Just shortly after Subaru teased us earlier this month with the new Impreza, the small Japanese company went on to unveiled the car in New York, and it can be had in both four-door sedan and five-door hatchback variants. At launch, it will go against cars like the Ford Focus, Honda Civic and Volkswagen Golf.
The new Impreza is Subaru’s first model to sit on the company’s new “Global Platform“. Thanks to that, it’s now larger and wider than its predecessor. The sedan variant is already 25mm longer than before, whereas overall length and width are up by 41mm and 38mm respectively. Height on the other hand, has been reduced by 10mm which lowers centre of gravity. The new platform also ensures an increase in body rigidity with improvements up to 70 percent over the older car.
Inside, the new Impreza gets a newly designed dashboard with a pair of screens located in the middle. The top screen’s function doesn’t differ much from the model today, which displays essential driving data. Below that is a 6.5-inch touchscreen panel with built-in Starlink multimedia system which also supports GPS navigation.
Even more promising is its safety aspect. Debuting in this Impreza is the all-new “EyeSight” system, which includes a raft of safety gadgets such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Pre-Collision Braking, Lane Departure and Sway Warning. The system utilises stereo cameras to monitor the road ahead for potential hazards. The headlights have been updated with cornering beams and auto high-beam lights.
Most importantly, Subaru’s signature boxer engines and all-wheel drivetrain are retained here, but this time the engine will come with cylinder deactivation technology to improve fuel economy. The Impreza is expected to be powered by a direct-injected 2.0-litre flat-four engine that produces 152 hp. Transmission choice is the same Lineartronic CVT.
Subaru states that the new platform is designed to deliver higher standards of driving pleasure, agility, crash protection and ride comfort. The platform will underpin most of Subaru’s next-generation cars, including a four-wheel drive performance hybrid.
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