Well we aleady know that the SST can handle EVO power and supposedly in Japan the SST has survived 330 whp.

I've been thinking. If the 2009 WRX is priced near the same as the 2008 WRX the Impreza GT (2008 WRX) will have to be sold at a lower price which hardly makes sense. I'm thinking the 2009 isn't going to be $25K US as speculated and between $26-27K.

 

Different buyers. The IGT has some luxury/comfort features the WRX lacks, right?

 

Bingo, the GT is an auto only and it has things like a sunroof to increase the cost.

 

We don't know yet if the SST in the RA is the same as the one in the EVO. We already know that the EVO has supersport mode and launch control and a higher redline, so experience would tell me that *possibly* the clutch packs in the RA could be weaker. Again, it's all just speculation at this point...

 

There's also a big difference in surviving 330 whp and reliably handling 330 whp.

 

Why go through the trouble of putting in different clutches? The S SPORT mode is an electronic item(6k shift points). Launch control is electronic also (hold at 5200 then drop), I believe. The gearing is different in the RA though in 5 and 6.

Also, if we are comparing apples to apples then the competition is really the auto GT which is not getting the power upgrades and will get toasted all day by the RA.

 

The cost to them could be different and it could be a way of forcing people who want the full evo experience to buy an evo.

 

It would be plain stupid for them to waste money making multiple trannys for the same car. I'm sure it's all a programming thing like dboz said.

 

Maybe, since they upgraded the GTS so quick

 

BINGO!! I'm not saying they *did* do this. I'm just throwing it out there as a possibility. VW has done this with their DSG/S-tronic, and the company that developed Mitsu's dual clutch developed VW's, so production wise, decontenting the tranny's strengths and capabilities via reprogramming the TCM leads to a possible weakening of the clutches for $ savings...*shrug*

Also, the Ralliart might be considered a real cash cow for Mitsu. If they can show on paper to buyers all of the content of the car while cutting corners on cost, on things the buyer wouldn't suspect, it might be tempting for them to do so?

...my head hurt!

 

I think Mitsu would be wrong, and stupid, to try to have a power competition with the WRX. Let the Evo and STi fight that battle. Instead, they should be trying to beat it on price.

 

And technology!!!

 

Otter hit the nail on the head. The Ralliart and WRX aren't the hp kings in this. They are more of a comfortable daily driver than the Evo and STI. I think the deal here is value to dollar ratio more so than performance to dollar. Overall, I think you get WAY more out of the ralliart with the SST than you would out of the WRX.

 

Price wars lower quality. I'll gladly pay a bit more if it means the car will be better (within limits, obviously). I hate to see corners cut in the name of cost.

BorgWarner developed the DSG system. Getrag developed the TC-SST system.

 

now let me ask this, the WRX got a power increase of 30hp... using a 2.5l? we are still using a 2.0 in the R/A, so wouldnt we EASILY see that 30hp gain if we used say the.. 2.4 from the 09 GTS? I'm sure thats one way mitsu could get the power, but then they'd be leaving the evo rally spirit of only using a 2.0.

Point being, it would be very easy to get "30hp", its NOTHING. im sure a good tune could get that out of the R/A as we have seen more than that achieved with a "good tune" on the X.