Autocar is reporting that Subaru will volly a strike against Mitsubishi in early April when it debuts the all-new Impreza at the New York Auto Show. The body style will be a five-door hatchback with styling similar to that of the B5 TPH concept that first appeared last year in Tokyo. Power will reportedly come from your choice of a 1.5L or 2.0L flat-four boxer engine. Autocar's shocker is that the popular WRX model that slots between the everyday Imprezas and the high performance STi model will be cancelled, and that we won't see the new STi until 2008. Autocar doesn't cite its source for this information, and it seems highly unlikely to us considering that Mitsubishi is planning to make its Lancer Ralliart more powerful than previous generations in an effort to face the WRX head on. All will be revealed in the Big Apple come April, but for now we sit and wait.
[Source: Autocar]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Chunk @ Jan 29th 2007 12:41PM
Wow...I would be really surprised is this were true. Does anybody really care about about the base model Impreza? Almost every non-STI Impreza I see is a WRX.
There's been so much invested in the name WRX as well, I just can't imagine Subaru would kill it so abruptly.
Evotec @ Jan 29th 2007 12:45PM
nooooo.
tikirob @ Jan 29th 2007 12:49PM
Hmmm...they must have something up there sleeve, or at least I sure hope so.
Rob
http://www.autoshortlist.com
SSBR @ Jan 29th 2007 12:49PM
I believe god is punishing Subaru.
http://www.rolesor.com
dave @ Jan 29th 2007 1:01PM
yuk!
John P. @ Jan 29th 2007 1:13PM
Did Subaru fire the ex-bulldozer designers? This car actually looks pretty nice. I can't believe they would kill the wrx though. what a shame.
PJ @ Jan 29th 2007 1:13PM
I certainly hope Autocar's wrong, and I have a hard time believing this to begin with.
The WRX transformed Subaru's image in the North American market, and has been instrumental in their increased market share in recent years. It's also been part of the Impreza lineup for 13 years in overseas markets. To cancel it would be like Ford canceling the Mustang GT and selling only V6s.
D Man @ Jan 29th 2007 1:26PM
R.I.P. WRX
Puffyc @ Jan 29th 2007 1:30PM
Wow, that is one ugly car. Hope the production model doesn't look like that. Did the ex-Aztek designers get jobs over at Subaru?
BOB @ Jan 29th 2007 1:37PM
LOOKS GOOD~ as it ought to, since the picture is stretched more than Paris Hilton's resume,lol.
Even at its real height and width, this car is a big improvement for Subaru.
I would say the "no WRX" rumors are publicity crap.
RGT88 @ Jan 29th 2007 1:41PM
For some reason I'm seeing Citroen C6 styling theme in front.
Peter @ Jan 29th 2007 1:43PM
The info so far doesn't make a lot of sense. The next Impreza is supposed to use a shortened Legacy platform, meaning it is unlikely to be a lightweight. Engines reported so far are 1.5L and 2.0L normally aspirated; Hello sluggish performance. Though I can see it not having WRX right away. Work out platform bugs then give it full power.
Please don't make it look like that B5 TPH thing. Info from before was this was NOT the new Impreza.
While there is a lot of talk about hatchback model, the spy shots showed a 4door wagon around the same size as the current model.
We will just have to wait and see.
Tim UF @ Jan 29th 2007 1:49PM
so, my 2007 wrx tr is a last edition? sweet
D. @ Jan 29th 2007 1:50PM
I hope it's not true... but then it's possible, since Toyota has now something to say. I expect Toyota to promote the production of 'appliance like' cars.
bgdc @ Jan 29th 2007 1:52PM
What a giant load of crap. This is like all the BS about BMW dropping the 3 series name and M3 name because the coupes should be the 4 series and M4. didn't happen. The WRX is THE reason for Subaru's success this decade and the main model of Imprezza sold. Total, uber crap.
Fazzster @ Jan 29th 2007 1:54PM
This is ridiculous....if one is going to start a rumor, at least make it believable...
Hamud @ Jan 29th 2007 1:54PM
Kinda, ermmm, hummmm, weird. Interesting though.
Steve S @ Jan 29th 2007 2:02PM
I'd be surprised if they dropped teh WRX, woudn't be very bright of them. But then again if they are only going hatch then thats is pretty stupid of them as well. Hatches are selling better in the US but they don't sell that good. Looks like Evo X sales are going to jump a whole lot.
Michael Karesh @ Jan 29th 2007 2:23PM
Clearly, Subaru is suicidal. First they eliminated the manual transmission from the Legacy GT wagon, then they eliminate the Legacy wagon altogether, and now this?
Well, at least they'll now have more production capacity available for Toyota.
Sammy B @ Jan 29th 2007 2:36PM
Considering that the only spy shot we have seen of the new impreza had it sporting a hood scoop and being followed by a GTI, I would hope that they would produce the wrx version they have obviously been working on.
If toyota has a hand in killing the WRX I will never buy a toyota product again.
Don't think it will happen though. I would just like to know cause I need a new car sooner than later and was hoping to buy the new WRX when it came out.