Next Generation Impreza

[brchi17]

Now I love my Subies, but I'm a little concerned about the direction that I see Subaru heading with the next model Impreza that is due for release around October.

Have a look at it click here (http://carsguide.news.com.au/news/story_page/0,82 69,15558176%255E21822,00.html)

Apparently the new propeller grill theory is a link to their heritage where they (parent company Fuji Heavy Industries) used to make planes in the 30’s and 40’s. I seem to think thought that it might be better if Subaru focused on their motor vehicle history that we all know about instead of their aviation one which people seldom know about.

I wonder if Subaru learnt anything from the bug eye experience or is this influence coming from new part owner GM, considering their sizeable stake in Fuji Heavy Industries ???

What do you guys think ???

[singer]

I've had 5 Subaru's over the past 20 years.

With the last the gimmicky electronics let it down.

I think they should keep to the KISS principle.

Less electronics & more advancement with the mechanicals

[craigrobbo]

I've had 4 Subaru's, and currently drive a 2004 Outback 3.0R

I don't like the direction that Subaru is heading with their designs, although I will reserve my full judgement until I see the cars in the "flesh"

[singer]

I believe that Subaru designs are very much based around limiting the use of componentry in other cars by patenting their designs.

In the 50's 60's 70's & 80's you could buy A generic Headlight unit for a resonable price. The same applied to the electrical components as well as suspension components.

These lights were generic to a number of vehicles & were produced in the 100s of 1000.

In the 50's 60's 70's & 80's you could tell distinctive manufacturers & they didn't have to go patenting designs to limit use by other manufacturers:(

This practice is not limited to Subaru/GMH/Izusu or Ford/Mazda/Jag

Brad, I think you'll find the design shown in the pic wil be the one used:mad:

[wayno]

Looks better than the "bug eyed" effort they tried. I'll reserve judgement until I see it, but I think it looks pretty aggressive.
At the moment I quite like it.

[Tumbo]

considering they have bought in the ex-alfa designer i'm not suprised w/ the new look. The front looks reasonable but the rear of the car is shocking!!!

http://www.autoreview.ru/new_site/news/2005/05/31_ 1/800_2.jpg
http://www.autoreview.ru/new_site/news/2005/05/31_ 1/800_1.jpg

one can only hope that major changes are made before this is released :(

[wayno]

Ummmmmmmmmm, can I change my vote? It looks a lot worse in those pics. Can you imagine trying to panel beat that bonnet?

[toad]

The front is a tolerable effort at differentiation. A lot of different lines and angles though.

The rear doesn't fit the the rest of the car. The rear lights look loke alfa 156...but they work on the 156...not the Impreza.

Maybe in time familiarity will help the Impreza, like it has on the current BMW's which were dreadful when released but have improved to only bad :-)

[wayno]

The boot on the BMW's still reminds me of the back of a taxi with the advertising board on it.

[Tumbo]

here's a link sent by m.lowe featuring more on the new impreza including a pic of the possibly 06 rally car......one ugly ugly car :(

http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring/news_reports/ subaru-wrx-2006.htm

[toad]

That rally car is really bad. Surely a joke.:D

[wayno]

The worst thing is if Chris drives one I'll have to buy a model of it! :mad:

[toad]

Yes can you imagine...Chris in that ugly contraption and Mark Webber in BMW's...almost as bad. I guess we can be pleased BMW-Williams dumped the walrus nose before he came on board.

;)

[Gan88]

The road car looks crap, but the WRC looks passable.

[Sats]

Originally posted by Tumbo
considering they have bought in the ex-alfa designer i'm not suprised w/ the new look. The front looks reasonable but the rear of the car is shocking!!!


They are computer generated images. The images which appeared in Friday's Cars Guide were of the real thing and it looks a lot subdued than the linked images. This is apparently the face of all Subaru's to come. Ouch!!!!

[brchi17]

Originally posted by Sats
They are computer generated images. The images which appeared in Friday's Cars Guide were of the real thing and it looks a lot subdued than the linked images. This is apparently the face of all Subaru's to come. Ouch!!!!

Exactly the reason why I'm worried that they have lost the plot again:rolleyes: !!!

I mean we love our Subaru, but my wife doesn't want to update hers because she thinks the new direction is ugly and I agree.

Luckily we've got a MY00 so it's no where near ready to sell yet, but getting back to the new model, that WRC image has got to be a joke.

Where is the letter box vent in the bonnet ??? I mean, it's a Subaru trademark, surely they can't take that away.

Now what did they do to the designer that fixed the bug eye problem ??? Why did Subaru need some designer from Alfa Romeo to design a Japanese Alfa clone ???

Surely if Subaru need the Impreza to be inspired by something, why choose Alfa Romeo ??? They’ve had enough success in the WRC to use it for inspiration if they need something.

The other thing I can't understand is why is it the current trend for car companies to create grills on their cars, that have iconic links back to their widely unknown heritage, or be the same on every model they produce (nee Mitsubishi, Ford Europe etc...) ???

I just hope they don't let this clown near the Liberty/Legacy when it's due for its next update as perhaps people may choose to look elsewhere. This smells of AU Falcon all over again :rolleyes:

cheers.

[rex555]

I'm with you Brad. I updated my MY97 to a 00 since neither Subaru or anyone else could tell me what the 01 model would look like. Did I ever breathe a sigh of relief when I saw one in the metal that I had made the correct choice.

Here is a link to some more pix. 2.5l engine would be sweet tho.

http://rexilla.com/wrx/my06.htm

[singer]

Originally posted by toad
The front is a tolerable effort at differentiation. A lot of different lines and angles though.

The rear doesn't fit the the rest of the car. The rear lights look loke alfa 156...but they work on the 156...not the Impreza.

Maybe in time familiarity will help the Impreza, like it has on the current BMW's which were dreadful when released but have improved to only bad

It has shades of of the Alfa 156 in the Front end too!:mad: :(

[brchi17]

Just as a side note I decided to visit my local Suby dealers Tuesday night and funnily enough they've actually had quite a few inquires about when the new model is coming so that they can order the old model !!!

I hope this sends them a message as it appears they didn't learn from the bug eye.

Also what I found interesting is the price of a new Impreza RS is basically the same price as it was a little over 5 years ago.

We paid somewhere near $33k for our RX (now known as the RS) in 2000 and now we can have a new RS for mid $33 on the road.

cheers. :)

[Rob]

Bad enough that's it's hiddeous but it's not
even original. Attached (once cleared) is a pic
of the Daewoo Lacetti with what looks like a
similar looking nose???

[rex555]

I test drove the original New Age Impreza on the first day of it's release in Adelaide. As I was heading down the road, I thought I saw another one parked on the side of the road. Nope, Daewoo Cielo. Took me ages before I could tell the difference between the two from the rear.

[toad]

Is it just me, or do others also think BMW 3 and 5 series also look like Korean cars from behind?

[rex555]

No, it's not just you. But Chris Bangle may get cranky with you saying it.

[Gan88]

Originally posted by toad
Is it just me, or do others also think BMW 3 and 5 series also look like Korean cars from behind?

I think the the 3, 5 and 7 look bloody fantastic right now, especially the 7.

I haven't seen a decent Korean car to date.

[a9x308]

The rear of that impreza looks not to far a cry from the old subaru Vortex.........

[username]

thumbs down...

[timbo333]

In the pics i like the front end treatment...it looks aggressive. The rear looks...well....wimpish...:(

Try again i reckon on the rear end.

Timbo.

[brchi17]

Well it appears that the Alfa rear end was just a little bit of bluff.

Attached are some official pics of the 2006 WRX STi

cheers. :)

[brchi17]

Well it's now out on the streets & after seeing one parked on the street (Red WRX), I'm now starting to think it's not as bad as I'd first feared. That said, I still think it's a step backwards from the MY2005.

Here is a link to new Impreza website (http://impreza.subaru.com.au/default_flash.html). It's interesting to note that in the a majority of model front page pictures they've chosen to use the wagon as its headline image.

Couple of things to note,
GX RX & RS badges have been dumped in favour of 2.0i (GX) & 2.0R (RS)
2.5Lt engine is no longer available in the RS, replaced by a DOHC 2.0 for the 2.0S (first time DOHC engine has been made available for the non Turbo Impreza's
WRX & STi now has a 2.5Lt engine (USA spec)
I think the big thing will be in a few months time when we look at the sales figures & see if this is a hit, or a backwards move.

Also, I found that this car has not been influenced by the Alfa designer we were all bagging a few months ago, apparent he is working on the next generation which is due sometime around 2007/8

cheers :)

[Tumbo]

thought it would be ok but having seen one last week I think that it looks ridiculous. That stupid little rear wing on the back window :rolleyes:

[brchi17]

Originally posted by Tumbo
thought it would be ok but having seen one last week I think that it looks ridiculous. That stupid little rear wing on the back window :rolleyes:

Have you heard the story about that ???

Apparently it's there so that is can deflect more air (i.e. downforce) onto the rear wing. I think it was more of a WRC item than a road going one, but you're right it does look quite strange sitting up there all on its own.

cheers. :)

[Tumbo]

Did hear about the "apparent" advantages of the rear wing, but I doubt the effect it would have for the non-speeding motorist and additionally on the WRC stages, unless it moves further toward touring cars (not cynical just missing the old endurance stages- save the 50Km one in Japan- where there were of course more services :p )

[brchi17]

WRC model (http://www.swrt.com/wrc2006/index.html) video & pictures :)

[wayno]

Still not convinved. Looks much better in WRC trim though.

[brchi17]

Originally posted by wayno
Still not convinved. Looks much better in WRC trim though.

It will be interesting to see is the FIA approve the wing on the top of the rear window, without PSA there next year, they could be rather dominant ???

cheers. :)

[Tumbo]

While I hope Subaru are competitive and start winning again, my tip is Ford- with Gronholm's services set to go there I believe that they may show to be the new PSA. Alternatively Loeb may show speed w/ OMV (where he is tipped to go) and their modified Xsara

Having said that Atko might do well in 06 :D