Filed under: New York Auto Show, Sedans/Saloons, Hatchbacks
New York Preview: 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX sedan

Click image for seven new shots of the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX
We're still doing our best to give the new 2008 Subaru Impreza a fighting chance in the realm of public opinion after an unflattering session with Motor Trend's photographer set it off on the wrong foot. Today we bring you the first shots of the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX sedan, which again moves the approval meter a bit more to the positive side. The front end is virtually the same as the five-door hatchback's with an obscenely large intake and matte grille flanked by bits of chrome. The sedan, however, appears more balanced than the five-door hatchback without all of that bulk over the rear wheels. That said, even these new images of the five-door hatch make the car look much better than those first pics, particularly the interior that's shown in a handsome two tone with silver accents.
It's no doubt been a rocky debut for the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX, but the real test will be how well it sells compared to the old model. As such, pricing, which hasn't yet been announced, will be just as if not more important than the new Impreza's styling.
Thanks for the tip, Patrick!
[Source: Autoweek]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
jgp 2:31PM (4/02/2007)
Not bad, and I think the grill looks better here than it does elsewhere.
But, my god, I am utterly sick of how tall cars are nowadays. Not just the Impreza (which is one of the worst offenders), but recent cars in general. Cars that tall should be considered MPVs, not cars...
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Kowell 2:31PM (4/02/2007)
The car looks really nice but sadly, each Subaru nose job is worst than the previous one
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Viv 2:33PM (4/02/2007)
The sedan looks much better than the hatchback. I don't get why so many people are harping on the hatch; it ain't too bad.
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MikeW 2:35PM (4/02/2007)
Bitchin' corolla!
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AJB 2:35PM (4/02/2007)
I don't really see how this new WRX is any better or worse than the styling of other small cars on the market. The old Impreza was ugly, but attractive in a brutish way; the new sedan looks like every other car, but with a shinier grill. Possibly the only exceptions to this rule are the mini, Volvo, C30, and possibly the Mazda3 hatchback, which have some personality in their style.
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karman 2:37PM (4/02/2007)
nowadays cars are getting taller and taller, sad!
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DPC car videos 2:37PM (4/02/2007)
This is pretty nice, the hatchback look wasn't working for me. Overall this new design is much softer looking with smoother lines compared to the older generation.
http://www.dpccars.com
DPCcars
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osnofla 2:38PM (4/02/2007)
i wonder what the back of the sedan looks like
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Spalind 2:39PM (4/02/2007)
The Corolla comment is right on...it looks almost identical to a Corolla S with a hood scoop...Guess the Subaru/Toyota partnership went deeper than I thought!! My god what an ugly piece of crap...I think Mitsu's stock just shot up 10% on the release of these pictures!!
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teh POD 2:40PM (4/02/2007)
the sedan reminds me of the current gen Corolla.
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dan spalinger 2:40PM (4/02/2007)
"i wonder what the back of the sedan looks like"
I bet you wonder what the back end of a pig looks like too...
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Doug 2:41PM (4/02/2007)
Nice. Better than it looked at first.
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Mike 2:45PM (4/02/2007)
A-pillar forward is not that bad, the other 3/4 of the car is horrid!!!!
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Tim UF 2:46PM (4/02/2007)
Corolla, or... 2005 Camry with a bird eater.... er hood scoop.
They did away with the chrome grille on this version... helps a bit...
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The Anti-Paul 2:47PM (4/02/2007)
Not just Corolla, it also has some of the new Sebring in it as well. That's a pretty uninspired design.
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psipwrd 2:49PM (4/02/2007)
Both cars are ugly. The two-tone grill is ugly. The hatch looks like a MS3 and the sedan looks like a Corolla. When I red the article, I was thinking the interior looked good. Tan?!? Hideous. We don't even get to see how ugly the sedan's rear look.
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mtnridr 2:49PM (4/02/2007)
Bitchin Corolla x2
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mike 2:53PM (4/02/2007)
Toyota Corolla action,
is it me or does it look kinda fat, cheap, and i imagine it handles like poop
looks like its gonna roll over...
The only pretty subaru is the legacy gt
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mooj 2:54PM (4/02/2007)
any ferocity and athletecism that the previous models commanded so well is utterly lost in this one. it looks tall, heavy, and soft-- really does look like a fat pig with some spoilers and skirts.
it looks slightly better than the monstrosity that first appeared in motor trend, but it's not a proper impreza. subaru not only killed the nose of this car, but utterly slaughtered the aggressive lines as well.
i'm sure this thing is heavier, larger, and softer sprung. I read recently that subaru devoted so much resources to this brilliant redisign that it failed to markedly improve any of the powertrain components.
i don't even car to see the STI in this pathetic, emasculated guise.
subaru, you disgust me. you disgust me for killing any soul and character in a previously desirable car. now, your halo car is a fat corolla. bet you feel great approving this peice of shit into production.
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cheezwiz 2:56PM (4/02/2007)
4,17: ... I ran over my neighbor.
;)
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