2015 Subaru WRX vs 6 inches of snow: Who wins? [video]

What could be more fun than driving the all-new 2015 Subaru WRX wide open in a nice open area? The only thing more fun would be if that field was covered in 6 inches of fresh powder. Consumer Reports put out a fun video of the new-generation WRX going full-speed in an open snow-covered area. How did the new performance car do? Watch the newly released Consumer Reports video below to find out.

Consumer Reports operates the largest and most sophisticated independent automobile testing center devoted to the consumer interest anywhere in the world. Situated on 327 acres in rural Connecticut, the Consumer Reports Auto Test Center is home to more than 20 staff members, including automotive engineers, technicians, and support staff. Consumer Reports buys, anonymously, all the cars it tests, about 80 per year, and drives each for thousands of miles.

Formal testing is done at the track and on surrounding public roads. The evaluation regimen consists of more than 50 individual tests. Some are objective, instrumented track tests using state-of-the-art electronic gear that yield empirical findings. Some are subjective evaluations-jury tests done by the experienced engineering staff. This 2015 WRX video will provide further insights into the ways that Consumer Reports evaluates new cars to help its readers make smart, informed choices.

While it may seem like pure fun for Consumer Reports to test the new 2015 WRX, they are actually conducting a serious test of the Subaru WRX all-wheel-drive system. Subaru is known for its Symmetrical AWD system, but how does it hold up under power in an extreme environment? 6 inches of snow actually provides the perfect test ground to get full power and rpms out of the performance WRX without putting the driver and machine in danger.

Consumer reports wants too see how the WRX with all-wheel-drive handles the extreme power and environment. All-wheel-drive sports cars can become hard to control in dirt, snow and ice at higher speeds. Subaru’s goal was to keep the rear wheels gripping so the driver could control the car easily through the corners at high speeds. This is aimed at any driver who gets behind the wheel of WRX, experienced in performance cars or not. What Subaru was going for was a solid grip at the rear in order to give a sharp turn in at the front. The rear grip creates a feeling of security and no fear of spinning out of control. You can then take the car and push it to the extreme.

Subaru also worked on the stiffness and rigidity of the body which has a direct relationship to the firmness of the suspension. It enabled the Subaru engineers to pull out the full potential of the suspension. So they focused on the stiffness of the body which allows the hard suspension to stroke and move like a true sports car. Subaru wanted to “reduce friction” in the new WRX suspension.Engineers tweaked how each coil spring was wound to reduce the friction in the stiff suspension.

So you want a performance car that will handle extreme conditions? The all-new 2015 Subaru WRX is a performance car for all seasons and conditions.

Watch Subaru WRX vs Snow video from Consumer Reports.