2008 Subaru Impreza: Safe & Sophisticated Hatchback Motoring Channel Staff - 31/August/2007 | 
2008 Subaru Impreza
The new 2008 Impreza range starts at $24,490
and comes packaged with a frugal 2.0-litre engine
Even the interior of the budget model Impreza R
looks good, highlighting Subaru's upmarket shift
Subaru UpshiftsIt's shorter on the
outside, yet larger on the inside. It's stronger, safer, and stiffer,
yet lighter. It's got more power, but uses less fuel, has more
standard features but the prices haven't been hiked. Subaru's new
Impreza range makes for a very positive impression on paper, but
the question remains, will it appeal to premium small car buyers?
When it was first seen earlier in the year, the general consensus was
not good. Subaru wasn't happy, and some Subaru fans weren't happy. But
the design does seem to have mellowed over time, particularly as
people have familiarised themselves with it. Subaru's National
Corporate Affairs Manager, David Rowley, predicted sales of around 800
to 900 per month in Australia, despite the lack of a sedan model. "We're confident
the spec vs price equation is a strong story," said Mr Rowley, who
added that the sedan model may add another 200 to 300 sales per month
when it arrives in August 2008. - Feann Torr, Editor |
The hero car of the range, the turbo WRX
Subaru and parent company Fuji Heavy Industries
have worked hard to improve the car's safety suite
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NSW, Australia —
Australia is one of the first global markets to see the new 2008 Subaru
Impreza. Now on sale, with prices starting at $24,490 for the
Impreza R manual, Subaru is pushing the new Impreza's safety and sophistication levels. Nick Senior, Subaru Australia's managing director, said the new Impreza will change the way people look at small cars: "This is the car that forever will re-define and shape the small car class. This is the car that tells all competitors: don’t come to the table unless you tick all these boxes." The
new turbocharged Impreza WRX will cost $39,990, and at this stage there
are no Impreza sedans on sale. The sedan models will be arriving
in 2008, after the WRX STI thunders onto the scene early next year.
Full pricing for the new 2008 Impreza line-up is as follows:  Impreza R manual: $24,490 (Sportshift auto $26,440)
Impreza RX manual: $26,490 (Sportshift auto $28,490)
Impreza RS manual: $29,490 (Sportshift auto $31,490)
Impreza WRX: $39,990 (no auto)
Subaru lists Satellite navigation as an option for WRX and RS models, priced at $2,990. One
of the most controversial Impreza designs ever shown by Subaru
(there've been some really polarising designs in the past) the new
models come in hatchback only at this stage and feature a sleek front
end and a much smoother roof line and hatchback, all of which provide
the car with a discernible European flavour. Subaru says
it has added thousands of dollars of value to every model in the range
and has improved ride levels and reduced cabin noise, all of which
increase the Impreza's prestige somewhat. The entire Impreza range is also one of the safest ever developed. It scored the maximum 5-star rating for occupant protection by
the independent Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP). Subaru
is now the first car company in Australia to attain the maximum ANCAP
safety rating across it's entire range, now that the Impreza joins the
Forester, Liberty, Outback and Tribeca. ANCAP's ratings are recognised by
equivalent organisations in the U.S.A., Europe, Japan and Korea, where
crash testing is also performed and results shared with Australia. Subaru
Australia's managing director, Nick Senior said: "Safety is a major
consideration during the vehicle purchase. It is now undeniable
that we are producing some of the safest vehicles in the world. "Subaru
has consistently brought new safety features to the market at a rapid
rate and that’s reflected in the latest ANCAP results," said Mr Senior. "This new Impreza has five-star occupant safety and four-star pedestrian safety partly due to its passive safety features. "Innovations
such as the Vehicle Dynamics Control stability system are standard
across the entire Impreza line-up and across 70 per cent of our entire
range, with the remainder to follow within 12 months. Along
with six airbags (dual front, side and curtain) standard across the
range, Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC), a stability control system, is
also packed as standard with every model. Furthermore, ABS and
all-wheel drive are also equipped across the range, something that few
other small cars can offer. All models come standard
with 5-speed manual gearboxes, including the turbo WRX, while a 4-speed
automatic can be optioned with all non-turbo models. With
power increasing across the range of non-turbo models by
18kW, from 92 to 110kW, the new models are easier to drive. Torque
has risen in the 2.0-litre boxer engines that are fitted to all models
except the WRX as well, from 184 to 196Nm @ 3200rpm. Previous
RS models had more power than the base model Impreza, but this strategy
has been scrapped in favour of a more straightforward engine range. All
models get the 110kW 2.0-litre except for the hero mode, the WRX, which
gets a 2.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. The
Subaru Impreza WRX boasts 169kW of power and 320Nm of torque, and with
its ties to the World Rally Championship it gets a stiffer suspension
tune as well. Vital statistics for the engine range in the 2008 Impreza is as follows: 2.0-litre Boxer (R, RX, RS models)
Power: 110kW @ 6400rpm
Torque: 196Nm @ 3200rpm
Fuel Usage: 8.9L/100km
Carbon Emissions: 210g/km 2.5-litre Boxer Turbo (WRX model)
Power: 169kW @ 5200rpm
Torque: 320Nm @ 2800rpm
Fuel Usage: 10.7L/100km
Carbon Emissions: 252g/km Subaru
has managed to keep the Subaru Impreza WRX's power at similar levels to
the previous version, but has tuned the engine to ensure all the power
and torque is much easier to access, occurring lower in the rev range. Nick Senior explained the WRX's appeal has been altered. No longer a street racer, it's now far more sophisticated: "WRX
retains its award-winning performance credentials but delivers them
through a far more mature and sophisticated premium package that we are
convinced will broaden its appeal. "An
increasing majority of new WRX buyers are professional people seeking a
car that combines a degree of subtle style with an outstanding chassis
and engine package. This car delivers on both fronts," stated the
Subaru Australia chief, Mr Senior. The new Subaru Impreza hatchback range is on sale now, and sedan versions of the Impreza will not out in 2008, along with the highly anticipated WRX STI. 2008 Subaru Impreza Standard Features ABS, EBD VDC, 6 Airbags
Child seat anchor points including ISO FIX
Constant All-Wheel Drive
Hill Start Assist
AM/FM radio, single CD, MP3/WMA, four speakers
Central locking - remote
Cruise control – steering wheel buttons
Manual air conditioning
Power steering, mirrors and windows
Remote fuel lid release – tethered fuel cap
16-inch steel wheels – spacesaver spare Impreza RX adds: Six-stack CD with 10 speakers
16-inch alloy wheels
Climate control air conditioning
Front fog lights
Leather steering wheel with audio controls; leather gearshift Impreza RS adds (to RX specification): Tail pipe cover
Sports bucket seats
Sports body kit
Privacy glass
Different cloth trim
17-inch alloy wheels
Rear diffuser
Double locking system
RS badge
Mesh grille Impreza WRX adds (to RS specification): 2.5 litre turbocharged engine
Rear Limited Slip Differential
Electroluminescent gauges
17-inch alloy wheels
Self-levelling Xenon headlights with pop-up washers
Three year Roadside Assist
Alarm system Related articles:
- Subaru
Liberty & Outback (2008)
- Subaru WRC
Concept (2008)
- Subaru WRX STI
- Gone Soft? (2007)
- Subaru Liberty GT Spec.B - Tuned by STI (Road Test)
- Subaru WRX STI Aero Kit (2008)
- Subaru Impreza WRX sedan (2008)
- Subaru Tribeca (2008)
- Subaru
Impreza WRX (Road
Test)
- Subaru
Forester XT (Road Test)
- Subaru WRX - Tuned by STI (2007)
- Subaru Develops Diesel Boxer Engine (2007)
- Subaru
Liberty Blitzen (2006)
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