New Impreza becomes a hatch

Details leak about Subaru's new pocket rocket

By PH Staff / Friday, 15 April 2005 / Loading comments

Current Impreza almost last of the line

Subaru's next Impreza is to be an all-new hot hatch, according to Auto Express. It's a big jump for the company that's made its reputation on indestructible estates and relatively low-cost but PDQ turbo-charged saloons. The move follows Mitsubishi's major shake-up of its Evo line.

Impreza chief engineer, Hiroshi Mori, is reported to have said that the car is likely to look different, as well as being lighter and cheaper to build than today's Impreza.

The car will feature a shorter wheelbase and stiffer body, contributing to better handling. It's to be squared off at the rear with long nose -- prompted presumably by pedestrian-safety legislation rather than stylistic reasons. The intercooler moves to the front of the car rather than sitting on top, under that definitive bonnet scoop.

The new hatch will consist of 1.5 and 2.0-litre entry-level variants, according to Auto Express, with the flagship models housing a turbo-charged 2.0-litre lump kicking out 300bhp, and mated to five and six-speed manual gearboxes. There'll even be a five-speed auto. And there'll also be the fancy electronics to allow you to challenge the laws of adhesion and friction.

The new car won't arrive until 2007, so Subaru has a face-lift of the current Impreza in the brew as a stop-gap.