Okay, likening the new WRX concept to a school yard bully may be a bit of an embellishment, but hot-diggity-dog does it look mean! I have always been a fan of Subarus, especially the WRX and STi, but if I’m brutally honest, they generally look… well… like they’ve been hit in the face with a frying pan. But that’s never been the point of a WRX. Nobody wants to buy a bulbous, rally blue pocket rocket because it “looks cool” and “isn’t douchey at all,” they buy it because it drives ten times better than it looks.

Enter the new WRX concept, a car that fans of Subarus, and fans of cars that actually look good, can all get behind. Subaru has made it clear that this project will be separate from the Impreza platform entirely, and thankfully, it shows. This car looks like it’s been built from scratch to be a road-going rally car, not just an economy box with a boisterous body kit. The lower roof line and pinched C-pillar give the car a more coupe-like appearance, and as a result, the lines flow better from nose to tail.

Subaru has also had the wherewithal to integrate the shape of the front fenders into the overall design of the car, as opposed to slapping them on with some silly putty and calling it a day, like on previous models. This car actually reminds me quite a bit of a Mitsubishi Evo X, which is not a bad thing at all, because the Evo had all the looks that the previous WRX did not. Maybe Subaru is banking on Mitsu’s impending financial doom so they can steal some design cues and not feel guilty about it…

I also really like the hood scoop, as it has been artfully integrated into the hood, and does not look like it could be easily replaced with a vaccum cleaner or toilet seat (as we learned on the most recent episode of Top Gear). The vents on the front bumper are a nice touch, and thankfully, aren’t overly agressive.

As for the rear of the car, I am especially partial to the splitters on the rear bumper and the wide-set quad exhaust pipes, but the taillights and trunk, dare I say it, look like the new… Camry. Nobody despises Toyota more than yours truly, but thankfully this is a car that can get over it’s passionless, beige, family car evoking rear end by being an all-wheel-drive bruiser for a bargain.

Despite how wonderful this concept truly is, I’m not quite sure about the neon green accents that adorn several parts of the concept. While I do like the color combination, WRXs are supposed to be the traditional blue and gold, not the color scheme of a 6 year old’s 7 Eleven slurpee. Ditch the raver jewelry, and you’ve got yourself one hell of a concept, Subaru.

I look forward to seeing it in production and driving it like an idiot one day.