would be perfect.

 

[alfredob1]

I was just thinking that Subaru should make a small, quality hatch to compete in WRC. The only way they'll really be competitive against Peugeot and Citroen is with a smaller car. And then we'd get the benefit of a sweet AWD hatch. I'd grab one as a second car, even if it wasn't a turbo.

Subaru might have to now. Even Skoda has a new car in the works. We might see it near the end of the WRC season.

 

[CloNeGTS]

Woah......

Yeah, I think Subaru needs to do something to get a smaller car in there. I just don't see it being Subaru's style though....a Subie hatch?

Just curious though....aren't there regulations in WRC that give a heavier car like the STi a benefit in power or something? Or a weight requirement for the other cars? Kinda like the penalty weight "cooler" the JGTC series :wink:

 

[91TB78]

Just curious though....aren't there regulations in WRC that give a heavier car like the STi a benefit in power or something? Or a weight requirement for the other cars? Kinda like the penalty weight "cooler" the JGTC series

No, it doesn't quite work that way. Every one of the cars has to meet weight standards and power standards..you can't go over in power and under in weight. The biggest reason you would want to go with a hatch-sized car would be its manueverability...its short turning center..

 

[alfredob1]

They use restrictors to limit the amount of hp the cars produce. The cars have to be within a certain margin (don't know what) of weight or the driver can get penalized. Last year Tommy was excluded from a rally because the car wasn't heavy enough. Burns (Peugeot) got excluded once too for having to light of a flywheel. They have rules for everything.

 

[91TB78]

Yup..there are a ton of rules dealing with weight, power, etc.

 

[Agent Chobos]

That Skoda pic must be a street car, right? It clearly has 4 doors. If they were building a car specifically to be competitive in WRC, wouldn't they have built a 2-door hatch like everyone else?

 

[CloNeGTS]

I think all cars have to have a certain level of mass production. And bottom line, a company wouldn't want to have to make X amount of a car and take them to market if it wasn't a truely marketable car made only to win rallies.

 

[yxan2]

Dilema

who cares how many doors it has as long as it has a small wheelbase. there is no difference between a golf hatch that has 4 or 2 doors

 

[potay]

Good point, I think Subaru could benefit greatly by making a smaller hatchback. Granted that Subaru has never been one to just "follow the trend" and granted that there are a ton of new small hatchbacks on the streets right now (focus, protege5, etc, etc) but with the smaller wheel base and the classic AWD, I think that subaru could really dominate the class if they wanted. Not only that, but traditionally (at least in my part of the world) "boy racer" type people loved the smaller cars cause they were so much fun to throw around (IMHO). I can't speak for all areas of the world, but up here, I'm sure that it would be an instant hit. I'd certainly buy one for the little woman. (and take it out on the weekends)

 

[alfredob1]

The new Skoda Fabia WRC

It's not bad lookin. But how does it perform?

 

[91TB78]

I think its bad looking! The Skoda Octavia did ok, but it was probably the largest WRC car out there. For them I think it was time to build this.

 

[chawklit]

I don't know, but for some reason, hatches always look so cool to me. Even this one.
p.s. the octavia was a beast.

 

[CloNeGTS]

The Octavia was like watching a fat man run a marathon...just didn't look right.

But that looks nice......they might as well have bought a 206 and put new sheet metal on it...but oh well!

 

[miked801]

aren't we missing something here? "if subaru were to make a hatch" ???
am i the only one thinking "JUSTY"? it was not so super.
in fact - uh oh - it's still around!:

http://www.channel4.com/apps26/4car/jsp/main.jsp?lnk=231_2&reviewid=130