Thursday 9th August 2007

WRC Impreza Shots Released

Excitement ensues...

---

You've got to admit it looks good

Subaru are set to reveal their controversial new WRC Impreza concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The car, resplendent in the now standard blue and fluorescent yellow trim has caused quite a stir here at the office.

If they release a road car that looks like that one, we’ll be all over it.

[FestivAli]

whoa, not bad. Hopefully it'll fare a little better than the current car. It needs 555 decals though...

[Gold]

Have Subaru managed to polish a turd??!?!

[EviLScooB]

This has been causing a stir at MWJCC whilst some people like it the die hard Impreza fans don't. Most of our owners drive classic shape Impreza's ranging from P1's to Type R's to 22B's and they hate anything that is not classic, I on the other hand drive a 53 plate Bugeye which I love and is great car, this is considered to be a UFO to classic fans!
I have been pondering on this new arrival and have decided that I do like it and would consider owning one in the future.
The debate is should they have ditched the name with such a radical redesign effectively it's no longer an Impreza as it has evolved into a hothatch and looks very Focus like?
I know why they have done this and that is to win the WRC as the current design needed to be overalled to make it a nimble competitor around the track, time will tell but I put my money on this that this will give the other boys a run for their money and make Subaru champions again!

Edited by EviLScooB on Thursday 9th August 23:34

[Bizzle]

It still looks like a mid 90's proton.
Looks better, but im not convinced. It's totally lost the agressive styling that ALL (even the bugeye) had.

[shortlad]

More like what the road car should look like!

[mneame]

still looks like a mazda 3 imo.

they got it right the first time with the classic and have struggled to make one look as good. i'll be sticking with my classic for a bit longer yet.

[jamesson]

Quite a long front overhang. Wonder how long the front bumper will stay on during certain events. Looks much better than the standard car overall.

[ScoobieWRX]

Well........ If it looks just like that i'll take one please!!

For all the nasty comments i have made about Subaru Impreza hatchbacks and polishing turds, turning out wonderfully engineered new cars wrapped in used toilet paper, i have to say this is a nice bit of kit and looks the biz!! I am changing my mind from being a staunch WRX Bugeye Sportwagin lover to accepting this very latest offering as a very credible. It's growing on me

I definately wouldn't say no to the new STi, and if only they did similar with the WRX and brought that to the UK through the main dealer network instead of canning it in the UK, it would be a wonderful thing to behold.

C'mon Subaru don't forsake UK WRX lovers!! (although i hear JDM WRX's will probably be imported to the UK by the usual routes,and i think they look OK booted. Not too dissimilar to the current 2007 WRX so no issues there)

[GravelBen]

Not too bad though they've swapped a few too many Subaru genes for Focus ones.

I don't like that chrome/plastic strip across the top of the grill either, it just looks tacky.

[andy.shent]

As someone else has said...

Cover the front of the photo of the car with one hand and it looks like a Focus RS

[Nicol@]

EviLScooB said:

The debate is should they have ditched the name with such a radical redesign effectively it's no longer an Impreza as it has evolved into a hothatch and looks very Focus like?

I think it should have been renamed.

I hate hot hatches and don't want to be ashamed for owning an Impreza.

I still don't like it.

[mattwell]

A WRX 5 door is it just me or is that a bit strange?!!!!

[GravelBen]

mattwell said:

A WRX 5 door is it just me or is that a bit strange?!!!!

Why is it strange? they've always made WRX and STi wagons. Personally I would have expected them to base the WRC car on a 3-door body but I'm not aware of them having made a 3-door hatch of the new shape yet. If they do a limited edition 3-door STi for homologation it could be the next 22b

[Zaim]

I knew it....put a bodykit on it, spoilers and some gold wheels and I think it looks cool. Chuck some mud and dust on it and watch it drift around a rally stage and the transformation is complete.

Edited by Zaim on Thursday 9th August 14:18

[Agoogy]

Max Power readers rejoice, die hard petrol heads now accept pig ugly hot hatch as long as its slammed, with phat rims and a sic paintjob.


innit.

[robinoz]

Those at the 2000 motorshow will remember the bugeye wrc debut looking fecking horn. This looks terrible but I'm even more confused after a dealer got spanked day for suggesting the UK will get the wrx. WTF?

[Biccaroo]

It's undoubtedly better looking than the mundane road car it's based on, but it's still an aesthetic failure in my opinion. I'd honestly take a bloody Corsa VXR over this!

[E4UAN]

Sorry, I still don't think it's anything special. Put it next to the new Evo and it'll look dated.
I really want to like the new Impreza, but it's just bland compared to everything else now.

[Schnell]

andy.shent said:

As someone else has said...

Cover the front of the photo of the car with one hand and it looks like a Focus RS

Didnt realise Ford made a 5-door Focus RS with gold wheels

...and of course, how many times have we seen a showroom spec Impreza that looks like it's just fallen off a WRC rally stage?

Err, never...

Lest we forget, that the road going version will be somewhat watered down from the pic above, so dont get too excited yet!

[IrishDave]

Surely that much front overhang is not a good thing on a rally car?