Paul Tan on the Automotive Industry
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Subaru has given the Australian market Subaru Impreza WRX a new nose that uses a wire mesh grille instead of the chrome-is thing that’s on the Impreza WRX in other markets including Japan. You can be pretty sure that Impreza owners in other markets will be finding ways to import this new grille so that they can give their own Rexes a more aggressive look.
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After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.
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from this angle, the front looks like a mazda3 n d back looks like a bmw 1-series
So much more soothing to the eyes indeed. Kudos for shedding the ugly mug off the famous imprezza.
Nice…
Ford wannabe?
Certainly looks better this way.
Another example of how one little thing, can affect the entire outlook. Something that can be learned by the clot I saw the other day, who completely ruined his Swift with ridiculously ill advised plasticky body kits and stickers.
ugly….ugly….identical crisis
I still can’t believe Andreas Zapitanas designed this crap, which obviously looks like some early Ford hatchback upon first impressions.
When Aussie car mag (I can’t remember which) interviewed him, he claims to “didn’t” design the front, and said he focused on the rear only.
In that case, that would put him in a worser position. At least now, they’ve cured the nose, on to the body Subaru!
FIRE ANDREAS IF YOU HAVE TO! HE RUINED THE 9TH GEN IMPREZA AS WELL!!!
this one looks more tame….but I ‘ll bet it’s more slippery in the wind tunnel compared to an evo x
gosh y australia?
it looks better with that grill but not much .
looks like some old ford focus…. or that other ford which has been replaced by ford mondeo.
this is going to make lancer sales skyrocket. both the evo and base sedans.
even toyota’s own corolla hatch looks better than this.
Not impressed yet. Are they trying to balance between the aggressive look and the normal sedan/hatchback look? I think with a car like this, they should have gone all out with the aggressive look.
Its getting better…then they shud redesign the fender to looks more muscular
subaru designers should be changed…first ugly nose job for their cars previously…and now an ugly car..which is for their best selling model…then how can they sell??mitsubishi is gonna win hands down…style is always the 1st choice…if its not a BMW..
Maxtek,
Actually, the new Impreza is the 3rd generation Impreza and not the 9th generation.
First gen was from 1993 – 2000.
2nd gen was from 2000 (bug eye model) – 2007 (koala nose grill)
I think the front grille on the Australian version makes the 3rd generation Impreza look better, but that isn’t saying much because the original was pretty ugly to begin with.
Topgunthang, the Corolla hatch might look better but I don’t think the the Corolla is a better drive than the non-turbo Impreza. In the previous generation Impreza, the non-turbo models were great to drive even though they had an underpowered 2.0 litre engine.
Hmmm, its getting fishy……….
Looks – for sure ugly
Performance – Not much difference ( compare to its new competitiors )
Drifting thru corners – this is what we yet to witness……..hehehe……..
its transforming from an impreza to fabia, ibiza, corolla, focus etc………
Nose job looks better alright… but it’s still too much of a change from the original sedan design. I love their boxer engine’s warble but pitted against the Evo X, I’ll go Evo any day.
trust me, the current Impreza is much much better looking…..
gosh…it has lost the subaru rough look…lnow looks like a sisi