road test

caranddriver.com

0 3 . 2 0 1 4.

*Estimated.

C OM PET I TOR SBMW 320i (2.0-LITER I-4, 180 HP, 8-SP AUTO)FORD FOCUS ST (2.0-LITER I-4, 252 HP, 6-SP MAN)MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION GSR (2.0-LITER I-4, 291 HP, 5-SP MAN)SUBARU WRX (2.0-LITER I-4, 268 HP, 6-SP MAN)

ACCELERATION 0–60 & 1/4-mile, seconds

LANCER EVOLUTION GSRWRXFOCUS ST 320i

4 6 12 14 16

ROADHOLDING 200- or 300-foot skidpad, g

LANCER EVOLUTION GSR WRX FOCUS ST 320i

0.86 0.90 0.94 0.98 1.02

CURRENT BASE PRICE* dollars x 1000*Base price includes freight and performance options.

FOCUS STWRX (est)320iLANCER EVOLUTION GSR

24 28 32 36

70–0 BRAKING feet

WRXLANCER EVOLUTION GSR320iFOCUS ST

160 165 170 175 180

SPE CI F IC AT IONSPRICEAS TESTED ...................................... $30,000*BASE ................................................ $27,500*

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan OPTIONS: Premium packageSTANDARD: power windows and locks, remote locking, cruise control, tilting and telescoping steering wheelAUDIO SYSTEM: satellite radio; CD player; minijack, USB, and Bluetooth-audio inputs; 6 speakers

ENGINEturbocharged and intercooled flat-4, aluminum block and headsBORE X STROKE ... 3.39 x 3.39 in, 86.0 x 86.0 mmDISPLACEMENT ..................... 122 cu in, 1998 ccCOMPRESSION RATIO .............................. 10.6:1FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM ........... direct injection TURBOCHARGER ............................... HoneywellMAXIMUM BOOST PRESSURE ................ 15.9 psiVALVE GEAR: double overhead cams, 4 valves per cylinder, variable intake- and exhaust-valve timingREDLINE/FUEL CUTOFF ........... 6700/6800 rpm POWER ............................. 268 hp @ 5600 rpmTORQUE ......................... 258 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm

EXTERIOR DIMENSIONSWHEELBASE ................................ 104.3 inLENGTH ...................................... 180.9 inWIDTH ........................................... 70.7 inHEIGHT ......................................... 58.1 inFRONT TRACK .............................. 60.2 inREAR TRACK ................................ 60.6 inGROUND CLEARANCE ..................... 4.9 in

INTERIOR DIMENSIONSSAE VOLUME ............. F: 52 cu ft R: 41 cu ftTRUNK ......................................... 12 cu ft

BRAKESF: 12.4 x 1.2-in vented discR: 11.3 x 0.4-in discSTABILITY CONTROL .............. partially and fully

defeatable

WHEELS AND TIRESWHEEL SIZE/CONSTRUCTION ........... 8.0 x 17 in/ cast aluminumTIRES ............................. Dunlop Sport Maxx RT

235/45R-17 94W

WRX

CAR AND DRIVER TEST RESULTS

HANDLINGROADHOLDING, 300-FT-DIA SKIDPAD .............. 0.95 gUNDERSTEER ................... MODERATE

TEST NOTES: We performed 14 clutch dumps at or near redline in pursuit of the best launch. The WRX took the abuse without complaint. We achieved our quickest zero-to-60 times by holding second gear well past the 5600-rpm power peak to the 6700-rpm redline.

TEST NOTES: Steady understeer and no drama on the skidpad. The accurate steering has great feel, and the firm suspension keeps the body under control. Those traits make it extremely easy to ride the limit of grip.

INTERIOR SOUND LEVELIDLE ........................................... 48 dBAFULL THROTTLE ....................... 76 dBA70-MPH CRUISING ................... 70 dBA

FUELCAPACITY .................................. 15.9 galOCTANE ........................ 91 (RECOMMENDED)EPA CITY/HWY ....... 21/28 mpg (MFR’S EST)C/D OBSERVED .................... 25 mpg

WEIGHTCURB ............................................ 3314 lbPER HORSEPOWER ..................... 12.4 lbDISTRIBUTION ......... F: 59.7% R: 40.3%TOWING CAPACITY ........................... 0 lb

TEST NOTES: While the brakes don’t have much bite and require a lot of pedal pressure, they do erase speed in a hurry and exhibit zero fade, even after numerous successive stops.

BRAKING, 70-TO-ZERO MPHFIRST STOP .................................. 162 ftSHORTEST STOP ....................... 160 ftLONGEST STOP ............................ 164 ftFADE RATING ................................ NONE

ACCELERATIONZERO TO SECONDS

30 MPH .............................................. 1.540 MPH ............................................. 2.550 MPH ............................................. 3.560 MPH ....................................... 4.870 MPH ............................................. 6.780 MPH ............................................. 8.390 MPH ............................................ 10.7100 MPH ..................................... 13.1110 MPH ..................................................... 16.5120 MPH ................................................... 20.5130 MPH ................................................... 25.3

ROLLING START, 5–60 MPH .......... 6.3 TOP GEAR, 30–50 MPH ................. 12.1TOP GEAR, 50–70 MPH .................. 7.91/4-MILE ............ 13.6 sec @ 102 mphTOP SPEED (GOV LTD, MFR’S CLAIM) ... 144 mph

tested by TONY QUIROGAin California City, California

DRIVETRAINTRANSMISSION ........................ 6-speed manualFINAL-DRIVE RATIO .................................. 4.11:14-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM ............ full time with a

limited-slip center differential

GEAR RATIO MPH PER MAX SPEED1000 RPM IN GEAR (rpm)

1 ....... 3.45 ...... 5.1 ............. 35 mph (6800)2 ....... 1.95 ...... 9.1 ............. 62 mph (6800)3 ....... 1.30 ....... 13.7 ........... 93 mph (6800)4 ....... 0.97 ..... 18.2 ........... 124 mph (6800)5 ....... 0.78 ..... 22.7 .......... 144 mph (6350)6 ....... 0.67 ..... 26.6 .......... 144 mph (5400)

CHASSISunit construction with a rubber-isolated rear subframe BODY MATERIAL: steel and aluminum stampings

STEERINGrack-and-pinion with variable electric power assistRATIO ..................................................... 14.5:1TURNS LOCK-TO-LOCK ................................ 2.8TURNING CIRCLE CURB-TO-CURB ........... 35.4 ft

SUSPENSIONF: ind, strut located by a control arm, coil springs, anti-roll barR: ind; 1 upper control arm, 1 diagonal link, 1 lateral link, and a toe-control link per side; coil springs; anti-roll bar

N O TA B L E H I G H L I G H T SThe manual-trans WRX uses a viscous center differential with a 50/50 front-to-rear torque split. Opting for the CVT swaps in a planetary diff with an electronically controlled clutch and a 45/55 nominal torque distribution.