Subaru's "propeller grill" has been received by both the media and the public with, to put it lightly, mixed feelings. Well, the automaker's parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries, has decided to put the kibosh on it and ordered a redesign.
According to spokesman David Rowley of Subaru, the grill will not be applied to the upcoming Liberty and Outback, which will debut in Australia in September. The upcoming Impreza, due out in 2007, will also be sporting a new proboscis. States Rowley, "It's fair to say the design will not appear on future Subarus. We had always said the aerospace theme could be applied in a variety of ways, like the way it's been presented on the Impreza and Tribeca."
Rowley would not state what the new design will be for future Subies. However, it will be based on work from (now ex-) Subaru chief designer Andreas Zapatinas. Zapatinas, as you may remember, had previously designed cars for both Alfa Romeo and Fiat.
[Source: CARSguide]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
wookie @ Aug 28th 2006 8:30AM
So wait, that dude Zapatinas is gone?? That was fast. They're changing the nose again? That's like 5 times in as many years..whateva..that thing is wicked fast!
jim @ Aug 28th 2006 8:34AM
It's nice to be small: you don't need four hundred signatures to make a change. It's only suprising they didn't pass this thru a focus group of non-asians first?!
j i m
eeed @ Aug 28th 2006 9:17AM
Thank god! I love Scoobies, but I'd NEVER drive something with the "Flying Vagina" in the hood (thanks TTAC!!)
Dr. Woo @ Aug 28th 2006 9:20AM
Subaru has no idea what their image should be. The new face grew on me, but now they're changing it yet again.
If there's one thing they need to change, it's their pretentious ad agency. Instead of trying to put down the competition, how about standing on your own merits?
Richard @ Aug 28th 2006 9:39AM
Well, as a fellow Scoobie fan on his 6th it is good to know that it will be a while until they all look alike.
I mean, who among us can tell a silver A3 from a like-coloured A4 wagon, A6 Avant or that new SUV thing when you look over the guard rail into the oncoming traffic. Lexus is on the same road: same lines, same shapes, same creases just different sizes.
I appreciate that Subaru styling has come a long way, but hope a little distinctiveness will remain. I will miss, though, the thought of driving Farago's now infamous "Flying Vagina."
Richard @ Aug 28th 2006 9:40AM
Does anyone have any credible photos of the new Impreza?
I saw something a while ago that was a 3-door in the Alfa/ VW Iroc theme. I think that would be a fantastic for for the Impreza to follow.
Clarence @ Aug 28th 2006 9:41AM
Long ago I had a 64 Saab 94 which featured the current Subaru grill theme. Every time I see this grill on the Subies I smile. I have a theory that this grill was originally intended for Saabs but was stolen during the GM affair. Now maybe it can go back to its original owner. Young folks don't seem to like this grill. It is just not bland enough for them I guess.
CoffeeJedi @ Aug 28th 2006 10:33AM
i think the current Impreza front end would look fine if the center trapezoid was flipped upside down, with the smaller edge on the bottom and the larger edge on top.
d550 @ Aug 28th 2006 10:41AM
It's got nothing to do with Asians or Suzukis. Subaru hired Zapatinas away from Alfa Romeo, he flipped the Alfa Romeo signature three vent fascia upside down, and called it a Subaru. Alfa Romeo front ends are DESIGNED around the Alfa Romeo fascia- you can't just slap it on any SUV or compact car and expect it to work. The B9 Tribeca had the goods to be a contender, but no vehicle could overcome it's ridiculously ugly front end- it's not Aztek bad, but it's in the ballpark. A B9 Tribeca with a standard previous Subaru grill would have sold like an Outback, as in well. What were they thinking...
Steve @ Aug 28th 2006 10:49AM
That's great news. One down and and two to go... when they get rid of the boy-racer hood scoop and rear wing the WRX will appeal to the masses. Funny how Subaru does things... but they will eventually figure it out... remember the stupid blue and gold? Did they actually think the whole world liked the color blue? And if gold wheels were actually popular, wouldn't they be an option at TireRack? Makes you wonder who's in charge over there... either a stupid kid in his early 20s or an old coot in his 70s. Certainly not your average Joe looking for a hot sedan. Niche marketing can be smart... but Subaru shouldn't try to be so different that they limit their sales to a tiny number of weirdos... (Imagine Subaru going into the shoe manufacturing business. They'd probably make tennis shoes for guys who play basketball, but the style would look like old-fashioned Converse high-tops -- and they'd only be available in PINK!
Michael Karesh @ Aug 28th 2006 11:02AM
I was personally okay with the nose on the Impreza. The Tribeca, on the other hand...
Steve,
The WRX has no standard rear wing. Perhaps you mean the STI. There will be an STI Limited without the rear wing this year.
djSyndrome @ Aug 28th 2006 11:08AM
"when they get rid of the boy-racer hood scoop and rear wing the WRX will appeal to the masses"
Not sure about the wing, but the only way they're going to get rid of the hood scoop is if they go with a front-mounted intercooler (like the Evolution), something Subaru is apparently deathly afraid of.
Richard @ Aug 28th 2006 11:13AM
Of course, if Subarus appealed to the masses, the designs would get really bland, the quality would drop and many of their current owners would drive something else.
I think people drive Subarus because of the content and quality for the dollar. That's an education and word of mouth thing not a hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet thing.
Riker @ Aug 28th 2006 11:28AM
Quick note to Steve,
The Blue-over-Gold scheme wasn't Subaru's attempt at making an automotive fashion statement. Race cars and rally cars in all leagues are painted in very distincitve color schemes to make them more easily identifiable in the middle of a race.
That was the color scheme of the rally car that the WRX was based upon. It was just a matter of paying homage to the car's racing heritage. And you could buy it in other colors if you wanted to.
Steve @ Aug 28th 2006 11:35AM
Sorry, I was under the impression that the first edition of the WRX was only available in blue and gold, and I also thought the early version only came with the big wing... must be my memory...too many drugs a long time ago. (Regarding the homage to race cars... if that sells cars, why not put the numbers and decals on it, too?)
Oolon Coluphid @ Aug 28th 2006 11:54AM
Am I the only one who liked both the bugeye Impreza and the "propeller" Impreza better than the nose they had on it during the 04-05 model years?
I think the propeller nose Impreza is the best looking Impreza since the old 2.5 RS
Steve @ Aug 28th 2006 11:58AM
No, you're probably not the only one. There must be someone else out there somewhere who likes it. Maybe airplane pilots like it... they might think it looks great and they may want to buy one to pay homage to their AIRPLANE.
Paqza @ Aug 28th 2006 12:13PM
Actually TireRack does have gold wheels. And bronze.
NB @ Aug 28th 2006 12:18PM
I liked the front end (definitely prefer it to the "bug eyes"), but when I bought mine (base Impreza, not WRX), like most Subie drivers, I was buying AWD.
It would take more than a design issue to make me fork out the extra cash for anything Quattro. If I hated the Subie designs and could afford a little extra, I would probably jump right to the BMW 325xi AWD Wagon.
Steve @ Aug 28th 2006 12:58PM
Paqza,
You're right about TireRack's gold and bronze wheels... http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/gramlights/gramlights.jsp