REALLY MOTORING

AS a good mechanic friend of mine told me recently: “It’s all about Subaru!” The make has become the stuff of legend since it eclipsed the world of rally with its unbeatable champion, the Impreza WRX. And having out-stripped all it can off-road, the fearsome model now appears intent on tearing up everything in its way on tarmac.
Since its introduction to the motor industry in the early 1990s, the turbo-charged performer has captivated the world of motor sport as well as the hearts and minds of young drivers and engine enthusiasts.
Stirred by the machine’s unmatchable performance and an affordable price tagged onto the supercar, drivers have welcomed the vehicle with open arms. The furore around the four-wheel-drive sports saloon reached fever pitch in the late 1990s as the car’s four-cylinder boxer engine built up a loyal following. New models are always met with expectation and usually (the softening of its front end looks had some critics) acclaim. So it is little surprise that all the bated breaths in the western motor world are waiting for the release of the new Subaru Impreza WRX STI in February.
Japan is within days of receiving the first deluge of the improved design but we Europeans and the Yanks have been asked to hang on a little longer. Immediate reports suggest the most powerful model will be subject to a €3,000 pricehike, so finding out just why the fanatics will have to cough up extra this time was of paramount importance for the first installment of our new motoring column.
The changes are numerous. Outside the car, the Impreza has developed its most aggressive look yet – a welcome return to the street-demon image of the model’s past. The last body was toned down to increase its appeal to the average driver but most weren’t convinced by what was in reality a wolf in happy. Subaru is again catering for its key market. The design is believed to be the work of Subaru’s new shape guru, Andreas Zapatinas. Recruited from Alfa Romeo to inject a little sophistication into the Japanese make, the Greek has made a car which will enforce the Impreza’s mythic status in the automotive world. ‘Hawk-eye’ headlight clusters and a new grill will be the main talking points, apart from the car’s overall appearance. The front effectively splits into three sections. It rejects the idea of the traditional single- piece grille, giving it a busy, somewhat Euro-influenced look. Love it or loathe it, it’s certainly brash and bold, borrowing styling cues from a ream of concept cars from the last few years.
A number of changes have also been made at the rear. The STI models will ship with twin exhaust pipes, giving the rear end a wider, more butch look. They will also feature a rear vane spoiler attached to the roof.
Again, new brake light clusters make a big impact on the design. Models have grown in height by two inches but, other than this and the front and rear ends, the car is proportionally similar and largely unchanged. Inside the car, the somewhat basic approach to design has been revamped with many extra features, including an outside temperature gauge, air filtration, and front and side airbags. And for the first time the WRX will be available with a leather interior.
All new WRXs have been given a larger 2.5- litre engine with 265hp and active valves, 17in alloys, an engine immobiliser key, four front and two rear piston brakes with red-painted calipers.
Together, the entire WRX STI package is enough to justify a higher price, which is expected to chart at around €35,000. Subaru’s extensively revised ’06 Impreza – with its massive power upgrades and a striking facelift – will start from just €24,300 on-theroad. But this comfortable payout is for the entrylevel Impreza 2.0R five-door, which boasts a new, four-cam ‘boxer’ engine giving a 130mph top speed and a 0-60mph time of 8.5 seconds. Meanwhile, the most popular model, the Impreza WRX saloon, will cost €31,350 on the road. It is only the top of the range Impreza 2.5 WRX STI which sees a large rise in price to €39,895. But it now boasts a 281 PS engine with a 158.4mph top speed and reaching 60 mph in 5.0 seconds. Impreza fans will call the 2006 model a masterpiece – it is at least a move forward to making the car more conv e n t i o n a l through its accessories and trimmings, rather than its overall look. Whatever the final verdict, the Impreza is sure to go on living up to the reputation it has in the world of motoring, wherever its four wheels touch the ground. Look out for the first to be seen on Tenerife
roads at the beginning of next year.