Like a good dramatic actor, the Subaru Impreza WRX portrays performance with passion. Inspired by the automaker’s World Rally Championship car, the 4-door spreads the sports theme on thick with such WRX staples as 6-disc in-dash CD changer, aluminum alloy floor pedals, aluminum hood with scoop, dual outlet tailpipe, fog lights, and Momo brand 4-spoke leather wrapped steering wheel. The car’s taut suspension and full-time all wheel drive system compliment the rally-theme. WRX’s 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine releases more horsepower (227 at 6000 rpm) than the Audi A4 1.8T and the BMW 325xi. In 2002, 450 of the 10,000 Impreza WRX sports sedans will be painted in Blaze Yellow paint. (Those same 450 cars will sport a rear deck spoiler.) Over-the-hood viewing improves via a new standard ratchet-type height adjuster on the driver’s seat (vertical range is now 2 inches), and the tilt-adjust steering column now has a 2-inch range of movement. One zone still open for improvement is the driver’s side bolstered seat, which lacks adequate slide forward adjustment for someone shorter than 5-foot-6. The all-new Impreza WRX with 5-speed manual transmission registers 20 city/27 highway mpg estimates. Suggested base price is $23,995.