Illustrations by Theophilus Chin
Last month, we brought you the first photos of the next-generation 2013 Subaru Impreza WRX in disguise. It was caught testing in Europe and even though it was covered from nose to tail in black camouflage, the Subaru Impreza prototype revealed a few details about the styling direction of the redesigned hatchback.
Up front, the test mule looks like it had a few design elements borrowed directly from the Hybrid Tourer Concept shown at the 2009 Tokyo Auto Show. The angular lines of the grille and front fascia are certainly different from the current Impreza and they point toward an even more aggressive look for the all-wheel-drive hatchback.
The grille no longer blends cleanly into the hood line, as you can clearly see two notches on each side that sharply define the opening. Separate headlights also appear to be part of the new design along with a new lower airdam and small front quarter windows just ahead of the side mirrors.
The changes out back are less dramatic. New taillights that are a little shorter and wider appear to be the most noticeable change, while the overall shape of the rear window looks much the same as the current WRX hatchback. Hard to tell what's going on with the tailpipes as the test mule had its exhaust tucked tightly under the bodywork. We can only hope that the production WRX gets a proper set of exhaust pipes when it arrives in production form.
When that will be is hard to tell at this point. We don't expect to see this Impreza on sale until 2012 given the recent upgrades made to the 2011 Impreza. With that in mind, look for a possible worldwide debut at the Tokyo auto show in November of next year.
Murtman says:
08:21 PM, 10/13/10
God, I hope not. That front-end is hideous.
subytrojan says:
09:16 PM, 10/13/10
Ugh. What a bad photochop!
- MY2010+ Legacy headlights, wheels, and tail lights
- Hybrid Tourer Concept grille
- MY2008+ WRX/STI hood scoop, MY2008-2010 STI fog lights
Epic F41L!
bearsdkillz says:
09:27 PM, 10/13/10
I like the rear, Front looks like a mazda... thats a BAD thing.
isend2c says:
09:31 PM, 10/13/10
This car looks good to me, about X2365 times more so than the more-bland-than-camry current generation. I like the front, with the multiple elements, the rear with the Forte Koup / Audi A5 taillights. I would like something done to the side & rims though, so match it with the front & rear. Good work!
akula1 says:
09:58 PM, 10/13/10
Well, they screwed up the new Legacy I guess the WRX is the only thing left to ruin.
zackd44 says:
10:01 PM, 10/13/10
where is this article they said they had last month?
07kbptls says:
10:01 PM, 10/13/10
I think I can safely speak for most Subaru enthusiasts and say... I really hope the design of the car is not headed in that direction.
*shudder*
93aero says:
10:47 PM, 10/13/10
WOW. Suddenly feeling an intense urge to side with the fact that I would rather buy the Mediocrity....I rly hope they are wrong about this.
cz_75 says:
10:58 PM, 10/13/10
Grille is ugly, but it has the potential to be the best-looking WRX since the 2005-2006 models, if they drop the gimmicky and strange trim bars. Overall, it looks a little like a close relative of the new Ford Focus done up as a wagon.
motogeno says:
11:04 PM, 10/13/10
Wow, Subaru has never figured out how to make an attractive vehicle and this is evidence that they haven given up completely.
You don't buy 'em for looks I guess.
mazdaa says:
12:02 AM, 10/14/10
CHANGE THE FRONT PLEASE!!!!!! SUBARU
The rear looks fine except it needs some more defined headlights
angry_mushroom says:
12:04 AM, 10/14/10
First it's too bland, now it's too ugly... Decide already! I rather like the extreme shape. A love it, or hate it from the bug-eye days.
4g63 says:
12:24 AM, 10/14/10
so the wide body is not expected?
keptman says:
12:54 AM, 10/14/10
The only negative comment I can make about this photoshop rendering is that the crease above the front wheel arch should meet with the horizontal crease, not go through it (purely personal preference). To me, an arc should touch a line at only 1 point. Otherwise, I think that this is a considerably better looking car (ie: less cartoonish) than the current model. Aesthetically, the next thing up should be a higher quality interior.
On the technical side, Subaru needs to get their collective heads out of their you know whats and offer modern, direct injected engines and 6 speed DSG type transmissions on their full range of cars and SUVs. A high tech AWD system is great, but not when driven by an engine and tranny that have exceeded their "sell by" dates. Not unlike Honda and Toyota, Subaru is losing the automotive "arms race" with out of date technology.
carl0ver says:
02:42 AM, 10/14/10
dude you guys, this rendering looks much better than the current gen...
dougtheeng says:
05:16 AM, 10/14/10
yikes, not a fan. The current generation is finally growing on me (in WRX and STi trim anyways) but this thing is a monstrosity. It looks tall, like a Q5...to me at least. The worst element is the lights. They look terrible in real life and they will look bad on this thing.
alex38 says:
05:19 AM, 10/14/10
i like the rear end but that front end is simply hideous...
Sure its just a rendering so no need to get your undies in a knot right now..
mtbiker279 says:
05:26 AM, 10/14/10
I really don't like the rendering of the front end. I have a 2010 WRX, and I can see where you were going with the elements from the concept car, and the Legacy, but it just doesn't appeal to me.
The back end is better, but looks more like the 2008 WRX, or the Base Impreza hatchback. Maybe throw on the STI spoiler, and it would change things. The stance doesn't look as wide as the newest rendition either.
All told it looks more like the next Volvo wagon than a WRX.
bwoodahl says:
05:27 AM, 10/14/10
Waterfall grill borrows styling from Audi+VW. C'mon Subaru, cannot you be more original?
mparks1 says:
05:30 AM, 10/14/10
Dear Fuji Heavy Industries:
Saturn called- they want the Astra back.
rsholland says:
05:55 AM, 10/14/10
I think this will be fairly close. My only objections are that the grille insert (the "wings") are way too prominent. I'd like to see that aspect more subtle, a lot thinner and perhaps black like the current model. I also think the tailights could be a bit larger. I think the overall shape of the grille is pretty close to what we'll see.
What I've heard so far is that this redesign will be an "evolutionary" one, not a "revolutionary" one, and these illustrations back that up.
I'm optimistic.
wikiwiki says:
06:24 AM, 10/14/10
I don't know. I think it looks great. I'm not a hater. I really like this design.
rsholland says:
06:33 AM, 10/14/10
@07kbptls says:
"I think I can safely speak for most Subaru enthusiasts and say... I really hope the design of the car is not headed in that direction."
No, I don't think you can safely speak for most Subaru enthusiasts.
06scooby says:
06:42 AM, 10/14/10
As a subaru owner I actually kind of think this looks better and more interesting than the current one. The front end could be "smoothed" out a bit. Then again, the 08-current impreza just finally grew on me... at least this one has a better flow. Interesting to see how close the actual impreza is to this.
As the owner of an 06 Legacy I really don't like the the new legacy. The outback looks okay but since they made a move to make the outback more SUV-like, I wish they would have separated the styling more between the two. Since there is no Legacy wagon any more, therefore allowing the outback to be its own vehicle (instead of a lifted legacy), they should have made the legacy better looking. The outback digs on the legacy just look wierd....
AND SUBARU... QUIT GETTING RID OF THE MANUAL TRANNIES!
weege says:
06:56 AM, 10/14/10
I think it looks awesome, better than today's car, but most importantly, this is an Inside Line rendering, it's not an actual Subaru photo. So stop picking on it or trashing Suby's stylists, this is just a guess by IL.
What matters most, esp for Subarus which are never really known for their styling, is what will be underneath. Suby is launching a whole new generation of flat fours, and I wouldn't be surprised if the '13 WRX features a turbo DI version of the new gen 2.0. I'm sure they could easily match the output of today's 2.5 (265 hp/244 lb ft), deliver that power in a more linear fashion thanks to DI, higher compression and the long stroke to bore ratio, and significantly improve fuel economy, reduce emissions, and cut back on weight and bulk. That new 2.0 is so short, they might even be able to chop a little off of the notorious Suby front overhang.
Make the car look like the rendering, drop in a next-gen 2.0 DI turbo and bolt it to a six speed manual and I'll buy it. I had a 2006 WRX. Fun at times, but so unrefined, it was like buying a 25,000 economy car. Wait, it was! I have a feeling by '13 it will be a more sophisticated and refined car. And still really fast!
gtijake says:
07:02 AM, 10/14/10
I actually like this rendering. Looks like I'm the odd man out. I'm thinking it must not be bold enough or strange looking enough for real Subie fans.
jeepsrt says:
07:11 AM, 10/14/10
I hope not!
lostboyz says:
07:32 AM, 10/14/10
considering they added the wheel arch flares on the wrx this year, I doubt they would take them away. This might be a good rendering of the base impreza.
Its ugly, but not quite the kind of ugly an impreza is.
herrstreet says:
07:36 AM, 10/14/10
The outside of the current model looks fine. It's the interior that looks like a neon but with cheaper plastics that is a deal breaker.
ed124c says:
08:33 AM, 10/14/10
It is still slab-sided and too much like the current Impreza. But, it is an improvement. Imprezas have NEVER been stylish cars.
While Subaru has cut back on the number of models that have manual transmissions, you can still get a manual on every model except the Tribeca. And, unlike other companies you can get the manual with most of the goodies-- like power seat and sunroof. In fact, the LegacyGT comes only with a manual and only in the top line Limited trim.
The current Legacy is the best looking of them all, IMO and a better value than even the new Sonata-- again, my opinion-- taking into account that the Legacy is an AWD sedan.
(The Outback is too big and has lost some of its poise on the road.)
07kbptls says:
08:46 AM, 10/14/10
@rsholland lol no apparently not.
I retract my statement =]
lamtrc says:
08:47 AM, 10/14/10
seriously, who buys any subaru just for their looks? i love mine to dead, but boy isn't it fugly as hell.
typer_801 says:
08:52 AM, 10/14/10
Car looks fine, nice evolution of current design. Let's hope, though, they start improving the powertrains, particularly the WRX & STI. The STI, for example, is way behind in the horsepower wars going on between the US pony cars (Mustang, Camaro, Challenger). It's really not that exciting of an alternative given its significant current power/speed deficit.
f1ndler says:
09:11 AM, 10/14/10
I've got to say that, someone did a very good job on this PS rendering. Looks just like a real picture. Those of you who keep complaining about the style of this car should realize that looks for Subaru have never been a priority. First - it's Japanese and cars from that country look vary similar so you can compare it to Mazda or anything else you can think of but it's still a lot of lines with sharp angles and large head lights (as if to compensate the eyes difference from caucasians). And second - that boxer engine is still good, maybe direct injection would be better but it is not as bad as some think of it. AWD system is just awesome on those cars - you have to drive it to fully appreciate its engineering and power to MPG ration is alright, considering it's AWD.
People who buy Subaru most of the time don't care about the looks, unless you have vision problems. These cars are designed to get around without asking for attention. And they do get around very well.
wolverinejoe80 says:
09:13 AM, 10/14/10
hyundai wants their hexagon grill back.
p00pman says:
09:52 AM, 10/14/10
I agree with everyone who says that this is completely better looking than the current generation. The only people who say the current generation is ok to good looking are the people who own one and I am sure they secretly know that it is hideous.
p00pman says:
09:57 AM, 10/14/10
oh and wolverinejoe, subaru has had the hexagon grill long before hyundai ever had one, look at the 3rd gen legacy and especially the 4th gen. this is just a bigger version of it, which everyone is doing with their grills lately.
06scooby says:
10:14 AM, 10/14/10
ed124c: While its true that Subaru is the only auto maker (besides BMW) that offers things like sunroof with a manual tranny, they are still getting rid premium features they used to offer. You used to be able to get any Subie pretty much with a manual tranny even the limited trims with leather and everything. But starting with the legacy in 06 when they cut the manual out of the GT wagon... then in 07 all the wagons were auto. Then the 09 forester went all auto on the XT which I would think more people would be taking the manual on that model. Now you can't get a single Subaru with Leather and a manual transmission with the exeption of the legacy GT and WRX. That's the trend that subaru is heading down.
The funny thing is that even though manual transmissions aren't that popular generally, they are still very popular with the subaru faithful (especially given their lame 4 speed auto) i have friends that have bought subies and see mine is a manual and they've commented on how they wanted one but couldn't find one. Just another example of how subaru is ditching their loyal base for the mainstream.. can't they chase the mainstream buyers some without alienating their loyal buyers?
We like the new outback but the new 6 speed manual sucks and my wife wants a fully loaded model with a manual which isn't even an option on the outback anymore and no turbo either. Looks like her next car is going to be a few year old BMW X3...
lzks says:
10:22 AM, 10/14/10
Oh, God forbid. Please, no.
alaskanroads says:
10:23 AM, 10/14/10
I dont know what everyone is talking about, this hatch looks great! Even though its just a rendering, its a millions times better than the current one and any other hatch Subaru has ever produced. I hope it does come to production.
deathtollwrx says:
11:06 AM, 10/14/10
I can't imagine why Subaru would get rid of the widebody, shrink the hoodscoop and make it look much less aggressive. I'm hoping that a factory bodykit will make it look a little more aggressive.
I'm going to guess that the new WRX will most likel get a six speed manual and probably close to 305 horsepower. A few improvements here and there and it would fit in nicely in price between the current WRX and STI.
I'm also thinking that Subaru will most likely make alot of other improvements to the WRX and end up cutting out the STI altogether.
To sum up
2013 305 HP WRX with 6 speed tranny with no DCCD.
-Wheel and tire package
-Suspension Package
-Aero Package
I'm only wondering if a WRX with 6SP and improved suspension will fill in the gap left by the STI's departure.
rsholland says:
11:07 AM, 10/14/10
^ Agreed. I never listen to the so-called design critics.
rsholland says:
11:14 AM, 10/14/10
@deathtollwrx (and everyone else)
This is a rendering—pure speculation based upon what the artist thinks will happen, which based on what we know to date. I think he's probably close—but "close" (not "exact") is the operative word here.
In a way it's a shame he put the hood scoop on this rendering, as that suggests a WRX. I bet it's closer to a non-turbo Impreza, than the WRX. My guess is the WRX and STI will again share some more aggressive bodywork, as the current models do.
xorbe says:
11:50 AM, 10/14/10
I would like to see follow-up articles where the real car is compared to IL's previous photochop predictions!
deathtollwrx says:
12:08 PM, 10/14/10
Rsholland.
Perhaps it's the IMPREZA GT. It's going to have a smaller turbo and no bodykit. Kind of like the 2010 Impreza GT. That would also explain the lack of fender flares.
I do honestly hope they do more with the engine as stated above. The Hyundai get 274 from a 2.0 so I am expecting he next WRX 2.5 litre to get us into the 300 horse range.
jederino says:
12:09 PM, 10/14/10
The only feature that stands out to me as better than the current design is the taillights, which are more adult, less tunerlicious. Other than that, I don't like this hyper-surfacing on the front which echos the Fiesta - but it works on that one.
godofgambler says:
01:25 PM, 10/14/10
Sorry, no hatchback for me. Can't put a lot of stuff in trunk.
aznraptor says:
05:42 PM, 10/14/10
I kinda like it but, the only thing keeping me from subaru is the aging EJ engine, and not-so-great shifters
I really liked the previous legacy GT (would've gotten the turbo with a manual trans if I was in the market)
cmon subaru, keep the manuals, refresh the engines, work a little on shifter quality and I'm sold.
only subaru I didn't really like looks-wise was the bug-eye, but every other impreza since then has been good. old legacies were good too, but the new one is no good
rsholland says:
06:11 PM, 10/14/10
@aznraptor:
The new Impreza will be using an all-new FB engine, either 2.0 or 2.5. This engine is first going in the 2011 Forester (FB25), and has a DOHC, and a timing chain. It's also has a different bore/stroke ratio. The 2.0 version is undersquare, and the 2.5 version is just slightly oversquare. Previous 4-cylinder Subarus were way oversquare. The new family of engines puts out more power down low in the rev range and gets better mileage as well. Also expect new trannys as well.
rsholland says:
06:17 PM, 10/14/10
^ Here's an Inside Line link to this new engine:
http://www.insideline.com/subaru/subarus-new-boxer-engine.html
jscion says:
07:03 PM, 10/14/10
Not a huge departure from the current model but that grille.....I remember when they first released sketches of the current generation Impreza and the front grille resembled a vagina. This is just as bad!!! Stop it with the weird front end designs Subaru!
luke70 says:
08:36 PM, 10/14/10
I like it, if this rendering is at all indicative of what it will really be like. The taillights are simple and clean while the front is more defined albeit a little disjointed. Someone above mentioned that it wasn't a radical departure from the current model. I don't mind that so much. I remember that when they changed the Tribeca they pretty much just changed the front fascia and rear lights and it worked wonders to me.
atenza94546 says:
08:50 AM, 10/15/10
A Chervrolet Cruze facia ???!!!
anythngbutgm says:
01:20 PM, 10/18/10
Count me as someone else who like this. Change the wheels to something a bit more agressive and not so heavy looking and the profile would pop. A sedan version of this would look even better.