We've now received our May issue of Motor Trend in the mail and can verify that the 2008 Subaru Impreza does appear on the cover and inside the mag. We can't show you those pictures of the car since they were taken by one of Motor Trend's photographers and are owned by the magazine (though you can view them here). The cover car is a blue model in the new four-door hatchback body style. Yesterday we reported about new pics surfacing over at Inside Line featuring a version of the car in red. While the IL article did provide us with some solid details about the car, the pics that were shown on the site and labeled "Original photo source unknown" have been exposed as photoshopped versions of the images taken by Motor Trend. Go ahead and grab your issue and compare. It's clear that the magazine was scanned, the car selected out, given a new color and pasted on a new background. Looking closely at the IL pics, we're a bit disappointed in ourselves that we didn't catch it sooner.
We're actually pleased at this little turn of events, because it means that there does not yet exist official pics of the 2008 Subaru Impreza in the wild. We've harshed on the styling of the new Impreza a lot here, but are still willing to give it a chance. Perhaps the forgiving eye of Subaru's own in-house photographer can convince us it's not that bad. We'll find out when we arrive in New York next week and pick up our press kit, as well as take our own shots of the new car in person.
Thanks for the tip, Chris!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Luke @ Mar 29th 2007 8:01PM
I told you!!! Ford Focus base for photoshops!!!!!!!
Dan @ Mar 29th 2007 8:03PM
I still hope the new does not look anywhere near those pics. That car looked like a pimped up Daewoo Lanos. Absolutely disgusting.
naggs @ Mar 29th 2007 8:06PM
called it. front end is from sebring, rear is from rx330.
so the news about the new suspension front and rear is true?
Deezee @ Mar 29th 2007 8:09PM
A sigh of relief from me. Theres still hope that Subaru can make it look decent.
speedball3 @ Mar 29th 2007 8:23PM
Seriously, I am glad these were fakes. Though it has taken me some time to get used to the look of all Subaru's (I can appreciate both the old and new Impreza styles) so first impressions are not always the final answer.
James Sonne @ Mar 29th 2007 8:26PM
Actually, it's not a Photoshop in the sense that it is fake. The photoshoot took place in front of a green screen, with the magazines and journalists given a choice of different backgrounds to be displayed behind their images to make it appear that each magazine got it's own separate photoshoot and wheeltime with the car. The car is the actual car, the only thing dubbed in is a background and a little bit of wheel blur to make it seem like the vehicles were handed out for individual First Drive tests, when in fact journalists were simply given the opportunity to look and play with the car in a studio on Subaru's site.
Also, these images are 100% consistent with the spyshots taken a couple of months ago.
The images are not Photoshops and are images of the actual 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX hatchback.
vectorbug @ Mar 29th 2007 8:41PM
"We can't show you those pictures of the car since they were taken by one of Motor Trend's photographers and are owned by the magazine (though you can view them here)"
Huh? We cant show you them but you can view them here?
Cameron @ Mar 29th 2007 8:50PM
It's SO UGLY!
The Isuzu Stylus called, it wants its title back for ugliest grille ever.
This car is pretty pissed too:
http://i.euniverse.com/funpages/cms_content/8880/tellie_tubbie_van.jpg
Alistair @ Mar 29th 2007 8:51PM
Well, it ain't pretty. Still, I'm thinking that a grill swap would go a long way to fixing the front end. Maybe mesh or honeycomb? I drive a Focus hatch, so the overall shape isn't that offensive to me. I think the grill is the big issue.
John Neff @ Mar 29th 2007 9:07PM
Sorry for not being more clear in the post. The pictures are of the actual 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX taken by Motor Trend. Someone then took those MT pics and photoshopped them to make them look like different pics. So the only shots we've seen of the Impreza were taken by Motor Trend. We're very anxious to see Subaru's own shots, because often an automaker's own shots of a car are the best. We'll have to wait and see, though.
DPC car videos @ Mar 29th 2007 9:08PM
This car and the Lamborghini Alar although in a totaly different catagory are racing to see which will be the next ugliest car.
http://www.dpccars.com
DPCcars
geo.stewart @ Mar 29th 2007 10:00PM
As mentioned before, the grill as shown seems to rile the most. I've seen other photo-sketches with a black honeycomb grill that would be more in keeping. The lighting on this SEEMS to show chrome but not sure it is. Doesnt really fit Sube's image and never seen that much before on one.
The sad part is that Subaru has seemed to mimic the Mazda Protege5 and Kia Spectra5. So, should this be the Impreza5? Not that offensive but not that exciting. I like that Subaru has always had a quirky design (yes that is polite but I haven't really been offended before) and this seems so mainstream yawn.
J @ Mar 29th 2007 10:01PM
the taillights from a side view (in the earlier pictures) are very Acura RDX.
icerabbit @ Mar 29th 2007 10:20PM
SEAT ... no - Subaru?
That red photoshop rear view shot sure gave me good memories about my SEAT :)
hambone43 @ Mar 29th 2007 10:24PM
no sir, i dont like it.
DT @ Mar 29th 2007 10:43PM
I'm kind of sitting here shocked more folks aren't talking about what actually happened with the photos. Didn't Neff spell it out clearly enough?!?!?!
Eric Elinow @ Mar 29th 2007 10:52PM
Regarding the comments about it looking like an Isuzu Stylus and/or a Daewoo Lanos... Nah, Subaru doesn't (to the best of my knowledge) use ItalDesign and/or Pininfarina Italian design studios (like the Opel Powered Daewoo Lanos and Isuzu Stylus).
Sean Flanagan @ Mar 29th 2007 11:17PM
"Thanks for the tip, Chris!"
Chris? I was the first one to notice this in the comments! I want my just hat-tip, damnit!
:-D
Still, I'm with DT, I can't believe people aren't talking about what has happened here. This is similar to all the embargo-busting drama that happened a few months ago, except this time it's outright copyright infringement. If these are indeed taken by Motor Trend's photographers, as John suggests, then they are being used illegitimately by Edmunds, regardless of the amount of editing.
It's sad that the sort of mindset that thinks this is acceptable seems to permeate the automotive journalism world. Publishers of all people should know copyright law and should be diligent about keeping their (and others') copyrights protected.
NoNameDenton @ Mar 29th 2007 11:17PM
It does not matter to me, it is still a hatchback, and I hate hatchbacks, I am not a European, and it is mainly Europe that buys hatches in bulk numbers, even the Chinese buy sedans for crying out loud and they are Communists living in a doomed economic system
BarryWom @ Mar 29th 2007 11:21PM
Whoa! If you must copy the front end of another car, why on earth would you pick a fright pig like the Chrysler Sebring? At least saner minds prevailed and left the hood strakes off the WRX.