What does WRX stand for in Subaru?

WRX stands for "World Rally eXperimental", a high-performance variant of Subaru's Impreza compact car. The WRX is known for its turbocharged engine, all-wheel-drive system, and rally-inspired design, making it a popular choice among enthusiasts.

The Origins of the Subaru WRX

The Subaru WRX was first introduced in 1992 as a high-performance version of the Impreza, Subaru's compact car. The WRX was developed to compete in the World Rally Championship (WRC), a prestigious international rally racing series. Subaru's success in the WRC, with drivers like Colin McRae and Richard Burns, helped establish the WRX as a legendary performance car.

Key Features of the Subaru WRX

The Subaru WRX is known for several key features that set it apart from the standard Impreza:

• Turbocharged Engine: The WRX is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter or 2.4-liter boxer engine, providing significantly more power and acceleration than the naturally aspirated Impreza.


• All-Wheel-Drive: The WRX comes standard with Subaru's renowned Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive system, which provides excellent traction and handling, especially on slippery or uneven surfaces.


• Rally-Inspired Design: The WRX features a more aggressive, sporty exterior design with a large rear wing, flared fenders, and other performance-oriented styling cues.


• Upgraded Suspension and Brakes: The WRX has a stiffer suspension setup and larger brakes compared to the standard Impreza, improving its handling and stopping power.

These features, combined with Subaru's reputation for reliability and all-weather capability, have made the WRX a popular choice among driving enthusiasts and rally fans alike.

The Evolution of the Subaru WRX

Since its introduction, the Subaru WRX has undergone several generations of updates and improvements. Each new model has built upon the car's rally-inspired heritage, with more powerful engines, refined handling, and updated styling. The WRX has remained a staple in Subaru's lineup, appealing to a loyal fanbase of performance-oriented drivers.

Today, the Subaru WRX continues to be a highly sought-after performance car, offering a unique blend of turbocharged power, all-wheel-drive traction, and rally-inspired design. Its legacy as a legendary performance car is firmly established, making it a favorite among enthusiasts and a symbol of Subaru's commitment to building exciting, high-performance vehicles.

Is Subaru a LGBTQ car?

No, cars do not have sexual orientations, but Subaru has become associated with the LGBTQ+ community, particularly lesbians, due to decades of strategic and inclusive marketing. Subaru identified lesbians as a key demographic in the 1990s and developed campaigns with subtle, coded messages that resonated with the community.
 
You can watch this video to learn about Subaru's marketing strategy: 59sAuto Agentic AIYouTube · Jul 15, 2025

• Targeted advertising: In the 1990s, Subaru was facing declining sales and launched a campaign specifically targeting lesbians. The marketing team found that lesbians were four times more likely to buy a Subaru and developed ads that spoke directly to this demographic. 
• Subtle and coded messages: The campaigns featured subtle, queer-coded messages like license plates that read "XENA LVR" or "P-TOWN" (a reference to Provincetown, a popular gay vacation spot). Taglines also included double entendres, such as "Get out and stay out" and "It's not a choice. It's the way we're built". 
• Authentic support: The company's commitment extended beyond advertising to include sponsorships of LGBTQ+ events and partnerships with LGBTQ+ causes. They became a founding sponsor of the Rainbow Card, a credit card that donated to gay and lesbian causes. 
• Community perception: These efforts created a lasting and positive association. Many people within the LGBTQ+ community see Subaru as a brand that was inclusive and supportive at a time when many other companies were not. 

Is a WRX better than an STI?

The choice between a WRX and STI depends on your priorities: the WRX is a better all-around daily driver due to its better fuel economy, lower cost, and more comfortable ride, while the STI is the more hardcore performance option for track enthusiasts who need its enhanced suspension, brakes, and specialized all-wheel-drive system. For most people, the WRX is the more practical choice, but the STI offers higher performance for those willing to pay a premium and sacrifice some daily usability.
 
Subaru WRX

• Daily Driver: Better for everyday use, with better fuel economy and a more comfortable ride. 
• Performance: Still a very fast and capable sports sedan, with a newer engine that provides good low-end torque for city driving. 
• Value: Generally cheaper to buy and maintain. 
• Who it's for: Most drivers who want a fun, practical, and sporty daily vehicle with all-wheel drive. 

Subaru STI

• Performance: More track-focused with a more powerful engine, stiffer suspension, and better brakes. 
• Handling: Features a driver-controlled center differential (DCCD) for greater control over the all-wheel drive system. 
• Daily Driver: A harsher ride and worse fuel economy make it less ideal for daily commutes. 
• Who it's for: Enthusiasts who prioritize maximum performance and plan to use the car for track events or spirited driving. 

Which one should you choose?

• If your priority is a fun and practical daily driver: Choose the WRX. 
• If you want the ultimate performance machine and plan to track the car: Choose the STI. 
• If you are on a tighter budget but still want a high-performance AWD car: The WRX is a great starting point that can be modified to outperform a stock STI, as noted in this YouTube video. 
• If you want a more traditional and raw driving experience: The STI offers more of this feel due to its older engine and hydraulic steering, explains this YouTube video. 

Ultimately, the best way to decide is to test drive both and see which one fits your needs and driving style better, recommends Bachman Subaru.

What does the Subaru STI stand for?

STi stands for Subaru Tecnica International, which is the name of Subaru's in-house motorsports and performance division. This division was established in 1988 to prepare vehicles for Subaru's World Rally Championship team and to translate motorsport-developed technology into high-performance consumer vehicles.
 

• Motorsport heritage: The "STi" badge signifies that a Subaru vehicle has been engineered by the performance division, often meaning it has a more powerful engine, upgraded suspension, enhanced brakes, and other performance-oriented features. 
• Technology transfer: STI models benefit from technologies developed and tested on the rally stages, such as active torque vectoring, advanced aerodynamics, and refined suspension systems. 
• Consumer models: While STI is known for its involvement in racing, the "STi" designation is also applied to specific road-going trim levels of Subaru models, like the WRX, to create more powerful and high-performance versions for the public. 

What does brz stand for in Subaru?

BRZ stands for Boxer engine, Rear-wheel drive, and Zenith. It refers to the car's horizontally-opposed "Boxer" engine, its rear-wheel-drive configuration (a departure from Subaru's typical all-wheel drive), and "Zenith," which Subaru uses to signify the highest point or ultimate passion and confidence in the vehicle.
 

• Boxer engine: This is a horizontally-opposed engine with pistons that move side-to-side, giving the car a lower center of gravity for better handling. 
• Rear-wheel drive: This indicates that the car is powered by its rear wheels, which is a key feature for its sporty performance. 
• Zenith: For Subaru, this word represents the peak of performance and the highest point of the car's potential.