The new Impreza (Corolla?)

[Justin]

Have a look at this: I hope this isn't accurate. If it is, the current ugly but not at all bland and generic Japanese saloon car will become a classic!

http://bbs.22b.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000257.html

[Junior]

:disturbed :disturbed :disturbed

I think that it looks like either a cross between a Chrysler Neon as has been said on that forum already and a Toyota :sick: Corolla ..... if thats what it's going to look like it's gone soft and the designers need to be shot

[WhipLash]

I was slightly taken aback by a Moderator on that particular forum. Anders was his name, and boy does he like to use smilies. No, smilies? Couldn't be the Andeers we all know! Turns out to be a doctor in London. Phew! :D

[Junior]

Take a look at http://www.whatcar.co.uk/Magazine/ArticleTemplates/cfmwhatsnew.cfm?ArticleID=1926

It's a big Corrolla oh no what have they done ..

[Justin]

This is terrible. I had one of the current models and, while it is not a stylish car, it had a certain ugly brutal charm. The only things wrong with the Impreza were the tacky interior and its questionable looks. This new one will have to drive exceptionally well to get by in life looking like a Corolla, and I don't think even a BMW quality interior will save it. I don't think I could bring myself to buy one. I hope it looksbetter in the metal. Why oh Why didn't they conduct customer clinics? (I assume they didn't)

[WhipLash]

I wouldn't like to be a Corolla owner right now ;)

[Justin]

Sorry, no disrespect intended to the Corolla, but Subaru could have tried a little harder, and I don't think that a performance icon such as the Subaru Impreza Turbo is undeserving of a fresh, stylish face which doesn't unashamedly ape the Jap standard. The Corolla is a simple, honest competent comsumer product and it couldn't be described as ugly (even if it is not handsome). It's just that the Subaru deserves more.

[WhipLash]

Autoexpress currently have a preview of the new model Impreza on the front page of their web site. In the article the new looks are described as "Put bluntly, it's something of an eyesore" :eek:

For the full article try this link (http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/guest/newnews/newsarticle.php3?id=1019), but I'm not sure if it will work for you if you haven't registered with the site.

[Justin]

The car has now been launched in Japan and there are updated pics in Autocar. The interior looks a lot better, the exterior is something that will need to grow on you. There is an interesting debate on http://www.scoobynet.co.uk about the looks of the new car, with a growing but still minority tide of positive/neutral comments. Incidentally, the standard Turbo will be uprated to 247bhp (0-60 in 5.0)and adds £3-4k in the UK. Here, I'm sure the standard Turbo will now be £35-7k. Its probably worth this much more for a better interior and a decent power hike, but its getting close to BMW 325i (the new 192bhp upgrade to the 323i) territory. I suspect that is about £40k, so throw in a few extras, and the Scoob is in mainstream BM six cylinder land. I'd still get the Scoob (I think, if it lives up its specs, and if I could get used to the looks, which I probably could if it was good enough), but the majority of people are driven by the label, so it will bneed a committed following at that price level.

[Justin]

Hmmm, according to the Autoexpress website, the new Scoob only has 216bhp and weighs 75kg more and is more prone to understeer - not so promising, but lets wait and see.