Impreza Hot Hatch??

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/m_sobol/car_portal_pic_19383.jpg

Impreza Hot Hatch On Way

Auto Express can exclusively reveal the Japanese firm has outrageous plans for the next Impreza. Altering a formula which has proved a success for the past 12 years is a bold move, but the introduction of an Impreza hatch follows Mitsubishi's plans to radically alter its Evo line-up.

The decision confirms comments made by Impreza chief engineer, Hiroshi Mori, who told Auto Express that the next-generation car "might take a new design direction, and could be smaller". So why have designers turned their back on saloons? The new car will be smaller, lighter and cheaper to produce than the four-door, and should have better handling, thanks to its short wheelbase and stiffer body.

Led by ex-Alfa Romeo and SEAT designer Andreas Zapatinas, Subaru's styling department has not only opted for a squared-off finish at the rear, but a long nose as well - bringing the new model into line with the look of many European hatches. The front overhang will house the turbo motor's intercooler, which will be moved from its current position at the top of the engine bay.

With the new car not due until 2007, Subaru has a facelifted Impreza saloon already waiting in the wings. Exclusively revealed by Auto Express in Issue 838, it will be launched at the end of this year, before going on sale early in 2006.

The Impreza hatch will sit on a shortened Legacy chassis. The plan is to introduce basic 1.5 and 2.0-litre variants, with flagship models coming with a 2.0-litre 300bhp turbo motor. Five and six-speed manual gearboxes will be available, along with a five-speed auto.

Despite the extra versatility provided by the five-door body shape, engineers won't compromise the Impreza's handling for practicality. Unlike the Legacy, which has compact rear suspension to maximise boot space, the Impreza will use a layout that will optimise driving dynamics.

To enhance the cornering potential even more, engineers and test drivers will also develop an advanced version of the current Driver Controlled Centre Differential (DCCD). This allows more torque to be channelled to the rear wheels for sharper turn-in.

No matter how good the handling, it remains to be seen whether loyal fans will warm to the idea of an Impreza hatchback.
Peter Lyon

I dunno how credible this info is, the car looks kinda photo-chopped....looks a lot like the DC5 Integra Type-R (RSX in USA I think). Funnily enough, I was tossing up between a rex and the teg when I was getting my car.

That's what happens when you hire your head of design from Alfa Romeo...

My thoughts exactly. However, it does sound to be one MEAN car. That's always been my tradeoff with Subaru, never the best looking car, but definitely performs.

nice car and I hope there will be no unda on the new hatche (( :D I guess it will be good car and more fun to drive than the historic 86 ))

guess I will save some money for this one ^^ but ya why the 6 speed ?? they should keep it 5 speed for the 300hp version ??

hideous..... :disappoin

but ya why the 6 speed ?? they should keep it 5 speed for the 300hp version ??

Cruising at 3200rpm at 110km/h on the highway is not my idea of saving fuel and not much fun either.

eh....:-/

we're screwed, i dont like that car design at all, hideous is correct

My thoughts exactly. However, it does sound to be one MEAN car. That's always been my tradeoff with Subaru, never the best looking car, but definitely performs.
Yes, but at least the current model isn't nauseating to look at. It's not the most beautiful thing on the road, but it's not ugly like the prospect Alfa front end.

So what's the e-mail address I can write to, so I can tell them they are losing a Subaru enthusiast if they make this nasty looking thing? Might as well try it, cause the overall opinion is disgusting and if we all voice our thoughts it might change their minds. Worth a shot at least...

I think its april lie ??
:disappoin

:( :(

wtf is that????? impreza is one of my favorite car all the time, but now...... :nono: anymore.........

It's hard hearing that from a BMW dude. I'm hating recent BMW's that look ugly and they all look the same.

http://img100.echo.cx/img100/1584/04to070gj.jpg

Look wise, I am very dissapointed. Performance wise, it makes up for it. That to me does NOT look like a WRX, and never will. And as freakray said, it was a mistake to hire their head of design from Alfa Romeo, a big mistake.

You do realize that this was probably an Adobe drawn/photochopped image? For one thing no body really knows how the "new" WRX will look like or even when Subaru will ever redesign it, or even if it will look Alfa Romeish. For example, just look at the 2005 Forester, it now has a new face and back lift which you can't call necessarily "Tribecified." There are countless other magazines throwing their own take on what the WRX and even base Impreza for that matter will look like and going to the point of even guess when since Subaru never had an official press release to begin with on this subject that I know of, the magazines though all seem to agree that it is 2007 though. And sure, they also seem to agree it will look like an Alfa Romeo or Tribeca in some way or another, does that mean you have to assume the same?

The other Magazine takes.
http://www.woocha.com/photos/users/jmillward/photos/2007_2_Door_STi.jpg
http://www.woocha.com/photos/users/jmillward/photos/2007_2_Door_STi_Article.jpg
http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/files/Darksied-X/25510.jpg

http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/sixcms/media.php/23/SUBARU.Impreza_450.jpg

Obvsiouly the possibility of it being photochopped is there.

But this magazine was one of the first to claim the bug-eye rex was coming out and everyone dimissed it because it just looked so outrageous and the generation beforehand looked so good.

I guess you do have a point there. But as for this, it does not take much insight in order to be convinced of the possibility that the WRX will look like that. However in my opinion I don't think the WRX will necessarily be a hatch, or at least in standard form, and will look more like what artist from Subaru did for a rally game for the PS2 (http://www.swrt.com/576052.html). I had a source which had more angles of that model, but I can't find it at the moment, perhaps someone else can?

Nevermind, here is the official Subaru site that covers Daisuke's design (http://www.subaru-msm.com/global/feature/issues/3.html) there is even a scrolling picture bar at the bottom left that covers most of the angles of the CG model, not to mention concept drawings, beta shots of the game and also two pics of a rally spec looking B11S.