click above image for more dark shots of the impending Subaru Impreza STI
It was a dark and stormy night... inside the studio where Subaru shot its first batch of Impreza STI images. Like the dutiful fanboys we are, Autoblog has already posted on each of the first two pics, a dark head-on shot and a dark rear shot. Here we have a dark 3/4 shot (check out the lightened version at left), and we don't know if it will be the last of the bunch before the Subaru Impreza STI is officially unveiled on October 24th at the Tokyo Motor Show. Hopefully at that time we'll be supplied with some properly lit photographs, and we'll of course have a slew of improperly lit live shots from the unveiling, as well.[Source: Subaru]
New KITT Attack Mode revealed at Comic Con
London 2008: Honda OSM concept roadster says, "Cheerio!"
London 2008: Lotus unveils the Evora
2010 Chevy Camaro - Official Details and Images
2010 Chevy Camaro - LIVE from the reveal
First Drive: Maserati Quattroporte S in Europe
First Drive: 2008 MINI Cooper S JCW
In the Autoblog Garage:2009 Nissan GT-R
North American Exclusive First Drive: Alfa MiTo
First Drive: 2009 Kia Borrego
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Maestro1 @ Oct 3rd 2007 4:16PM
Out of all the new Impreza models, this is the only one I could even remotely warm up to. Change the grille and taillights and presto!
Problem is this is the STI, which I can't even remotely afford. If it was the WRX I would have looked at it. I guess i'll have to wait for the Ralliart...
In any case it looks alright the way it is, even if there is a slight overhang. I wonder what the tuners will do to it.
RG @ Oct 3rd 2007 4:28PM
The stance doesnt look right, it looks like the wheel gap is HUGE.
mk @ Oct 3rd 2007 4:32PM
I hope the tuners do a lot...
Nice crossover for me to tune my Legacy GT. :D
Other than that, I am not so impressed. I haven't liked this bodystyle since it was first leaked, then released. I like 3 and 5-door hatches, and think they can be sleek and practical at the same time.
This car lost out on the sleek from the drawing board on.
The previous car looked a bit purposeful with all of its WRC-style-racing acoutrements. This car still looks even more like an econobox with a body-kit that happens to have a cracking-good drivetrain fitted.
RG @ Oct 3rd 2007 5:48PM
I find it a little ironic that you praise the previous versions for their purposeful "WRC style-racing accoutrement's" and yet you do not appreciate the fact that the very architecture of the new STi (short hatch) is to aid it in the WRC.
mk @ Oct 3rd 2007 6:04PM
I have no problem with the concept of it being a five-door hatch. I like the idea, and the practicality of hatch cars. I wish there were more of them.
I just don't think it is a very good looking one, and it ends up looking more pedestrian and uninspiring than the previous sedan-based STI.
My criticism is more that Subaru could have raised their game, design wise, but didn't, and the Impreza bodystyle now looks worse for it, somewhat regardless of the number of doors.
A nice looking existing 5-door would be something like the Audi A3. or even the Mazda 6 5-door sedan, in a larger class. I am not even all that keen on the Mazda3 five-door, although the Impreza looks like an inferior copy of it.
The Audi is a perfectly nice design. Subaru doesn't have to carbon-copy that design by any means, it is only proof that a good looking 5-door can exist. Subaru sure could have done better in the looks department than what they now have. It looks like a small-car version of the Tribeca as a knock off of the Mazda3, and that just doesn't look that good, IMHO.
I have said that since the impreza broke cover. The previewed STI, from an aesthetic standpoint, hasn't improved it. Fender flares and a body kit don't do that bodystyle any big favors, where it did somewhat help the previous, also mundane 4-door bodystyle.
Technically, under the skin, I think it is a great platform and drivetrain. You just need Xray vision to get past the bodywork, and the new one needs stronger Xray vision than the previous one.
Personally, I wish it had been a three-door fastback coupe, actually, but that is even less likely than subaru designing any newer car that looks as good as my Legacy GT, at this point. Plus it sucks that they lost the frameless windows on the impreza.
My criticism is an aesthetic one, not a technical one.
James @ Oct 3rd 2007 7:51PM
2nd gen LGT "looks good"?? It's a nice car, yes, but it isn't a huge design step for Subaru. Unless you're talking about the wagon, which looks better than the sedan.
I may be the minority here, but I generally think 5 door wagons look better than their 4 door counterparts. See BMW 3 series, Volvo S40/V50, S60/V70 for example. And now of course, the 08 WRX sedan (which looks like a Corolla) vs. the 5 door
mk @ Oct 3rd 2007 8:55PM
Actually, Fourth generation Legacy GT. 2005-2007. Mine is a 2005 specifically.
And yes, it looks quite good, especially in Garnet Red Pearl.
And drives good with a turbo and 5-speed. Much the same drivetrain that the WRX is getting, with the Legacy GT having more power than the WRX, but less than the STI. New WRX and STI tuning should apply nicely to the Legacy GT in several areas, with more shared chassis and engine parts.
robotrock @ Oct 3rd 2007 4:37PM
I guess its like screwing an ugly chick...some are fine with it if the lights are off.
I need a pretty face, however.
Maestro1 @ Oct 3rd 2007 4:44PM
LOL!
I kinda wonder how people would have responded to the hatchback body style had this thing actually looked like the European Focus...
stefan @ Oct 3rd 2007 4:44PM
Subaru did the imposible, make the new impreza look good.
Menice @ Oct 3rd 2007 4:53PM
soooo tired of hearing about it already.
it's a freaking subie doo.. whoopie doo....
if there wasnt an STI it'd be another lame dorky looking hatch/wagon.
stefan @ Oct 3rd 2007 5:09PM
But there is a STI.
Menice @ Oct 3rd 2007 5:35PM
yea,
and if i could afford it, i'd probably be interested.
still tired of hearing about it though.
skr @ Oct 3rd 2007 6:57PM
I find it funny how many people take their time to post comments about how much they dislike/hate it. Why bother posting then?
dap7298 @ Oct 3rd 2007 7:17PM
We hope subaru is listening and fixes this shit. Thats why.
Larry @ Oct 3rd 2007 7:52PM
You could make a roller skate fast, but it would still be ugly and graceless!
James @ Oct 3rd 2007 7:55PM
We care because while Subarus have never been good looking, they've always stood out from the rest of the Japanese car crowd with their driving dynamics. True, a 50/50 RWD car probably handles better (ON A RACETRACK) but for the average Joe, where else are you going to get a safe, fun to drive car for ~30k?
Andy @ Oct 3rd 2007 8:50PM
http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/6984/stipcyu3.jpg
Richard @ Oct 3rd 2007 8:58PM
Sometimes I think she is beautiful.
Sometimes I'm not so sure.
I guess it'll all be about the smile that driving her puts on my face!
Maestro1 @ Oct 3rd 2007 9:54PM
Well considering Edmunds' review of the WRX showed it to be 'watered down', you better hope it didn't happen to the STI, otherwise you'll have nothing to smile about :P.