First official look: Impreza goes mainstream

HERE it is - the redesigned version of Subaru’s Impreza WRX cult-car. That’s right, the resurgent Japanese maker’s parent company Fuji Heavy Industries last night revealed first official details and pictures of its next-generation Impreza – plus an equally conservative facelift for its controversial Tribeca SUV.

Due to make its global public debut at the New York motor show tomorrow (April 5 - early Good Friday local time), the redesigned small hatch is claimed to be the roomiest ever Impreza and goes on sale in Australia in September.

Subaru will also use New York to exhibit an all-new Impreza four-door sedan, which will also be available in top-shelf turbocharged WRX guise and goes on sale here 12 months later - as well as a heavily massaged Tribeca, which is due on sale here this year.

Yesterday’s official release followed the leaking of official MY2008 Impreza pictures via US magazine Motor Trend, as we reported on March 28.

It’s clear from the official pictures that Subaru has gone for a far less polarizing design with both the four-door and five-door versions of its third-generation Impreza, following widespread criticism of the previous ‘bug-eye’ model launched in 2000. As a result, that model was fast-tracked into a comprehensive cosmetic facelift, which went on sale just two years later.

According to Subaru Australia, the renewed Impreza "has a cosmopolitan new image that will expand its appeal to a far broader audience".

Apart from its more derivative front-end styling comprising slightly teardropped headlights, five-door models feature a continuous character line that extends from the grille to the A-pillar, roof and tailgate. All US hatch models get a rear roof spoiler, while the sedan has 165mm of extra rear overhang.

Similarly, Subaru’s first ever dedicated SUV, the mid-size Tribeca seven-seater, has also come in for significant styling change just four months after it was released in Australia, on November 25 last year.

Gone is the fussy aircraft-inspired front-end styling – replaced by a more mainstream headlight/bonnet/grille/bumper treatment – but Tribeca’s 3.0-litre flat six has also been punched out to 3.6 litres via bigger bore and stroke dimensions, as forecast by GoAuto last year.

"The exterior design of the new Tribeca is streamlined and powerful, building upon the sporty and dynamic feel of its predecessor model," says Subaru, which confirmed the revised SUV will also now run on regular unleaded petrol rather than PULP (in the US) thanks to cooling system changes.

Other Tribeca details are scarce, but Subaru claims the new Dual Active Valve Control System-equipped 3.6 consumes no more fuel nor produces any more emissions than the 3.0-litre it replaces, and comes mated to a revised five-speed auto with a different torque converter and gear ratios. Together, the upgraded engine/transmission is 4.4kg lighter.

The tweaked Tribeca also gets recalibrated rear suspension with new bushings to improve ride comfort, plus C-pillar grabrails, improved third-row seat access via an improved tilt/slide function for both sides of the second-row seat and improved side and rear vision courtesy or new door mirrors and rear quarter windows.

Performance details have not been issued for either Tribeca’s new 3.6-litre boxer six or the 2.0 and 2.5-litre flat fours that power Impreza, but Subaru Australia says the US-spec Impreza to be revealed at New York will "give some pointers as to what Australia may expect".

The WRX’s turbocharged DOHC 2.5 gets improved mid to bottom-end torque delivery (and that more peak torque is delivered 800rpm earlier than the current model, which offers 169kW and 320Nm of torque), via a redesigned intake manifold, intercooler and turbo.

The US WRX is also claimed to be lighter, more driveable, smoother-revving, more fuel-efficient and cleaner-burning, but there’s no word on the flagship WRX STi, which currently delivers 206kW and 392Nm.

Its successor is expected to surface at the Tokyo motor show in October, featuring "much greater external and internal differentiation from the WRX, with performance credentials comparable to some of the world's best premium performance brands".

All new Imprezas employ more high-tensile steel at key structural points to enhance rigidity and ride comfort, while both automatic and manual transmissions (presumably still four and five-speed respectively) have been modified "for faster, more responsive shifting and better maneuverability".

Australian Imprezas won’t adopt the 2.5-litre SOHC flat four that will be offered across the US Impreza range (current versions of which are found in Outback, Liberty and Forester here), but this engine is also claimed to be torquier at lower revs as well as more fuel efficient, thanks to a new intake port, a new catalyst system and other design changes. Expect these updates to appear in other Subaru Australia models in future.

Subaru says all Australian Imprezas will continue to feature the much-publicised symmetrical all-wheel drive system, plus horizontally-opposed engines and "a comprehensive standard specification list that might normally be associated with high end medium or large cars".

The next Impreza features an all-new, higher-quality and bigger interior that’s claimed to be more "in line with Subaru’s reputation as a premium Japanese brand" by featuring a sweeping twin-cockpit design, a high-mounted (optional) navigation screen, "high-grade" double-stitched seat fabric, more headroom, an increase in shoulder room of up to 50mm and aluminium-style highlights.

VDC stability control, at least in the US, will be available on a wider range of Impreza variants, along with a "collapsible safety pedal". Standard Impreza equipment in the US will include twin front, front side and side curtain airbags.

Improved ride, handling, stability and NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) are claimed to result from a 95mm-longer wheelbase, engines that sit lower in the chassis and a new double-wishbone rear suspension, which is also said to deliver a wider, deeper boot.

Both bodystyles offer a 60/40-split folding rear seatback and Subaru USA says the five-door "can accommodate two Tour-size golf bags", while the four-door takes three.

For the first time, Impreza will also come with framed windows, while all door openings are bigger and the rear doors open 75 degrees to improve access to the rear seat, which offers "significantly" more legroom. All door trims will hold large drink bottles.

"This third-generation Impreza is a quantum leap in the key areas of design, engineering, safety and quality," said Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior.

"We will have important advances in engine technology, overall specification, safety and style. Each Impreza variant will offer a convincing package in the quality and value for money equation."Read more: Leaked: WRX exposed!