Subaru unveiling new Impreza in New York, WRX being dropped
Autocar is reporting that Subaru will volly a strike against Mitsubishi in early April when it debuts the all-new Impreza at the New York Auto Show. The body style will be a five-door hatchback with styling similar to that of the B5 TPH concept that first appeared last year in Tokyo. Power will reportedly come from your choice of a 1.5L or 2.0L flat-four boxer engine. Autocar's shocker is that the popular WRX model that slots between the everyday Imprezas and the high performance STi model will be cancelled, and that we won't see the new STi until 2008. Autocar doesn't cite its source for this information, and it seems highly unlikely to us considering that Mitsubishi is planning to make its Lancer Ralliart more powerful than previous generations in an effort to face the WRX head on. All will be revealed in the Big Apple come April, but for now we sit and wait.
[Source: Autocar]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Chunk 12:41PM (1/29/2007)
Wow...I would be really surprised is this were true. Does anybody really care about about the base model Impreza? Almost every non-STI Impreza I see is a WRX.
There's been so much invested in the name WRX as well, I just can't imagine Subaru would kill it so abruptly.
Reply
Evotec 12:45PM (1/29/2007)
nooooo.
Reply
tikirob 12:49PM (1/29/2007)
Hmmm...they must have something up there sleeve, or at least I sure hope so.
Rob
http://www.autoshortlist.com
Reply
SSBR 12:49PM (1/29/2007)
I believe god is punishing Subaru.
http://www.rolesor.com
Reply
PJ 1:13PM (1/29/2007)
I certainly hope Autocar's wrong, and I have a hard time believing this to begin with.
The WRX transformed Subaru's image in the North American market, and has been instrumental in their increased market share in recent years. It's also been part of the Impreza lineup for 13 years in overseas markets. To cancel it would be like Ford canceling the Mustang GT and selling only V6s.
Reply
dave 1:01PM (1/29/2007)
yuk!
Reply
John P. 1:13PM (1/29/2007)
Did Subaru fire the ex-bulldozer designers? This car actually looks pretty nice. I can't believe they would kill the wrx though. what a shame.
Reply
Fred 10:25PM (2/08/2007)
I say BS. The WRX is the most well known model.
Reply
RGT88 1:41PM (1/29/2007)
For some reason I'm seeing Citroen C6 styling theme in front.
Reply
Hamud 1:54PM (1/29/2007)
Kinda, ermmm, hummmm, weird. Interesting though.
Reply
Puffyc 1:30PM (1/29/2007)
Wow, that is one ugly car. Hope the production model doesn't look like that. Did the ex-Aztek designers get jobs over at Subaru?
Reply
D Man 1:26PM (1/29/2007)
R.I.P. WRX
Reply
BOB 1:37PM (1/29/2007)
LOOKS GOOD~ as it ought to, since the picture is stretched more than Paris Hilton's resume,lol.
Even at its real height and width, this car is a big improvement for Subaru.
I would say the "no WRX" rumors are publicity crap.
Reply
Mat 3:34PM (1/29/2007)
Agreed. They have something up their sleeve.
Maybe a 2 door wrx? I don't know, but with all the marketing money they've spent on 'wrx', you'd think they'd want to keep it going...
Reply
Peter 1:43PM (1/29/2007)
The info so far doesn't make a lot of sense. The next Impreza is supposed to use a shortened Legacy platform, meaning it is unlikely to be a lightweight. Engines reported so far are 1.5L and 2.0L normally aspirated; Hello sluggish performance. Though I can see it not having WRX right away. Work out platform bugs then give it full power.
Please don't make it look like that B5 TPH thing. Info from before was this was NOT the new Impreza.
While there is a lot of talk about hatchback model, the spy shots showed a 4door wagon around the same size as the current model.
We will just have to wait and see.
Reply
Steve S 2:02PM (1/29/2007)
I'd be surprised if they dropped teh WRX, woudn't be very bright of them. But then again if they are only going hatch then thats is pretty stupid of them as well. Hatches are selling better in the US but they don't sell that good. Looks like Evo X sales are going to jump a whole lot.
Reply
Seven 2:43PM (1/29/2007)
I can't imagine them ditching the WRX unless they plan it as its own distinct line separate from the impreza line. The current WRX is so appealing, I just hope they don't destroy what good things they have. A price reduction, however, would be fantastic.
Reply
D. 1:50PM (1/29/2007)
I hope it's not true... but then it's possible, since Toyota has now something to say. I expect Toyota to promote the production of 'appliance like' cars.
Reply
DKB_SATX 3:45PM (1/29/2007)
In non-slush country (South, Southwest) most of the Imprezas I see are WRXs. It's rare enough to be noteworthy when I see a normally-aspirated Impreza or the older "Outback Sport" Impreza "CUV." Here in Texas I'd guess that I see 3 WRXs for every 1 of ANY other recent Subaru model, and as a Legacy GT driver I notice Subarus. I could see them somehow making it a more distinct model than just a package on the Impreza, but I can't see Subaru ditching the WRX. The STI is too expensive and too radical for most buyers.
Reply
Tim UF 1:49PM (1/29/2007)
so, my 2007 wrx tr is a last edition? sweet
Reply