“The most radically different Subaru World Rally Car in 15 years!” That’s how Subaru World Rally Team principal David Richards would describe the new WRC2008, and we couldn’t agree less. Just the other day Subaru decided that it was time to unveil the new WRC2008, and even better, enter it in next weeks Acropolis Rally in Greece. The event will be marked by an official launch on the evening of Wednesday, May 28th.

The new car is based on the latest road going Subaru Impreza which was introduced in June 2007. The WRC2008 will also be sporting a new livery created around the Subaru corporate identity while preserving the iconic blue that has been familiar to rally fans world wide. The rally Impreza will retain the horizontally-opposed turbocharged engine combined with the Symmetric All Wheel Drive system.

“Just as the latest Impreza road car represents a new era for Subaru so the WRC2008 represents a new era for all of us at the Subaru World Rally Team” said David Richards. “We are confident that introducing the car in Greece will enable the team to be highly competitive in the second half of the season and give Petter Solberg and Chris Atkinson the best opportunity to win in 2008.”

Keep an eye out for specifications on the WRC2008, Subaru plans on releasing them on the 28th in conjunction with there official unveiling. Trust me, a poster of this new machine will find a home on my wall, right between the S402 and the R8.

WRC2008 Concept at Frankfurt Motor Show in September wearing old livery.

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Post tags: Acropolis Rally, Chris Atkinson, David Richards, Greece, Impreza, Petter Solberg, Rally, Subaru, WRC, WRC2008

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Ever since the mid-90’s Subaru and Mitsubishi have been going at it in the performance saloon market. In the late-90’s both manufactures took their rivalry to the dirt, providing cars for the World Rally Championship for both privateers and manufacture sponsored teams. In early 2001 Subaru brought the WRX Sti to American soil, and for a few short years it reigned supreme as the average mans four door performance car. Just two years later Mitsubishi followed suit and brought their Evo to America as well, and since then these two Japanese automotive performance companies have been duking it out on American soil.

And now they are at it again. Subaru and Mitsubishi have both released information on their latest performance versions of their respective vehicles, Mitsubishi with the Evolution X MR (Mitsubishi Racing) and Subaru with the WRX STi Spec C. Both Subaru and Mitsubishi have made slight modifications to provide a more edgy United States version of their latest models.

When it comes to the WRX STi Spec C, Subaru decided that it needed a diet. They managed to shave roughly 155 pounds off of the original STi with modifications such as a lightweight roof, thinner glass and a compact battery. They also reworked the rear of the car – making a good portion of it out of aluminum and reducing the size of the fuel tank. Subaru decided to not touch the power plant for the time being, leaving the Spec C with the standard turbocharged flat-four backed by a six speed transmission.

Mitsubishi on the other hand decided that tweaking the turbocharged 2.0 liter engine thats in the Evo X MR was the best way to go. They managed to squeeze twenty more break-horsepower out of the four-cylinder engine, pushing it up to 305 total horsepower. From there Mitsubishi sent the MR to there tuning center to stiffened up the car and give it better handling and over all performance. Even thought the MR isn’t the most powerful Evo on the market, Mitsubishi feels that with its small engine modifications that it is on par with the WRX STi.

Both the Spec C and MR received some small visual modifications. The Subaru is equipped with a rally-inspired roof scoop as well as some small changes to the body-kit. Mitsubishi saw it necessary to redesign the front bumper of the car, providing more, larger air ducts to help improve cooling as well as a revised spoiler on the rear of the car.

Subaru and Mitsubishi appear to have built wonderful cars and we cannot wait to see them hit the pavement. Both cars are expected to be released late 2008, with price tags close to $40,000.

© omz for Modded Autos, 2008. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: 10, 2008, Evo, Evolution, Impreza, Lancer, Mitsubishi, Mitsubishi racing, MR, Spec C, STi, Subaru, Wrx, X

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