Spy Shots: Subaru Outback Sport in the wild
by Frank Filipponio on Jul 23rd 2007 at 2:27PM 
NASIOC forum member Lone Wolf 75 was at Raven's Stadium recently and spotted a pack of new Imprezas apparently getting ready for some type of focus group ride-and-drive. Besides the base Impreza and WRX sedan, he saw a hatch with a roof rack and revised front end. It is most likely the new Outback Sport. As other members had pointed out, it has a different grille with a chrome strip at the top, thinner chrome sides and an elongated drop in the bottom section of the grille. Much like the STi, but with a different mesh-patterned insert. It also sports the new front fascia, over-fenders and restyled rockers of previous Outbacks in a contrasting silver color. The two-tone look is a bit debatable, making the car look like a mismatched mule rather than a production model, but the overall package is tasteful. We had seen the back and side before, but this is our first look at the Outback-ed front end.
[Source: NASIOC]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
jg3 2:41PM (7/23/2007)
Wow. When will Subaru learn from Pontiac that all that plastic color-clashed cladding is like fake boobs on your grandpa?
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Max Merak 3:11PM (7/23/2007)
I don't like Subaru's styling direction at all. The Tribeca has turned from a hideous creation into an Asian Chrysler, and the Impreza has morphed from a pig-nose mutant into a Kia.
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John P. 2:45PM (7/23/2007)
ouch, that plastic gives it such a wonder cheap flimsy look. gotta love it.
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geo.stewart 2:51PM (7/23/2007)
When did a "mismatched mule" become "tasteful"?
One has to wonder.
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Biff Baxter All American 3:07PM (7/23/2007)
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......
Looks like a Gen I Saturn.
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srivendel 3:15PM (7/23/2007)
Subaru dealers must be ecstatic to have such an exciting product arriving soon! None of that ho-hum Evo X, 135i, or R32 garbage for them. Turn your Thrill Meters to ELEVEN!
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rv 5:46PM (7/23/2007)
Ummm - mentioning a Rabbit in the same sentence as a BMW, Mistu and Soob? Apparently your cute-meter is set to girly.
grandJDM.com 12:50AM (7/24/2007)
Isn't the Outback based on the Legacy?
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supercujo 4:27AM (7/24/2007)
The title of the article should say Impreza Outback Sport or Impreza Sportwagon.
Kumar 4:45PM (7/23/2007)
the only way that 'roof rack' flies is if it fits thule or yakima without adapters.
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Kotse 7:26PM (7/23/2007)
The new Impreza/WRX must be the most HIDEOUS Subaru design in recent memory(the previous eagle grilled B9 Tribeca a close 2nd)..and I used to like the Fuji Ind. brand...
The new Lancer/EVO X hands down looks a whole lot better...way, way better!
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tbirdkatz 5:17PM (7/23/2007)
the thing looks like a friggin daewoo. why on earth anybody might want one i have no idea.
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Jeff R. 5:40PM (7/23/2007)
"Driven by what's inside"...an old Subaru slogan, which accurately pertains to Subaru's philosophy.
With a lot of people being driven by what's on the outside of vehicles, this car won't be driven by too many people. The styling isn't the worst I've seen, but this car is pretty tough to look at it. Along with the mismatched cladding, I think the front end, with its animated vacuum cleaner look, is the frosting on the cake.
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Bruce 5:46PM (7/23/2007)
I don't think its that bad...
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Zyburn 6:05PM (7/23/2007)
God just killed a kitten.
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Carlos 6:54AM (7/24/2007)
Boo to the mis-matched cladding, and they shouldn't
call it an oubtack- it's an imprezza for pete's sake!
The Styling is growing on me, I wouldn't call it
"beautiful", certainly not "drop dead gorgeous"
but its "somewhat pretty" (a little plain though).
Subaru, you did a good effort, but it's going to take
more than this, you need to get a new styling direction
for the entire brand (to unify the lineup) asap.
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mooj 12:00AM (7/24/2007)
and guess what? motor trend has just driven the damn thing, and, aside from very minor handling refinements, and some needed augmentation in interior design, this car feels ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME as the old one.
Same 0-60, same 1/4 miler, same skidpad performance.
So, what is the final result of all this? Subaru shifted around some peices on the inside, without making any appreciable difference in the performance of the vehicle, and wrapped it in one of the ugliest, blandest, and cheap econo-boxed exteriors in the segment.
Way to go, Subaru-- all you did was make your finest vehicle ugly as hell. Other than that, you succeeded in mocking us with this pathetic "evolution".
Go to hell, the lot of you.
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brandegee 12:36PM (7/24/2007)
I could care less how it looks. If it performs like before, and they've solved the major mechanical problems of previous Imprezas/WRX lines, then sign me up. In fact, I hope the new looks spur sale prices at the dealerships.
Rocket Punch 6:42PM (7/23/2007)
Subby has lost it this generation.....The whole Impreza line is a joke, IMO. Lets see what they can come up with for the STI.
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Kotse 7:40PM (7/23/2007)
Oh, btw I'd nominate the New Impreza/WRX for....
Top Ten Gay Cars of '08
p.s. It looks the queerest of the Japanese '08 models so far..(!)
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