Papillon

Just saw a news article on the Autoexpress website saying there is a new facelifted scooby coming late 2005.

Anyone got pictures?

"It's had controversial facelifts before - now, the Subaru Impreza is at it again! Exclusive pictures in the current issue of Auto Express magazine (issue 838 readers the world's first glimpse of the future of the high-performance legend. This is the Japanese company's top-secret revamped Impreza, which will take the fight to the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII when it appears in showrooms late in 2005." - Autoexpress Website

WRX Wannabe

I have got a copy of the auto express mag and it looks quite nice

Front looks very aggressive

But not sure about the TT style twin pipes

ali_j

any pics?

WRX Wannabe

No i dont have a scanner

No pic on the web site either

I have taken a pic with my camera if you want me to mail it to you i can

Petem95

Bit more info on it:

WRX Wannabe

ALL THE INFO

t's had controversial facelifts before - now, the Subaru Impreza is at it again! Exclusive pictures in the current issue of Auto Express magazine (issue 838 readers the world's first glimpse of the future of the high-performance legend. This is the Japanese company's top-secret revamped Impreza, which will take the fight to the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII when it appears in showrooms late in 2005.

Seen in the mag in top-of-the-range WRX STi guise, the heavily revised machine is more striking than ever. Not since the much-criticised bug-eye model of 2000 has Subaru chosen such a radical face for its rally-bred thriller. There's no doubt that the latest Scooby will divide opinion among performance car enthusiasts across the globe.

The newcomer takes its styling inspiration from the B11S and B9 Scrambler concepts, revealed at the 2003 Geneva and Tokyo Motor Shows respectively. Its key feature is a distinctive oval-shaped grille. Complete with Legacy-style headlamps, the fresh nose gives the Impreza a more imposing front aspect, and is intended to provide buyers with a characterful alternative to the Mitsubishi.

While the B11S had a coupé body and the B9 was a roadster, the Impreza will keep its familiar four-door bodyshell, with only a mild restyle in profile. At the rear, the light clusters have been revamped, while new bumpers emphasise the sports exhaust and give the car a muscular finish.

But don't be fooled into thinking the revisions go no further than just another new look. Engineers are also working on a number of modifications in a bid to enhance the Impreza's already impressive driving experience. The most obvious change

will come under the bonnet, where a new turbocharger will be fitted to produce more power.

Recent amendments to the law in Japan mean Imprezas sold in their home market will no longer have to be limited to 280bhp. That has enabled the firm to give the facelifted STi variant around 320bhp in basic trim. As with the current model, once the fresh Impreza is imported into the UK, the 2.0-litre flat four-cylinder powerplant can be tuned to deliver an even higher output.

Following the recent launch of Mitsubishi's 405bhp Lancer Evo VIII FQ-400, the Impreza has fallen behind in the all-wheel-drive power struggle. Once the new model arrives, expect engineering firm Prodrive to come up with a tuning pack to boost the Impreza to at least 400bhp. Chassis modifications are also likely to allow owners to make full use of the Driver's Control Centre Differential (DCCD), which is fitted as standard to the current Impreza STi. Expect minor changes to the suspension and steering to keep the Subaru competitive with its newest rivals in the performance class.

Despite the improvements, prices are tipped to be similar to those of the existing version, as Subaru ensures the model remains only a small step above the new breed of flagship hot hatches, led by Volkswagen's £20,495 Golf GTI. The facelifted Impreza is likely to weigh in at around the same price as the VW, with the storming STi variant expected to cost about £4,500 more.

Official launch details and schedules are still under wraps, but our sources in Japan say the facelifted model will go on sale in Japan late in 2005. UK-spec cars are set to arrive early in 2006.

sKunk

whars teh pics????

alwong

someone please sned piccies!!

WRX Wannabe

I CANT send any pics without an e-mail addy

Papillon

Send me pcitures please Wannabe.

Cheers

WRX Wannabe

You have mail Papillon

Porter

Send me a pic!

jasonporter at gmail.com

Thanks!

Bartop

TTIUWP !

WRX Wannabe

You should all have pics now

Someone can host them if they like

I took them with my camera from the mag so they are not to bad

T5NYW

iTrader: (4)

First Pictures of the new open top version



Tony

Ps there maybe Copyright issues if Pictures are scanned from Mags IMHO

Papillon

Thanks Wannabe!

Interesting Alfa Romeo vibe going on. Like the rear a lot....the front I'm not so sure on. Anyone seeing that in their mirrors is going to get out of the way sharpish....it's mean

I think I'll save full judgement for when I see one in the flesh.

16vmarc

hugo

Minger!!!

Funkii Munkii

It looks like its had a head on with an alfa and come away with a broken nose and two black eyes...

Im sure it will grow on me

mark6

first thing i thought when i see that pic was seat cupra,not too keen on the look yet but i can see it been a look that will grow on me,it does look quite aggressive and i can imagine the thought of some young raver on acid driving home after a rave and seeing that coming up behind him.

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

Another photoshop by the looks of it - the MY05 rear wheelarch extensions are missing (why would they be deleted for '06?), and the front bumper looks exactly like the current car - something I can't believe they'd leave alone when changing the bonnet and lights.

Also the lights are straight off the current Legacy - see http://www.subaru.co.jp/blitzen2005/catalog/start.html - not something I can believe Subaru would want to do, especially if they're trying to introduce a new corporate 'face'.

It's a reasonably pretty picture, but far from authentic IMHO.

subaruwr1

heres the front view already shown


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...scoobfront.jpg


and also the back view


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...wscoobback.jpg

Petem95

Looks like a Hyundai/Kia sort of thing with that horrible front grille

It was never going to be pretty, but I prefer the blob-eye to that.


And only 2 big exhausts as standard? I wouldve thought they'd have gone for 4 or 6

scoobyboy1

iTrader: (16)

NOOOOOO!

Hope that aint the new impreza, cause that Alfa looking front nose thing spoils it. They would probably replace it in a year when no one buys it anyway.

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

Re: back view, we again see the absence of '05 wheelarch extensions and that the car is fitted with the earlier wheels too. Also I can't see how the boot could open - the edges of the boot lid would bisect the rear light clusters, which don't look to have a join.

Definitely an artist's impression of what the car might look like, not a photo of the real car. (Where's the background anyway?!)

deano555

Please no, I was hoping to change my my 03 next year, but it won't be if it looks like this. The front and rear alpha theme is very tacky.
I can see a few jumping into evo's if they continue with the 3 years free servicing package.

Deano.

ScoobyDoo69

iTrader: (17)

because that doesnt look photoshopped at all...

Danny B

Another reason to buy an Evo IX...God that looks awfull

SC008Y_MAD

iTrader: (5)

The front light look like there off of the new legarcy, and that rear, what are subaru doing??, but i like the idea of twin rear exhaust, i hear the twin Blitz Nur spec R sounding very loud indeed.

SC008Y MAD

ricardo

On the other hand they could let Blitzen do it instead, I'm sure it would be an improvement.

See the NASIOC thread http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=686629