Bye,Bye 05
Subaru hatches a Golf GTI chaser
here's a radical plan being hatched at Subaru - and Auto Express has all the details! In this week's issue we have the clearest pictures yet of the Japanese firm's all-new Impreza, which is due to be unveiled in only 18 months' time.
As we revealed in issue 853, the familiar saloon shape has gone, replaced by a daring hatchback. On sale in spring 2008, the Impreza will be transformed from rally-inspired saloon to upmarket family car, and will be available in three and five-door forms.
The production machine will debut at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 2007, and is set to prove that Subaru is taking the Impreza in a new direction to widen its appeal. As a manufacturer of specialist boxer-engined, four-wheel-drive, rally-derived cars, it has traditionally won strong support from driving enthusiasts.
But the new car aims to change that, and is charged with selling in much bigger numbers by appealing to Ford Focus and VW Golf buyers. The engine range is also being overhauled, with UK drivers being offered two units with improved fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions.
Entry-level models will be fitted with a new 2.0-litre naturally aspirated boxer engine, mated to a choice of six-speed manual and five-speed auto gearboxes. Delivering 170bhp, it's expected to return around 30mpg. Meanwhile, a turbocharged 2.0-litre boxer engine will power the WRX and STi performance models
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- the latter producing in excess of 300bhp.
To further boost sales, Subaru will introduce its first four-cylinder boxer diesel engine soon after the Impreza arrives in 2008. The firm's new partner company, Toyota, will lend assistance in developing the new range of cleaner, more fuel-efficient powerplants.
Keen to hang on to its competition roots, the naturally aspirated 2.0-litre petrol will be a detuned version of the engine that will power Subaru's World Rally Car from 2009. All models will retain the trademark four-wheel-drive layout.
The looks will be vastly different, though. As you can see from these images of the flagship STi model, the Impreza features the aircraft-shaped grille and chunky, wheel-at-each-corner stance of the B5 concept which debuted in Tokyo last year (Issue 87
. But it adds a new swage line at the rear and a rising tail. The clamshell-style, glass hatchback remains.
Larger than a VW Golf, the Impreza should offer lots of space inside, while cabin quality will be benchmarked against Audi's A3. Overall, the new car will see Subaru make a concerted move upmarket.
Also on the way is a production version of the turbo boxer hybrid that debuted in the B5 concept. It will be Subaru's first bi-fuel drivetrain, and is being co-developed with Toyota to arrive in 2009 in the all-new Legacy. A facelifted version of the current model is due in 2007.
Peter Lyon
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