Subaru Impreza 5-Door Concept previews new Vauxhall Astra rival
Subaru has revealed the Impreza 5-Door Concept at Tokyo 2015, with a production model coming soon
Subaru is aiming to make a splash at the Tokyo Motor Show with a bold new vision of its next-generation Impreza. The company has unveiled the Subaru Impreza 5-Door Concept, aiming to firmly banish the current model’s staid image.
It’s the first part of the Japanese firm’s exciting ‘Prominence 2020’ five-year plan, announced last year, which will see an overhaul of the entire range and a number of new models hit the market, including a new Forester taking cues from the VISIV concept.
The concept's design hints that the next road-going Impreza will have a much more dynamic design than at present, helping it take the fight to the class-leading Vauxhall Astra.
The front end will draw inspiration from the new Levorg, with the trademark hexagonal front grille, but the swept-back headlamp design is a departure.
The car has a squat, purposeful stance, with wide wheelarches and large wheels giving a sporty look. The coupe-like roofline and rising waistline add to this, while the angular rear end is much more handsome than the current car.
The only engine offered for the Impreza in the UK is a 112bhp naturally aspirated 1.6-litre that claims 44mpg and emits 147g/km of CO2- expect a completely fresh unit for the new car, with the possibility of a diesel option, although the company will likely persist with the Lineartronic CVT gearbox option.
This being a Subaru, four-wheel drive is likely to be an option – although front-wheel-drive variants will allow the necessary efficiency boost. We won’t see the finished production model until 2016, however.
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