Filed under: New York Auto Show, Hatchbacks, Subaru
Road & Track gives best look yet at the new Subaru WRX
Road & Track magazine has come clean with its take on (and photos of) the all-new Subaru Impreza WRX. The previously-released Motor Trend photo spread did absolutely nothing for the car, and was largely met with cries of anguish, pulling of hair and much gnashing of teeth. The new Subie's 5-door appearance has proven to be controversial so far, mostly because it just didn't look good in those particular photos. R&T's pics cast it the car in a different light, and it fares better. The new front end design is a lot more appealing than the Motor Trend cover led us to believe. Road & Track's pictures, taken outside in sunlight, show that the grillework is not overly shiny. In fact, it appears to have a predominantly matte finish, with a little extra shine on the side and lower borders. The car's substantial hood scoop is wide and mean-looking, and it appears ready to ingest any unlucky birds, roadside wildlife, and possibly small children that happen to venture too close. We like what we see.
In profile, the car still looks enormous (note the driver's size compared to the rest of the car), and we get the impression that it probably is, when compared to the outgoing Impreza. One of Subaru's goals was to make the new version more practical and appealing to the masses, and it's obviously grown accordingly. That all said, the hatchback is looking a lot better in our eyes after seeing these new photos. Whether or not the car truly presents well "in the metal" is something we'll be able to tell you in a few days.
The irony of all this is that the hatchback, a car every auto writer and pundit had been waiting for with bated breath, is practically old news now. Who'd have thought that the big Subie surprise awaiting us in New York would be the new WRX sedan, which has remained very much off the radar during the runup to the show?
Road & Track's photo gallery can be found here.
Props to Dino for the tip!
[Source: Road & Track]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Mike 10:35PM (3/30/2007)
Nope, still gross.
Reply
pocmonster 10:39PM (3/30/2007)
Night & day difference!!! Now it actually looks attractive. And the interior looks MUCH better. Yay!
Reply
doug 10:40PM (3/30/2007)
It's almost sacrilege that they've put the amazing boxer engine in that HORRIFIC Chrysler/Renault mashup.
I weep for the Impreza.
Reply
Ken Westin 10:43PM (3/30/2007)
Agreed. Subaru lost a fan. I was really hoping they would get their act together and focus on their design. This killed it for me. I love our Outback as our family car, but will look elsewhere for my "toy". With the A3, R32 and new Volvo coming out, I just don't see how this will compete.
Reply
Bill Hancock 10:50PM (3/30/2007)
@ #4
R32 FTW!!!
Reply
bmw122487 10:56PM (3/30/2007)
I'll be honest, i generally can's stand japanese cars with the exception of the skyline, supra, evo, and at one point the WRX. this being one of the few asian cars i liked i am heartbroken to see that its has been horribly beaten with an ugly stick :(
Reply
Guy 10:58PM (3/30/2007)
I am much more impressed by the new impreza. I own a mazda3 but wants AWD. I was hoping that the new impreza will be good looking. Now I am more certain that I'll swith to subaru. I'm glad that subaru decided to make the impreza more mature looking. The front is much better than the previous generation and I love the LEDs in the back. The interior is more upscale and refined! Good job Subaru...
Reply
Eric Elinow 10:59PM (3/30/2007)
Finally, more hatchbacks for America. Hopefully this is just another sign of a move away from the least practical (and lest appealing) three-box a.k.a. saloon/sedan body style. In time, America will wake up and follow the older and wiser European mindset en masse.
Eric
http://www.europeanisation.net
Reply
trevo4 11:03PM (3/30/2007)
Wow, what's up with Subaru's design department? I think they've lost the plot.
Reply
Aki 11:19PM (3/30/2007)
Man, and I liked the airplane grille too. This is just plain, ugly, and plain ugly. At least the previous ugliness was distinct... now it's just generically repugnant.
Reply
freestufftimes 11:20PM (3/30/2007)
subaru needs to hire some new designers that aren't from asia. The only good looking car they put out is the legacy wagon
Reply
NoNameDenton 11:44PM (3/30/2007)
#8 If Europe is so great, why is it that America had to go over their to end the World Wars that they started? Europe is older, but is not wiser, if fact, the new Europe is reminding me why my ancestors left the old Europe. I would rather drive a station wagon then an ugly hatchback, hatchbacks look like a pug dog comapred to the grace that comes with the designs of a sedan. Also, even the Communist Chinese prefer sedans over hatchbacks, and they are living in a doomed economic sysytem.
Reply
Bliss 11:52PM (3/30/2007)
That's a funny looking Mazda.
Reply
Carletti 11:55PM (3/30/2007)
My view is that sport sedans are pretty much ill. In particular, I greatly admire BMW's interpretation of the sport sedan with especial emphasis given to the spectacular E28 M and the even better E30 M (although a coupe). To be sure, these cars were small sedans by today’s standards. But their function over form philosophy coupled with their expansive greenhouses, by their resolute looks, and by the serious lines on them emphasized that they were real driver's cars...cars that were driven and seemingly gave up complete control to the driver, as the driver was often bigger than the car itself.
Look I'm no Subaru fan, but I think that even the optimist type has to admit that the new WRX hatchback is an astonishingly horrific display. To be sure, this is one ugly automobile and, as the side profile picture adequately displays in my view, this car cannot ever be considered a driver’s car. For it’s essentially an MPV is what it is. The front is terrible, the back is terrible, and nothing flows correctly. Ugly showing is this.
Reply
RPM38 12:02AM (3/31/2007)
I'm waiting out for the sedan... once I see that, I'll form an opinion. But I don't think it'll be a good one.
Reply
Evan 12:12AM (3/31/2007)
The grill certainly looks less horrid in these shots... but I can imagine aftermarket companies selling a lot of alternate Impreza grills from now on :)
Reply
Robert 12:21AM (3/31/2007)
My vote is for ugly... Subaru has always had a car or two in their line-up with questionable aesthetics, but it sucks they had to do it to a model I used to find attractive. It seems they're still searching for a iconic face as Audi and Cadillac have done.
Reply
Steve 12:28AM (3/31/2007)
Look what happens when Japanese gives to US Designer the Job to make a car... Ugly as the Tribeca... Man a legend has died !
Reply
Ken 12:39AM (3/31/2007)
Where are the awesome brakes!!!
Not everyone wants to drop a few grand on an after-market BBK.
Why would they go from 'normal' brakes to what is on the current car, back to 'normal' ones? Unless the WRX will start at $22k, there is no good reason.
That said, the brakes on the M5 look like something off of a minivan - but obviously they perform well, so I await some road tests.
Reply
Ethan 12:42AM (3/31/2007)
If you look closely, you can actually see elements of the Tribeca in the back end and the rear of the sides.
Also, there's no way that the driver-to-car proportions are that extreme. The guy's leaning in or something; if he wasn't then that thing would have to be as big as a Rondo...
Reply