Subaru Crew - Future Models II

kens

I'm also liking the new look more and more. It certainly doesn't stand out when lined up with a Legacy and Forester as before!

Why didn't Subaru offer this design the first time? I'm going to guess that Subaru really wanted to make an impression with the intro of the New Age Impreza. The GC8 had gained popularity and even some cult status around the world so they probably felt it was time to "kick it up a notch" a la Emerril.

In any event, I give Subaru a thumbs up for trying to break the mold, but also being reponsive enough to make changes when necessary.

Ken

rsholland

for a more unified Subaru family "look." Some may feel that's not necessarily good, but I do.

Bob

rsholland

This time with some info about under the skin updates.

Bob

http://www.apexjapan.com/

storyteller

Bob: does this facelift show the hand of the new Greek designer? I'd like to think he is responsible for this remake. It would suggest good things to come in other product lines.

Steve

rsholland

Official European new Impreza site, with gobs of info and pixs!

Bob

http://www.subaru-global.com/topics/ms/paris2002/top.html

rsholland

the wagons have a bright red (only one!) rear fog lamp! Why one, and not two!?

Also, the press release from the new Impreza site mentioned that the WRX now gets wheels that are dark gray!. I sure hope the US-spec WRX gets those dark gray 17" wheels!

Bob

rsholland

I need to get a grip... I've lost two days of work over this facelifted Impreza! I missed most of the chat last night because I goofed off on this Impreza stuff all day, and needed to catch up.

Bob (taking a break, and catching up on paying work...) TGIF!

paisan

1 rear fog is required in some european countries. I think that it must be on one particular side as well.

-mike

fandc

On the Subaru Global site it shows the wagon with the tach on the right, while for the sedan it is in the centre of the instrument cluster. Seems unusual to have different clusters, but ...

.... they must assume that the wagons are driven by little old ladies. :-P

kens

Whoa, man. I just visited that Global Site. I got goose bumps just browsing through it -- especially the video!

Man, I REALLY like the new look now. My wife's gonna get an earful today!

So that was a rear fog on the wagon. I thought it was a Photoshop goof, but then it appeared on everything on the web site.

Ken

kens

Is that a upshift indicator on the tach in the video?

Ken

kenoka

fandc: That photo is of the TS Wagon, not the WRX. The sedan is the WRX. The WRX models will get center mounted tach, but the RS and TS will still have center mounted speedo.
Ken: (hehe, like talking to myself) The upshift indicator is on the STi. If you look quickly, you can see the STi logo on the tach itself.
Have you guys seen the press release? It confirms a lot of the changes in detail:
1. The funky looking hoodscoop actually does improve airflow and cooling.
2. The aerodynamics of the car are improved by the restyling.
3. Leather seats will be an option. (I didn't see anything about the moonroof)
4. Improved interior treatment.
5. Center mounted tach for the WRX
6. Steering feel improved with new dampers.

rsholland

Actually the wagon photo is a 2.0 GX model, which is sold overseas. It slots in between the TS and (our) RS in terms of market position. In Europe the TS is sold as a 1.6L model. We're lucky in that we get a 2.5 TS.

The picture of the silver WRX sedan had a moonroof, if you look closely.

Bob

kens

I thought I read somewhere before that the restyled WRX will also have a little more low-end grunt due to some tweaks to the intake manifold.

Can't remember where I saw that.

Ken

kenoka

Bob: I was trying to say that the 2.0 GX is the equivalent to the 2.5 TS. I know they sell a TS, but I think the GX is closer to the TS spec. I also saw the moonroof, I was saying the press release didn't confirm it as an option. The current JDM WRX has a moonroof (a sliver really) but it isn't offered elsewhere.

rsholland

grahampeters

G'day

The single fog light is an interesting item. Most European cars are fitted with only one rear fog light, the pruprose being to make the car visible, rather than provide any illumination. This is on the drivers side so bizarrely, there is usually the light spot for the fog on each side of the car but only wired on one side. for many cars, particularly at the cheaper end of the market, the opposite side is fitted with a reversing light, meaning that the car has an assymetric light set at the rear. It definitely looks odd, particularly when the lights are large.

This is from Drive, the car magazine liftout from the melbourne Age and Sydney Morning Herald.

http://drive.fairfax.com.au/content-new/news/general/2002/09/27/FFXEKJRZK6D.html

cheers

Graham

rsholland

When I first saw it, on the rear of the wagon, I though someone goofed in Photoshop. I then quickly realized that this was indeed intentional. The asymmetrical aspect looked a bit odd, but it's now growing on me.

Bob

rsholland

It has been reported, other than North America, that sales of the "New Age" Impreza were off. I think this "Newest Age" facelift will reverse that—if the response of all the posters I've seen is any true indication. Most people seem to *love* it. Most of those who don't, seem to be owners the current bug-eye versions.

Bob

rsholland

I've long wished that North American WRX came standard with the 17" wheels found on those sold in Europe, and elsewhere. Now that these wheels come painted in dark gray, I want them even more...

The argument against offering them here is that: A) they create a harsher ride, and they're more subject to damage caused by potholes, etc.

I have a solution:

Instead of using the the "Plus 1" 215/45x17 tire, use a slightly taller (sidewall) 215/50x17" tire.

I think this would be a very good compromise, in that we would get those gorgeous wheels, the car would probably handle a tad better, the ride would be acceptable, and they would be a bit less prone to damage than the 45-section tires.

Actually, if the STi used a 50-section tire, this is the size it would probably be using. It uses a 225/45x17 tire, which converts to a 215/50x17 tire.

Also, it's not unprecedented for Subaru to use a slightly larger tire for other markets. Our North American Outback wears a 225/60x16 tire, whereas Outbacks sold elsewhere wear the 215/60x16 tire.

Bob

kens

I thought the rear foglight was a Photoshop goof at first too. So, how did they do the foglight on the sedan?

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Subaru decides to bring the 17" rims as standard equipment with the facelifted WRX. I love that dark grey color!

Ken

rsholland

I'm sure it's there, because I believe it's required by law in most if not all European countries. Because of the difference in the "color break" of the sedan vs. wagon lights, we just don't see it. It's probably part of the red area of the sedan's rear lights, unlike the wagon.

Bob

rsholland

I was looking at the picture of the rear of the new wagon and noticed there is no longer a keyhole for the hatch, just like the new Forester. The sedan, however, still has a keyhole on the trunk!?

Bob

hypov

No WRX wagon?
No mentioning anywhere.

-Dave

rsholland

It's mentioned on the Global site, under the "Impreza" button. You need to let it load, then click on the wagon image, and it will list at the bottom as to what trim levels it will be available in. The WRX is listed there. There is no STi wagon, however.

Bob

hypov

I thought that was only for the TS Wagon.
Thanks Bob

-Dave

kens

Dave,

Scroll down to the last three pics on this page:

http://www.apexjapan.com/news/sti_facelift/sti_wrx.html

Ken

hypov

Thanks Ken

Anyone care to wager that we'll see it at our shores just about the same time as the rest of the world as a 2003?...

I say we would. Can't be cost effective to have prod. line for two diff. body style of the same model.

-Dave

kens

Dave,

I think we'll see it with the NA STi intro, but it makes sense that Subaru does the switch sooner than later. I'm sure that well see a slowing of the current WRX body style in anticipation of the new one coming out. It's probably a balance between their inventory and customer demand.

Ken

ateixeira

I believe I was the first to mention the asymmetrical taillights on the wagon. So those are fogs, then.

I kind of noticed the "family resemblance" too, Bob.

Looks at those new seats - and the 3 headrests in the back. Add a center tach, optional leather and moonroof, and you'll make a LOT of people happy.

215/50R17 would probably rub. I don't think there's room in the wheel well for those.

-juice

rsholland

<< 215/50R17 would probably rub. I don't think there's room in the wheel well for those. >>

Remember, the STi has 225/45x17. If you convert that size to a 50-section tire (from a 45-section), you come up with a 215/50x17. The STi and WRX share the same fenders, except for the racer model and the wagon. In Japan there is a STi wagon, however.

Bob

ateixeira

Well, they'd probably rub on the wagon, then.

Unless they put 16s on the wagon, 17s on the sedan? That would work with their pricing strategy - wagons being more affordable.

-juice

barresa62

225/45x17's on a 7.5" rim and no rubbing w/my wagon, even w/4 adults and a child in the car, going up and down the hills of Seattle. The one drawback w/this setup (for some) is that you can't lower too much w/the wagon or you get rubbing in the rear.

Stephen

ateixeira

Those are shorter than 215/50s, though.

-juice

rsholland

The 215/50x17 is not as wide as the 225/45x17, but I bet they're pretty close in terms of diameter.

Bob

qbrozen

50% of 215 is 107.5. 45% of 225 is 101.25. So the 50s are about 12.5 mm taller overall (6.25 doubled).

rsholland

The SOJ site has just been upgraded. The home page now mentions the revised Impreza, from the Paris show&#151;and has a couple of teaser images of a soon-to-be-released Forester Cross Sport.

It shows much larger tires (which could be just a factor of the lens distortion used in this image), a different grille, ground effects, and a hood scoop. So at least we know it has a turbo...

Bob

http://www.subaru.co.jp/index_h.html

kens

Bob,

I just checked the website. The only thing they mention is a lowered suspension (Lowdown = Japanglish for lowered suspension) and an intro this fall.

I think the tires look big due to the chassis be positioned lower.

Ken

ateixeira

Interesting naming. Cross Sports = XS, so I wonder if it'll be the standard engine in all XS models?

-juice

taddison

There's a short article in AutoWeek today confirming that there will be a turbo Forrester next year

http://www.autoweek.com

Sorry, the full link to the article was too long to post. Look in the Car News section.

ateixeira

Oh yeah bay-bee!



Ouch!

-juice

rsholland

it will be a 2.5 turbo. AutoWeek *thought* that it might be the WRX engine.

Bob

subearu

Quoting the Autoweek article:
"A turbo Forester will join Subaru&#146;s U.S. lineup. It arrives after an STi version of the WRX comes next June, and before a twin-turbo Legacy debuts in the fall of 2004.

(jaw hits keyboard tray)

-Brian

ateixeira

There you go, SoA, make my next car purchase a tough one!

-juice

kens

...and mine too. Oh boy, this is gonna be a tough one.

Ken

subearu

Legacy TT or whatever it's called. I've only been begging for one for what, 3000 posts? ;-)

-Brian

rsholland

on the new restyled Impreza.

Bob

http://www.edmunds.com/news/autoshows/articles/75396/page017.html

miksmi

Schweetness. Thanks for the link, Tim, even if you were (foolishly) more interested in the Forester turbo than the Legacy turbo. <grin>

Here's an AutoWeek article about a future Legacy twin turbo.

Can anyone say GT-B E-tune II?

..Mike

rsholland

the new turbo Legacy will debut with the all-new body style, for MY05 (fall of '04&#151;2 years away). This makes sense from a marketing standpoint, but it's frustrating for us Subie-nuts who want it now...

I still think it will have a 2.5 (single) turbo, and not a 2.0 (twin) turbo. Here's hoping...

Bob

rsholland

http://forums.i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=235648

The first post in this thread indicated that US-spec '04 Subies would be getting this engine.

Bob