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Waxing Analytical: 2011 Impreza WRX STI Sedan Set For New York Debut?

EARLIER TODAY, Subaru released a single silhouetted teaser image of the upcoming 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI. Moments later, the keen enthusiasts at TMR launched into a debate on whether the updated WRX STI will be 'little more' than the existi


EARLIER TODAY, Subaru released a single silhouetted teaser image of the upcoming 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI. Moments later, the keen enthusiasts at TMR launched into a debate on whether the updated WRX STI will be 'little more' than the existing five-door hatch with a wing, or an STI version of the newly-flared WRX sedan.

Before bets are made and someone loses the family home, we decided to prepare some overlay images and put it to the readers. In all likelihood, the car is as most suspect: the hatch with a Subaru rally-inspired wing. Still...

At the top of this article, we have today's sheeted photo, with the 2009 WRX STI hatch and a 2009 WRX sedan laid over the top. We've worked to align all three cars as closely as possible: the overlaid images aligned by their headlights, rooflines, door handles and panel lines. Sadly, there are no perfect profile photos of the 2011 WRX available.

Also above, for your reference, is the unaltered photo.

Directly above, the hatch overlaid in blue. We can see that the roofline - particularly the rear window - is a good match. However, the sheet clearly hangs out at an angle from the 'big wing', suggesting that Subaru might be working to obscure a sedan rear deck and bumper. This point is the main argument of the "it's a sedan" camp in TMR.

Now below, the WRX sedan overlaid in red. While the rear deck seems a decent match with the rear wing, the rear window doesn't quite line up. That said, neither of the rear windows lines up perfectly. An imperfect overlay is one answer, but we may also be looking at a small rooftop spoiler in addition to the larger rear wing.

So we put it to you: hatch, or sedan?

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