Click the image above for over 30 LIVE images of the Subaru WRC Concept.
Okay. We're completely and utterly dumbfounded. We just got back from the Subie-booth and after rummaging through the press CD for ten-minutes, we found exactly ONE sentence about the Impreza WRC Concept. That sentence reads: "The Concept Car, based on the new Impreza, conjures up images of future styling trends for a world rally car."
That's it folks. No word on power output or new all-wheel-drive wizardry, but we think it's safe to assume a blown two-liter flat four sends power to all four wheels via some revised drivetrain software. In the meantime, enjoy the 36 images in our gallery below.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Dirk @ Sep 11th 2007 10:09AM
I want that car so bad.
Maybe not the blue and the logos everywhere. But a nice white one with blacked out windows. Or maybe bright red with white wheels.
Oh hell, I wouldn't be able to afford one anyways.
bill @ Sep 11th 2007 10:13AM
I gotta say this car still reminds me of a grinning idiot - no offense to grinning idiots. Toyota's Tundra front end reminds me of a pig's snout. I need to find something else to do besides looking at cars and trucks................
shadysi @ Sep 11th 2007 10:21AM
I wonder how that wing will translate into production. *scratches head*
Rejus @ Sep 11th 2007 10:47AM
is it my only or many of you feel that is how current wrx suppose to look. i mean people who buy wrx expect this type of look. instead we get plain vanilla round look wrx.
it gets me upset that we get pumped up and then get 50% of the look we want. how hard is to have a regular wrx have those wider fenders wheels front bumper and so on and i am not talking that wrc wrx has sick suspension and so on.
nezromatron @ Sep 11th 2007 11:04AM
Subaru isn't stupid. Why would they create 2 cars that look the same and thus compete with each other. (WRX vs STi)
They made the WRX more mainstream so it would appeal to non-boy racers, and I imagine this would allow them to make the STi more wicked for me and my fellow nutjobs.
Richard @ Sep 11th 2007 11:12AM
There is a pretty big tuner market for the WRX. I bet it has been supplied in a more basic form because many of its buyers are going to customize the heck out of it anyway...never-minding what the more vanilla version does for Subbie's bottom line.
Now, if the STi comes with a track this wide - or close to it, we'll have a winner in the $35k market. Hopefully they'll put in the little things that you expect on a $35k car: heated mirrors and seats, a little sound deadening...
And I do wonder how they'll handle the wing as well.
Make mine dark silver please.
Thunder @ Sep 11th 2007 11:44AM
It would have been better if they had left the standard Impreza as the mainstream car with an available WRX drivetrain and left the WRX sporty-looking and the STi over the top. That way they could have please everybody.
Not everybody wants to pay $35,000, higher insurance and higher gas expenses for the top of the line model just for a better looking body style. I'm curious to see how many people defect from the Subie camp to go with Mitsubishi.
JZeke @ Sep 12th 2007 11:30AM
There were some pretty consistent rumors about 2-3 years ago before the 08 was even avail in spy shots about how a model is going to slot between the WRX and the STI.
In other words there could very well be a ~270hp version with stiffer suspension than stock and the full body treatment of the STI. And it should sell for $26-28k. That could be a nice compromise for those of us who want a non-bland Impreza, but dont necessary need (or can afford) a full-blown $35K STI.
Dave @ Sep 11th 2007 11:12AM
Its bad enought that Subaru's rally cars are unreliable.
Now Solberg and Atkinson will be stuck driving the ugliest cars in the WRC.
ryan @ Sep 11th 2007 11:25AM
wow is frankfurt all hype this year....
that thing isn't any better than the wrx
Mike @ Sep 11th 2007 11:34AM
Hot hot hot...
Victor @ Sep 11th 2007 11:48AM
4 bolt wheels?
Scott @ Sep 11th 2007 12:19PM
Thant is exactly what I saw. The 2008 WRX on Subaru's website shows 5-bolt wheels while this "concept" exhibits 4 bolt wheels.
I can't remember a rally car that had a dual exhaust either. Since it's a single turbo engine splitting that exhaust into two adds weight with zero performance benefit.
Otherwise, I like it.
Richard @ Sep 11th 2007 1:00PM
Wow! Good catch.
The Impreza has 5-bolt wheels.
Me thinks this is total mock-up to gauge reaction to the possible STi variant.
I don't think that you would expect any WRC competitor to divulge too much information about their upcoming challenger.
Matt Dell @ Sep 11th 2007 1:03PM
The Subaru rally car has always used 4-bolt wheels. I read why once, but I've long forgotten the reason.
-Matt
skr @ Sep 11th 2007 3:17PM
easier and quicker to take the wheels off and put'em back on in between stages
USCTrojan4JC @ Sep 11th 2007 4:13PM
The Subaru Impreza WRC rally car switched from a 5-lug to a 4-lug setup in 2005. You can even check old SWRT photos to verify this.
MattDell, you should know better! :o) I see your threads all the time on NASIOC. I'm "USCTrojan4JC".
Richard @ Sep 11th 2007 8:16PM
4 Bolts!
http://www.swrt.com/the_team/the_car_dimensions.html
Matt Dell @ Sep 11th 2007 9:06PM
USCTrojan4JC - By always I didn't mean "always" :p
-Matt
Melikoth @ Sep 11th 2007 2:15PM
I'm done.
In 2004 I was madly in love with you, however, over the years you have changed. I feel our relationship isn't what it used to be, you were young and aggressive looking back then. Now you just want to be like everyone else, and I can't be with someone who doesn't want to be their self. Your new styling trends show your conformity, you've lost the ability to be who you once were.
Subaru, consider yourself divorced from any of my future car purchase plans.