New York – Last week, Subaru unveiled the next-generation Impreza at the 2011 New York International Auto Show. The evolution is so dramatic that consumers will stop overlooking the Japanese compact, executives claim.
Convinced that the all-new 2012 edition of their best-selling car will enjoy much success, Subaru of America's Director of Corporate Communications, Michael McHale, unhesitatingly admitted: ''With this new model, we eliminated the two key irritants in the minds of potential buyers.''
He is obviously referring to exterior styling and fuel economy.
The latest Impreza will undoubtedly appeal to the masses. Since 1993, this generation (4th) is indeed the most stylish and cleanest-looking, with sleek lines that give the body some serious attitude. Picture the ugly duckling morphing into a majestic swan!
The transformation is more than skin deep, mind you. The 20-mm longer wheelbase partly explains the 20-percent larger interior. Rear-seat legroom increases by 47 millimetres.
Up front, the seats feature higher hip points. Combined with the lowered beltline and narrower A-pillars, not to mention the larger outside mirrors, this makes for an improved driving position and extra visibility.
Access to the front buckets is made easier thanks to lower door sills, while a new ratchet-based mechanism for the seatbelts maximizes comfort.
The cargo area also expands, by the way. The sedan and hatchback now boast 6 and 5 percent more room, respectively, behind the rear seats (+12 percent with seats folded in the 5-door model).
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| On the far right is Ikuo Mori, President and CEO of Fuji Heavy Industries (maker of Subaru cars), who helped unveil the 2012 Subaru Impreza at the New York Auto Show. Also on hand was Subaru of America's Executive Vice President and COO, Tom Doll. (Photo: Luc Gagné/Auto123.com) |
Convinced that the all-new 2012 edition of their best-selling car will enjoy much success, Subaru of America's Director of Corporate Communications, Michael McHale, unhesitatingly admitted: ''With this new model, we eliminated the two key irritants in the minds of potential buyers.''
He is obviously referring to exterior styling and fuel economy.
The latest Impreza will undoubtedly appeal to the masses. Since 1993, this generation (4th) is indeed the most stylish and cleanest-looking, with sleek lines that give the body some serious attitude. Picture the ugly duckling morphing into a majestic swan!
The transformation is more than skin deep, mind you. The 20-mm longer wheelbase partly explains the 20-percent larger interior. Rear-seat legroom increases by 47 millimetres.
Up front, the seats feature higher hip points. Combined with the lowered beltline and narrower A-pillars, not to mention the larger outside mirrors, this makes for an improved driving position and extra visibility.
Access to the front buckets is made easier thanks to lower door sills, while a new ratchet-based mechanism for the seatbelts maximizes comfort.
The cargo area also expands, by the way. The sedan and hatchback now boast 6 and 5 percent more room, respectively, behind the rear seats (+12 percent with seats folded in the 5-door model).
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| The 2012 Impreza is just as long overall as its predecessor, but features shorter front and rear overhangs as well as a 20-mm longer wheelbase. (Photo: Luc Gagné/Auto123.com) |