A More Impressive Impreza (Apparently)

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Speedster502

Speedster502

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We haven't been bowled over by what we've seen of the new Subaru Impreza thus far. Gone is the saloon back, replaced by a stubby hatch, and worse still there's no STI version on the way until next spring.

But a beefy rear spoiler, fat roof air intake and the thought of some serious dirt-track sidewayness in the hands of a Scandinavian loon tends to improve our opinion of a car.

And so it proves for the Impreza WRC concept, due to be unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show in September by Subaru's world rally driver Petter Solberg.

It's definitely an improvement over the stock Impreza (not a great surprise, that), but the TG office consensus is that the WRC is still a bit long in the nose. No matter: the new Impreza should be a potent little number when it makes it on to the world rally circuit.

Frankfurt will also see Scooby formally unveil the new Impreza in Europe, alongside the facelifted Tribeca (thankfully it's less offensive than the original) and - hold on to something solid here - the new Justy five-door supermini.

Where to head first on the Subaru stand? Decisions, decisions...
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Personally I don't think that this new WRC version that has been released makes much of a difference to my opinion of the car. It's still but ugly and does not deserve the Impreza status. But thats my opinion.
 
It, at the very least, gives us an idea of where the STi will start, which is a very good thing. The "basic" WRX is disappointing enough in which we MUST have an STi for Subaru to redeem themselves. It looks like its only a marginal change (not that any STi was really that different), but it isn't nearly as "edgy" as the previous STis over the past few years. I've never really been a Scooby fan, but stuff like this only solidifies it.
 
Hmm...

If you cut the front end off - removing everything from the top of the front wheel arches forwards - I'd swear that was a Mk2 Focus.
 
I agree with Famine and believe it has similarities to the Focus.
Also, I like the appearance a bit more when laid down on a full scale rally tuning.
The Sti should still be a kick-butt car. 👍

I'm just looking forward to the 2 door model. :trouble:
I don't know if they actually will do a two door but I'm sure it would be incredible if they did this using a coupe.
I bet it would even look cool. :sly:
 
I think it looks good. (Waits for flames to ensue) I do have to agree on the Focus thing as well, but I've also liked the look of the WRC Focus.

Get rid of the Chrome accents, and we are set.
 
Quick, Subaru! put that grille on the new "base" Imprezas... NOW! Looks ten times better than that ugh... ack... eek... they have there now... :lol:

Still no love for the tail-lights... :ouch:

Now that you've mentioned it... I can't stop seeing the Focus in that greenhouse... photochop?
 
*McLaren*
IMO, I think the WRX STi needs to have a similar spoiler.
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Prefferably with the bottom element removed so that you can, you know, see out of the window.

I think, perhaps, the front of the car finally looks good, now it has a ton of bodykit added. Maybe Subaru designed this version first, and then removed bits to make the lower spec models? :dunce:

Also, can somebody explain to me the purpose of those vents in the front wheel arches? It looks as if they simply channel air from that small slit vent it the front bumper, around the front of the car and over the arches. Are they some sort of malformed brake cooling, or do they simply increase drag for the sake of it?
 
I'll agree that the car finally does look decent. The front end is a little busy, but the car looks respectable now.

As for those vents, they are probably brake ducts. My guess as to their location is because they can't place them down low because of rocks and stuff (notice how the fenders curl under the car behind the tires). Their flow into the front end is probably cosmetic.
 

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