Indeed, the Subaru WRX doesn't look as though it'll migrate to the newer, more sophisticated Subaru global platform architecture upon which its traditional donor car, the Impreza, is based.

The pin-up boy in Subaru's garage, the WRX and its banzai sibling, the WRX STI , have been in showrooms in their current form since 2014. The bad news for fanboys is that the replacement is still at least a couple of years away.

Like the ninth installment of the Star Wars saga, rowdy responses are guaranteed when the next-generation Subaru WRX hero car finally gets released.

Why is this a problem? Well, like mobile phones and computer games, technology dates quickly and the current car is starting to fall behind its rivals. It's also lacking important safety features and may also struggle to pass emissions regulations in some jurisdictions.

Colin Christie, Subaru Australia's managing director spoke to us at the 2019 Tokyo motor show and confirmed the WRX is "…still a fair way off unfortunately."

There was no sign of a new WRX concept at the motor show but the new Levorg popped up in pre-production form packing a new 1.8-litre turbo boxer engine.

It could hint at the WRX's new engine but it would need to surpass 197kW/350Nm – the output of the current WRX's 2.0-litre turbo engine.

There's also the prospect of hybridisation for the next WRX, which would providing an added electric punch and help the engine generate more herbs. But as Christie explained we'll be waiting a while to find out.

"Timing is a bit awkward, and we don’t have an exact date, but certainly not next year," he said of the WRX's arrival.

"We’re hoping it might be a 2021 issue," he said, measuring his words so that if it slips to 2022 he won't have egg on his face. So, it'll either be an MY22 model or even an MY23!

An all-new Subaru Impreza has been in production since late 2016 but the WRX and its bonkers brother, WTX STI, have been plodding along fundamentally unchanged since 2014, riding on older, less sophisticated architecture.