2015 Subaru WRX hits all the right notes on the road (pictures)

Previous versions of the WRX have been high-performance versions of the Impreza, but this generation gets substantially different body work and mechanicals.

A hood scoop and large front intakes feed a twin-scroll turbocharger.

Subaru will only offer the WRX in a sedan body, a move intended to broaden the car's appeal.

Quad pipes are supposed to deliver an aggressive exhaust note, but in practice it sounded muted.

LED headlights will be available for the WRX.

The 2-liter four-cylinder engine is in Subaru's flat, "boxer" configuration, letting it sit low in the car. With direct injection and a twin-scroll turbo, it produces 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque.

As in the previous generation, the new WRX gets wide front fenders.

The trunk lid gets a small, integrated spoiler, but otherwise the rear of the car is bland.

Excellent handling characteristics combined with a comfortable ride make the WRX a multipurpose vehicle.

The sport seats have reasonably sized bolsters and grippy fabric.

The cabin materials are fairly typical for Subaru.

The flat-bottom steering wheel evokes the car's sporty handling.

The CVT is a curiosity, having a variable ratio mode, six-virtual-gear mode, and eight-virtual-gear mode.

The six-speed manual transmission option will likely be the preference of most WRX buyers.

This dashboard LCD shows a variety of screens, including turbo pressure.

An upgrade package adds navigation and a Harman Kardon stereo.