2008 Subaru Impreza to be a hatch

impreza_hatch_impression.jpg

Subaru will be changing the all too familiar sedan shape of it’s rally-inspired Subaru Impreza car to a hatchback form when it’s next incarnation is introduced in 2008. We’ve kind of known this was going to happen when Subaru showed us the Subaru B5-TPH Concept at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show.

Shown above is an artist’s impression from Road & Track on how the Impreza hatch could possibly look like. This move is in line with Subaru’s plan to position the new Impreza hatch against hot hatches like the Golf GTI, Golf R32/R36 and the Ford Focus. A preview of the final production vehicle will be shown next year at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show. The car will come in both 3-door and 5-door models.

Engine options are expected to be a naturally aspirated 2.0 litre four-pot boxer producing 170 horsepower for the baseline model, and the WRX versions will have a turbocharged version under the hood. STi versions will have a higher performance turbocharged four-pot boxer producing over 300 horsepower.

There will also be four-pot boxer turbodiesel options, developed together with Toyota. Of course, the car will retain it’s trademark AWD drivetrain.

Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.

Certified Pre-Owned - 1 Year Warranty

10% discount when you renew your car insurance

Compare prices between different insurer providers and use the promo code 'PAULTAN10' when you make your payment to save the most on your car insurance renewal compared to other competing services.

Car Insurance

Paul Tan

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.

 

Comments

  • DAN (Member) on Aug 07, 2006 at 1:10 am

    that will b nice thing.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • e-nabilll (Member) on Aug 07, 2006 at 1:43 am

    the rear looks like a half cut stolen from another car! doesnt match at all…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • ... (Member) on Aug 07, 2006 at 2:04 am

    Please Proton, have the next Neo GTi as an impreza fighter with 4wd and turbo…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • pixie_wawan (Member) on Aug 07, 2006 at 2:34 am

    ugly

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • mitlanevo (Member) on Aug 07, 2006 at 2:53 am

    old school design, pathetic…..

    the spoiler is really outdated, and why the tail light looks a bit like those from Alfa's? The rims is also another problem, but still the new Impreza looks quite impressive though.

    will this new beast beat the upcoming Evo X?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • V_NoZ (Member) on Aug 07, 2006 at 2:54 am

    waa… depanding on proton to produce a road eating machine?? in ur dreams mat!

    well ugly pic.. ia sure they will do something about it.. not like proton… suka tembak aje!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Din (Member) on Aug 07, 2006 at 3:20 am

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • topgunthang (Member) on Aug 07, 2006 at 4:06 am

    prefer the sedan.

    the evoX looks way better and still got four doors?

    where you think proton gonna get the awd system? buy up porsche this time?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • maibatsu_thunder (Member) on Aug 07, 2006 at 4:10 am

    Not a pretty sight! The 2-Door Coupe version is much much better!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • prometheus (Member) on Aug 07, 2006 at 4:55 am

    Yes the coupe version looks much better. I like coupes.. Now driving poor man's coupe, as featured in my website.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • maxtek (Member) on Aug 07, 2006 at 6:28 am

    Well, the design is certainly far better than the current Version 9 Impreza.

    For those of you who think the design looks like an Alfa Romeo's rear, yep, you've got it right, it's designed by an Ex-Alfa Romeo Designer. Subaru hired him for the Version 9 design project.

    However, Subaru has always been trying to be better than Mitsubishi in terms of their AWD technology, Subaru has the Symmetrical All Wheel Drive (SAWD) system, as for Mitsubishi, they have the Super All Wheel Drive (SAWD) system.

    [Same acronym??? Haha…]

    Notice that the Version 4,5, and 6 Impreza looks the same? The are, just because of Evos having new versions of Evo 4,5, and 6 during the 90s.

    Now, the concept design of the Evo X has an Alfa's rear, Impreza surely has to have more-or-less the same design, retaining their trade-mark front nose.

    I hope that Subaru would have both the sedan and hatchback variants of the Impreza, just like their sportswagon variant they had in the 90s, to try and beat other manufacturers products. So, watch out, MITSUBISHI EVO X, VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R32/36, VOLVO V70 T5!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • cosmohybrid (Member) on Aug 07, 2006 at 6:31 am

    this subaru coupe actually has the alfa romeo traits… the designer andreas zapatinas was previously the design director of alfa romeo centro stile now as subaru's head of advanced design..

    the curves and the lines and the lights looks exacly like the alfa gt coupe..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • tbcheese (Member) on Aug 07, 2006 at 10:00 am

    wouldn't they be disadvantaged aerodynamically in WRC if they went with a hatchback? like Peugeot used the 206 hatch then the 307 was a hatch too but they used the CC version so that it would have a flat back?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • raybrig85 (Member) on Aug 07, 2006 at 3:22 pm

    yup…ure rite cosmo..

    can c d influence of alfa in term of rear lamp and rear dsg…d rear top is not matchla…really ugly…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Ralliace (Member) on Aug 07, 2006 at 5:10 pm

    It's ugly…. prefered the Mitsubishi Evo 10 as seen from the spy pictures posted all over the net. The Evo looks more fierce tho.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • cbljkkj (Member) on Aug 07, 2006 at 5:14 pm

    Am I the only one or does this rendition of the Subaru Impreza look eeriely similar to the Evo X from the rear??

    If so, most people would have problems telling them apart. Similarities already start at the 4wd and turbocharger systems, don't let these two become Siamese twins!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • motorhead (Member) on Aug 07, 2006 at 5:46 pm

    huyoo.. dahsyatlah..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • I my (Member) on Aug 07, 2006 at 6:23 pm

    I sure like to try out the new four-pot boxer turbodiesel options.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • lowprofile (Member) on Aug 07, 2006 at 6:29 pm

    the artist who did the impression sure loves the alfa 156 rear ;)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • jtshin (Member) on Aug 07, 2006 at 6:49 pm

    Good try for Subaru for changing the looks of Impreza…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • albagmane (Member) on Aug 07, 2006 at 10:26 pm

    i cant wait to see how the car looks like when being changed into the version of WRC… nice nice!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • AVEOZONE (Member) on Aug 07, 2006 at 11:44 pm

    Alfa 156 lookalike man…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • narrowband (Member) on Aug 08, 2006 at 12:58 am

    Abit hard lah to fall in love with that kinda spoiler-hatchback combination.

    The first time I saw something similar was Impul-modified Nissan March – But that one still ok.

    These new Impreza drawing features some very confusing coupe-hatchback combination.

    Remove the spoiler, add in a C-pillar, shrink the rear side windows size.

    Other than that, I kinda like the taillight-bumper-exhaust combination, although abit ciplak Alfa, what the heck – the chief designer is the same guy anyway.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • szw (Member) on Aug 08, 2006 at 5:29 am

    da back reminds me of alfa romeo 147 lar .

    summore da apoiler makes it look like da old chevy .

    but da twin exhaust is nice .

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • malayman (Member) on Aug 08, 2006 at 6:53 am

    aiya….is it just me or has the imprezas been looking ugly as the progress??

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • topgunthang (Member) on Aug 08, 2006 at 8:32 am

    looks like a station wagon back end with a wing stuck onto the front end of an impreza. add in the alfa backlights.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Akazamabamaboo (Member) on Aug 10, 2006 at 5:55 pm

    Who is this "artist"? He certainly made an impression. A bad impression.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • pirate (Member) on Aug 10, 2006 at 11:39 pm

    Errr…

    Lookin forward to the all-new EVO X (or XI) now.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • matmoto_5125 (Member) on Aug 12, 2006 at 12:25 am

    yup..damn ugly..evo x please..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Subie on Mar 07, 2009 at 7:00 pm

    proton sucks! and its always being the suckest of all!

    SUBARU ROCK 4EVER! its da best of all!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • sajad on Aug 01, 2009 at 10:39 am

    subaru is the best car.but this version is very nise .beutiful.powerfull this car is a new way for impreza

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

Add a comment

required

required