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DRIVEN: Subaru WRX Sizzles In Orange
The special-edition paint scheme for the performance hatchback is a bold touch for a fun ride.
The Tangerine Orange paint job on the special-edition Subuaru WRX suits the hot compact's fiery personality. (Photo: Subaru)
Orange Crush.
That’s what I’m going to call the new and overwhelmingly orange 2013 Subaru Special Edition WRX Orange. The Japanese automaker is releasing just 300 of the pumpkin-colored cars in the United States this month, 200 WRX Premium and 100 WRX STI base models, all four-doors.
“You can’t just likeorange with these cars,” Subaru says on its website. “Orange has to be part of your soul.”
And while it’s true the orange exterior makes a bold visual statement, what really has to be part of your soul to appreciate this car is a love of driving fast.
And going fast is something the WRX has always excelled at. Our tester was the 265-horsepower WRX Premium, but the 305-horse WRX STI offers even more oomph, although the lower horsepower engine is still plenty sporty.
Subaru follows a pretty basic formula with all its WRX models: Make it simple, nimble, reasonably economical to purchase and a blast to drive. To that end, the WRX Orange is pretty much a no-frills vehicle. Priced at just $28,795 or $34,795 for the STI, the Oranges represent a premium of just $500 more than their equivalent production models.
For that extra $500, buyers get the aforementioned Tangerine Orange paint, jet black custom wheels, fog lamps, black front fender badging and exterior mirrors, and black exterior graphics.
On the inside, the cloth seats are spruced up with orange stitching and orange trim on the floor mats. While the Subaru’s exterior is obviously very flashy — you can’t miss it — the subtle touches of orange inside liven up what might otherwise be a rather somber and somewhat dark interior. Instead, the cockpit is alluring and fun visually.
As noted earlier, though, this isn’t about the cosmetics. It’s about driving. Rest assured, beneath the lustrous coat of orange paint lies the warrior heart of a Subaru WRX.
Light weight and modest exterior dimensions help the WRX handle well, but the real key is Subaru’s legendary all-wheel-drive system, one of the main reasons Subarus have made great rally cars over the years.
The most fun I had in the WRX came during a moderately heavy rain, when I really put the car through its paces. The level of grip — and therefore the level of driver confidence — in the WRX is truly impressive, especially in bad weather.
Helping the cause a great deal was a sensibly laid-out cockpit. Clearly, the WRX was designed by people who like to drive hard for people who like to drive hard. Starting from left to right, there’s a proper dead pedal to rest your left foot on when not changing gears. The relationship of the clutch, brake pedal and accelerator to each other are just about perfect for intense driving.
More importantly, they all work well together. The clutch is light and the shifter is, too, meaning you don’t have to beat and bang to make crisp shifts, either up or down.
That’s what I’m going to call the new and overwhelmingly orange 2013 Subaru Special Edition WRX Orange. The Japanese automaker is releasing just 300 of the pumpkin-colored cars in the United States this month, 200 WRX Premium and 100 WRX STI base models, all four-doors.
“You can’t just likeorange with these cars,” Subaru says on its website. “Orange has to be part of your soul.”
And while it’s true the orange exterior makes a bold visual statement, what really has to be part of your soul to appreciate this car is a love of driving fast.
And going fast is something the WRX has always excelled at. Our tester was the 265-horsepower WRX Premium, but the 305-horse WRX STI offers even more oomph, although the lower horsepower engine is still plenty sporty.
Subaru follows a pretty basic formula with all its WRX models: Make it simple, nimble, reasonably economical to purchase and a blast to drive. To that end, the WRX Orange is pretty much a no-frills vehicle. Priced at just $28,795 or $34,795 for the STI, the Oranges represent a premium of just $500 more than their equivalent production models.
For that extra $500, buyers get the aforementioned Tangerine Orange paint, jet black custom wheels, fog lamps, black front fender badging and exterior mirrors, and black exterior graphics.
On the inside, the cloth seats are spruced up with orange stitching and orange trim on the floor mats. While the Subaru’s exterior is obviously very flashy — you can’t miss it — the subtle touches of orange inside liven up what might otherwise be a rather somber and somewhat dark interior. Instead, the cockpit is alluring and fun visually.
As noted earlier, though, this isn’t about the cosmetics. It’s about driving. Rest assured, beneath the lustrous coat of orange paint lies the warrior heart of a Subaru WRX.
Light weight and modest exterior dimensions help the WRX handle well, but the real key is Subaru’s legendary all-wheel-drive system, one of the main reasons Subarus have made great rally cars over the years.
The most fun I had in the WRX came during a moderately heavy rain, when I really put the car through its paces. The level of grip — and therefore the level of driver confidence — in the WRX is truly impressive, especially in bad weather.
Helping the cause a great deal was a sensibly laid-out cockpit. Clearly, the WRX was designed by people who like to drive hard for people who like to drive hard. Starting from left to right, there’s a proper dead pedal to rest your left foot on when not changing gears. The relationship of the clutch, brake pedal and accelerator to each other are just about perfect for intense driving.
More importantly, they all work well together. The clutch is light and the shifter is, too, meaning you don’t have to beat and bang to make crisp shifts, either up or down.
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