Here Is Everything You Need To Know About The Subaru Bugeye WRX!

The Subaru Bugeye WRX which is also known as the Subaru Impreza WRX GD is the performance-oriented version of the Subaru Impreza compact sedan which was in production from 2000 to 2002. The name “Bugeye” for this car was derived from the distinctive round headlamp design which resembled an insect’s eyes. There are many reasons why the Bugeye WRX holds a special place in automotive history, one being the fact that it helped establish the WRX nameplate as a performance version and laid the foundation for the upcoming generations of the Impreza WRX STI and Impreza WRX models. A strong reason is the fact it had a unique design language and rally heritage which contributed to popularity among the masses and collectors alike.

The WRX

The Subaru WRX, which stands for World Rally eXperimental, was one of the most talked about cars in the car scene in 1992 and became an enthusiast favorite in no time at all. It was known due to its powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engine which had huge tuning potential, its amazing chassis, the practicality it had of a four-door sedan, and most importantly, Subaru’s signature all-wheel-drive system which not only made it the talk of the town when it was launched but also made it the most sought-after vehicle for enthusiasts.

Now the second generation WRX came in three different versions, the Bugeye, the Blobeye, and the Hawkeye, produced between the 2000 and 2007 model year. Read on as we discuss the Bugeye in detail and also tell about some interesting facts about the Blobeye and the Hawkeye!

What makes the Subaru Bugeye WRX Special?

Launched in 2000, The Subaru Bugeye WRX was on sale till 2004 and it weighed around 3000 lbs. And it was the performance variant of the second-generation Impreza. The Bugeye name was inspired by its round headlamps and front fascia body style. The Bugeye was powered by an EJ205 boxer engine which was used to push out 218 HP mated with a 5-speed manual gearbox or along with a 4-speed automatic gearbox.

The Bugeye variant was available in both wagon as well as sedan disguises catering to different kinds of buyers. Talking about the engine, we can’t stress enough the fact of how potent the engine was in terms of tuning, and the engine easily punched above its weight, and there was a majority of owners who decided to upgrade their cars to more power and performance. Add to that the signature all-wheel drive system from Subaru, which was just icing on the cake. With the Bugeye WRX special editions, Subaru proved to the American market that it was here to produce great cars and it should not be taken lightly.

A Proper Sleeper

On the outside, the Subaru Bugeye just looks like a regular four-door family sedan that has decent looks but this is until and unless you open the hood and find a 2.5 or 2.0 turbocharged engine resting inside. Mostly loved by enthusiasts in the shade of blue, the Bugeye is a proper sleeper if you look at the turbocharged variants. Comes with a hood scoop in the front for better air circulation, and round headlights, the Bugeye had debatable looks initially but slowly it was appreciated by a lot of people. The side profile of the car was also subtle yet practical. It was the rear that is our favorite part thanks to the huge spoiler resting on the trunk which just gave it a different identity altogether. Talking of the taillights, which were somewhat similar to other special editions of the WRX, the rear had a sporty look and complimented the overall look of the car.

Practical but not so opulent cabin

Step inside the interiors of the Subaru WRX Bugeye and you are welcomed by a not so luxurious, but well-appointed ergonomically sound interior that has got everything in the right place. You feel its importance once you start driving it, and realize how communicating the steering and handling is.

All the controls are within your reach be it the music or HVAC controls. Apart from that you get an option of a tri-gauge pod which sits above the dash and gives you all the information related to the performance of the vehicle. Talking of the seats, they are well cushioned but not meant for long drives.

Engines and the Transmissions

When Subaru launched the Impreza Bugeye into the market, it was available in both a sedan as well as a wagon body type. Subaru offered not just one, or two but a total of three engine options with the Bugeye. The entry-level engine is a 1.5L 4-cylinder engine that was made for daily commuters and had a respectable 100 horsepower and 104 lb-ft of torque. Then there were the 1.6L EJ16, 2.0L EJ20 engines on offer, and the most powerful of the lot, EJ25 which had the capacity to push 165 HP! Talking of the transmission, the Bugeye came with a reliable 4-speed automatic which was reliable but was very shifts and then there was the 5- speed manual which was an obvious pick among enthusiasts. And paired with these amazing powertrains was a chassis that was so capable that it resulted in outstanding ride and performance from the Bugeye.

Now talking about the real monster in the room was the Subaru WRX variant which was based on the Impreza, and actually featured turbocharged versions of both the 2.0L and 2.5L engines that were present on the Impreza. Now armed with a 2.0L turbo power unit, the Subaru WRX could easily push beyond 220 horsepower! And depending on the market and the state of tune for the ECU it could even be pushed further 260 horses.

Subaru even introduced the WRX STI version limited to only 400 units, which was the most performance-oriented version. And got performance upgrades like an upgraded intake, and exhaust system which helped the engine push even higher 315 horsepower and 283 lb-ft of torque! While this might sound enough, you will find many owners trying to swap the engine with a bigger one or try to tweak the overall power output to meet their expectations.

Was the Subaru Bugeye Reliable?

You might think that after extracting so much power from a four-cylinder block turbocharged engine, the car might have become quite unreliable and faced a lot of niggles and issues with reliability. But this was not the case with the Subaru Impreza Bugeye. Even today, you could find a lot of 2002 Bugeye on the road which has a lot of miles on the odometer and they are still running pretty well! Obviously, a lot boils down to how you are treating your car and what mods you are using but given the right treatment, the Bugeye is a long-lasting reliable sports sedan and this is a prime reason why even today owners are not ready to part ways with it.

Can you daily drive a Subaru Impreza Bugeye?

Well, Definitely yes. And this is one of the most advantageous things about the Bugeye. A fuel economy of over 20 MPG is more than enough for a sports sedan that has tons of mods running on it. Also with the added practicality of a four-door, it can even help you with your grocery duties and after that, you will still be able to take it out on a track day! Apart from that, the Bugeye is equally economical to live with, and would not cause a hole in your pocket unlike many other project cars out there.

Continuing the success with Subaru Blobeye

After the Bugeye, the Subaru Blobeye came to America at the end of 2003, and it was re-styled to look modern, sporty, and fast. The car was hugely rally-inspired and had new aftermarket designs since the car was lowered and had squared body parts. Also, it was very tuner friendly. Also as time progressed, Subaru had taken care of the quality management and this car felt much better put together than the Bugeye. A special feature about the Bluboye, it had different traction options, through which you could decide how the power is to be delivered.

Was the Subaru's Hawkeye edition more exciting?

The Subaru Hawkeye edition came for one of the most limited time periods, and it was on sale just for a year. The car was launched in 2006 and was sold till 2007. And it was more of a refreshed version of the Blobeye edition. On the exterior front, it received an entirely new front design and most importantly it got a new engine, the EJ225 block - which was a 2.5L unit and had the potential to push 230 horsepower. The Hawkeye edition had a lot of significant changes like an upgraded center differential, stronger transmission, and a stronger clutch, it could handle a lot better, and it was almost the perfect WRX.

The Legacy

With the WRX series, Subaru had shown to the American Market, that they were truly capable of making all-wheel drive sports cars, and with each and every WRX model, they improved their performance, handling, and braking to huge extents which were indeed commendable. Each edition of the WRX had its own legacy and a different charm to drive, and this is one truly satisfying sports sedan regardless of its age.