The above is supposed to be a preview of the upcoming Impreza Spec-C. It’s been christened the Subaru Impreza WRX STi Takumi Concept and gives us a sneak peek at the styling of the upcoming lightweight version of the Subaru Impreza. You can expect the Spec-C to shave at least 70kg off the stock standard STi via lighter body panels and roof, with other modifications as well such as bigger brakes and revised gear ratios.
Eager to enter the increasing market for 7-seater MPVs, Subaru first unveiled the Subaru Exiga concept at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show and the production version was unveiled in July this year. Having a car industry that is completely based on CBU imports, Singapore gets the Subaru Exiga almost immediately thanks to the quick response of Singaporean Subaru importers and distributors Motor Image.
I don’t know how long the Exiga project has been in existence but I can’t help but feel the Exiga is the result of some Toyota DNA injected onto FHI - it seems somewhat like a quick and efficient fix to a problem. The Exiga is built on the Legacy’s platform, taking the D-segment sedan and stationwagon (Outback)’s body and increasing its size to fit 7 people. However the problem with being somewhat based on the Legacy is that it somehow automatically looks dated despite being a new model.
It seems like Subaru went a little adventurous and tried to develop a new styling language with the likes of the Version 9 Impreza and the pre-facelift Tribeca but with these new batch of models quickly rolled back to the old design language before brand perception got worse, resulting in dated looking new models.
Anyway, the result of the Exiga project is a people carrier that is rather fit to be called a Subaru. It has the two key things you’d expect from a Subaru - a horizontally opposed boxer engine and all-wheel drive. There is even a turbocharged version.
After a short drive with the normally aspirated Exiga 2.0i, I found it to handle reasonably well for such a large vehicle. It did not feel large at all and was easy to maneuver. I was immediately reminded of the current generation Honda Odyssey. Nice, an MPV that drives like a 5-seater car! I’m sure the low center gravity of the boxer engine helps alot in this department. The Exiga also has a double wishbone suspension at the rear.
The interior is a class above the likes of the Mazda5, Toyota Wish and Honda Stream in terms of space but falls short of the interior space offered by the Honda Odyssey. The windscreen in front of the driver’s point of view is wide and tall. As evident from the exterior of the car with its taller roof, the interior had plenty of headroom.
Getting into the third row via folding down and sliding forward the second row seat is an easy one-handed affair. I had no problems sitting in the third row (I cannot fit in the Stream’s third row without making the second row unusable) though.
But we’re just talking about fitting without threatening to cut off blood supply to my legs from the pressure against the back of the second row seats like AirAsia planes. The seating position was not exactly comfortable as the distance from the seat to the floor is too close so the third row is still best left to children.
My head was quite close to the ceiling (did not touch it), but apparently this is intentional. According to Subaru, the second row and third row increase in height in steps so that all three rows get a good clear vision of the view in front. But with the third row in use, there is really not much luggage room left. Perhaps enough for 2 suitcases, definitely not 7!
And despite only having air cond blowers at the front, Subaru surprisingly managed to design the airflow to hit the passengers all the way at the back through vents at the front which point to the top, which is quite commendable. This may turn off some people who expect more blowers because of the car’s near-Odyssey (which has blowers for all 3 rows) price tag regardless of whether the front blowers do their job or not.
However, the 2.0 liter normally aspirated engine with 148 PS at 6,000rpm and 191Nm of torque at 3,200rpm can only manage the weight of the Exiga with only 4 people in the car. Add three more plus luggage and it’s going to feel pretty sluggy. The lack of power is reflected in the spec sheets which indicate a top speed of 160km/h and 12.7 seconds from stand still to the 100km/h mark. The 4-speed SPORTSHIFT automatic has nothing sporty about it and is quite sluggy to downshift when power is needed.
The higher spec and more powerful turbocharged Exiga 2.0GT with the turbocharged 2.0 liter boxer engine was not available for test drive, but I reckon that would be a much more suitable powertrain for the car thanks to its 225 PS at 5,600rpm and 326Nm of torque at 4,400rpm. Being turbocharged, it would be much more tuner-friendly too. Its gearbox also has one extra cog, making a 5-speed unit. It also adds a panoramic moonroof and a black interior instead of being extremely light and beige like in the normally aspirated version.
Sadly the turbocharged model is JDM-spec and is speed limited to 180km/h - this would not be a problem in Singapore but if you want to go a little more crazy with the throttle when you travel up to Malaysia on the North-South Highway you may want to research if there’s a work-around for this on your own at a JDM accessory shop.
Look after the jump for more photos of the Subaru Exiga. Click here to read the rest of Subaru Exiga 7-Seater MPV Test Drive Review
Subaru’s new 2.0 liter boxer turbodiesel engine has been slotted into the Impreza hatchback and the Forester SUV. Both cars will be displayed at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, with the engine mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox.
The turbodiesel engine is tuned to produce 147 PS in the Forester and 150 PS in the Impreza, both at 3,600rpm. Peak torque for both states of tune is rated at 350Nm at a low 1,800rpm. This should allow Subaru to make headway in the European markets as they’re all diesel-crazy over there.
The production version of the Subaru Exiga was just announced in May this year, but Subaru has already unveiled full details and photos of the new 7-seater wagon-like vehicle which will most likely form the base for the next generation Subaru Legacy in sedan form.
There are four models offered, with three having more sedate normally aspirated engines (2.0i, 2.0i-L and 2.0i-S models), and one more with a 211hp turbocharged engine called the 2.0GT. The normally aspirated engine features Active Valve Control System (AVCS) and is mated to a 4-speed SPORTSHIFT automatic transmission, a fancy name for a regular auto with manual override of gear sleection. The 2.0GT gets a 5-speed SPORTSHIFT auto with auto throttle blipping on downshift.
All of the models have 4WD, but two different systems are offered. The normally aspirated models get the Active Torque Split AWD system while the 2.0GT gets the more advanced Variable Torque Distribution (VTD) system. The 2.0GT also gets SI-Drive, which offers three different driving modes: Intelligent; Sport; and Sport Sharp.
The interior has a large panoramic glass roof (all models except 2.0i) which covers the front and second row of seats. Sadly there are no rear air cond blowers for the second and third row, so you will have to rely on air cond vents on the dashboard that are designed to “throw” the air all the way to the third row. The second row’s chairs can be slid back and forth independently by 180mm.
Look for more images after the jump. Click here to read the rest of Subaru Exiga 7-seater wagon
I am not sure if this source is reliable, but Edmunds claims that Toyota and Subaru have decided that the Toyota-badged version of the upcoming co-developed boxer-engined rear wheel drive coupe will only be sold in Japan, while Subaru will market it internationally.
Edmunds further added that the companies have decided to mimic the dimensions and power to weight ratio of the now discontinued Honda Integra Type R, so if that is true, expect about 200 horsepower and a wheelbase of around 2400mm.
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Subaru has unveiled a front and rear shot of their new World Rally Championship car based on the latest generation Subaru Impreza hatchback, Subaru’s first rally-going hatchback in ages. The new Subaru Impreza WRC2008 features a 2.0 liter boxer turbo engine producing about 300 horsepower. It will be driven in the championship by Chris Atkinson and Petter Solberg.
Notice that the new Subaru rally car loses the livery featuring many yellow stars that we’ve come to expect on every Subaru rally car. The new livery is based on a blue and silver design instead.
One more front shot after the jump. Click here to read the rest of Subaru Impreza WRC2008 Rally Car
Subaru has put up a teaser site for the upcoming production Subaru Exiga MPV, and reveals a launch date of the 17th of June 2008.
One of the teaser photos showing a view of the interior from above through a transparent roof reveals that the interior isn’t all that big - it looks somewhat similiar to the Honda Stream, instead of a Honda Odyssey’s fantastic interior space. Doesn’t seem to be much space in the rear for luggage for 7 behind the third row of seats either - so this thing could probably carry 5 people and luggage, or 7 people and luggage for two.
From what we can see from the size and exterior, a 5-seater sedan version could definitely end up as the next generation Subaru Legacy. A shot of the underlying platform shows all-wheel drive and a fully independent suspension design.
View a teaser video and a few more teaser photos after the jump.
Related Posts: Click here to read the rest of Subaru Exiga MPV gets teaser website
Production Subaru Exiga 7-seater MPV coming soon
Subaru will be launching the production version of its 2007 Tokyo concept car, the Subaru Exiga. The Subaru Exiga is a 7-seater low-rider MPV that is 4780mm long, 1775mm wide and 1630mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2750mm.
Although many reports the production Exiga to be Impreza-based, the concept version’s wheelbase and dimensions are more similiar to the Camry-based Toyota Mark X Zio (2776mm wheelbase) and the Honda Odyssey (2830mm wheelbase).
In fact, the Exiga may have the next generation Legacy’s platform under its skin; the current fourth generation Legacy has a 2670mm wheelbase, so an increase to about 2750mm sounds logical.
Otherwise, the production Exiga could end up being a smaller car than the concept version if it is based on the Impreza. One thing’s quite likely - parts from the Impreza/Forester parts bin will be used, including the 5-speed Sportshift automatic and the 2.0 liter (or 2.5 liter) turbocharged horizontally opposed engine.
More photos of the Subaru Exiga Concept after the jump. Click here to read the rest of Production Subaru Exiga 7-seater MPV coming soon
Subaru is worried that its upcoming “AE86 spiritual successor” rear-wheel drive coupe that it will share with Toyota may erode its image as a niche all-wheel drive specialist, according to Subaru’s overseas marketing chief Masatsugu Nagato.
Its marketing team also has to figure out how to differentiate its own version of the car from the Toyota product, as it is very likely that there will be many major markets where both cars will be sold side by side as there will not be Toyota-only or Subaru-only designated markets.
Then again, we can look at Audi, a car manufacturer that is much older than Subaru. Audi is now rather famous for its quattro all-wheel drive system despite having many front-wheel drive models in its line-up. Is rear-wheel drive for the new small Subaru really a cause for worry? At least it still uses a horizontally-opposed engine! As long as it is a fantastic drive, they should do fine. After all, the rear wheel drive boxer engine specialist image already has another car to “taint” it - the new Subaru Justy.
According to Autocar UK, the Subaru boxer engine in question will be a normally aspirated 2.0 liter inline-4 boxer putting out 175 horsepower for the base model, with a turbocharged 2.5 liter model to come later, possibly with all-wheel drive. Autocar says they have viewed top-secret sketches of the car and have produced the artist impression shown in the thumbnail above based on those sketches. You can click the thumbnail to view the full image. It looks rather like a Scion tC crossed with a Hyundai Coupe.
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Motor Image is looking to reignite the Subaru brand in Malaysia with the introduction of the new Forester and Impreza hatchback between June to August. This includes the highest factory spec Impreza possible, the 2.5-litre, 16 valve, turbocharged WRX STI.
Shannon Teoh was in Singapore to get an introductory feel of the two new Imprezas that will appear on our shores this year.
Read more after the jump. Click here to read the rest of Subaru Impreza WRX STI and 2.0 S-GT: A Very Short Test Drive Experience
