Subaru dealers across the country are now taking orders for a naturally aspirated 4-door Impreza.

The AWD sedan comes a year after the new hatchback Impreza that debuted, and shares the same 2620mm wheelbase and price range for all three variants; R, RX, and RS. However the sedan is 165mm longer than the hatch in total, and comes with a slightly larger boot (45mm longer). The car also rides 35mm higher than the previous Impreza sedan, and provides a split-folding rear seat to improve capacity.

The sedan’s engine remains unchanged from the hatch variant, a 110KW(@6400RPM)/196NM(@3200RPM) two litre DOHC Boxer four cylinder petrol engine mated to either a 5 speed manual transmission or 4 speed SportsShift automatic. Subaru claims a combined fuel economy of 8.9L/100km for the manual variants and 8.8L/100km for automatic variants on standard (91RON) unleaded fuel.

The Impreza is available with dual front and side airbags, curtain airbags, ABS with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), brake assist, VDC stability control, active front head-rests, hill-start assist for manual cars, air conditioning and a standard 4 speaker CD audio. All models are 5-star ANCAP rated.

Purchasing the RX version adds 16” alloy wheels, a 6-stacker, 10 speaker CD audio system, automatic climate control, a leather-rim steering wheel with audio controls and leather gearshift and optional sunroof.

The RS upgrades the alloys to 17”, adds a bodykit with rear diffuser and spoiler, mesh grille, sports seats, rear privacy glass and an upgraded trim. The RS may also be optioned with a leather trim and sunroof package.

The WRX version of the Sedan, packing Subaru’s fabled 169KW/320NM 2.5L turbocharged 4-cylinder is expected in December.

Pricing is as follows:

• Impreza R $24,490 (manual) $26,490 (auto)
• Impreza RX $26,490 (manual) $28,490 (auto)
• Impreza RS $29,490 (manual) $31,490 (auto)

Popularity: 2% [?]

Rumors have been flying about a new performance oriented Toyota sports car hitting the performance scene for a considerable time now, from an AE86 revival to a new Supra, but perhaps no one expected news that these shadowy rumors would coalesce into the forgotten Celica GT-4.

The last model Celica. Will we see styling cues from this?

But perhaps even more surprising is the rumor that the car will be engineered to a large degree by Subaru. In November Toyota confirmed rumours of a new sports car and Celica replacement, with the sports car being a collaboration between Subaru and Toyota, and now it seems the car is the performance model of the Celica line. However, the new car will not come with a Toyota bred turbo four in the tradition of the (somewhat) underpowered motor of the old model - instead it’s going to be carrying a Subaru Boxer turbo, most recently seen in the all grown up Subaru Impreza WRX STi.

The new model is said to come in two distinct performance variants. First, the base ‘GT’, packing a front engined, RWD drivetrain and naturally aspirated 2.0L 4 cylinder Boxer (most likely from the Impreza RX), designed to slide in under the $20,000 bracket. Secondly the full fat GT-4, which carries the new JDM STi’s 224KW (300HP) Boxer turbo and AWD system standard, with Motor Trend claiming the engine will be closer to the cars firewall in order to facilitate the installation of in-wheel electric motors to help with traction.

The GT and GT-4 will be built in in coupe and three-door hatch variants, but no five door variants because of Toyota and Subaru not wanting to compete in the Impreza’s arena, which is rather tongue in cheek considering this new car will inevitably be seen as either a Impreza in Toyota clothing, or as direct competition by tuners. This begs the question then; will the new GT-4 be a real contender in the hotly contested price for performance bracket? Will the Toyota be lighter, faster, and more capable than the new STi? Would Subaru shoot themselves in the foot, and does it matter considering Toyota’s widening stake in Subaru?

Does this mean Subaru will become more and more the performance arm of Toyota? Time will tell, but we certainly hope not.

Popularity: 50% [?]

Finally, the 08 STi pics have been revealed by Subaru, and while we will always miss the STi of yesteryear, this new STi looks the goods. As we expected, it’s definitely more muscular and aggressive looking than the woeful base WRX. Still, the looks of the new Impreza take a lot of getting used to.

Other features expected include:

• Dual AVCS DOHC 2.0L (1994cc) 16 valve Boxer
• Twin-scroll turbocharger
• 6-speed manual. Multi-mode, SI-DRIVE
• Drivers Control Center Differential (DCCD
• Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC)
• Quad exhaust

[Source: Autoblog]

Popularity: 31% [?]

With the release of the Evo X, it’s time to take a quick peek back in time at one of our favourite Top Gear episodes.

Three hot cars, but which one is the most fun? Prepare for Mitsi vs Subie fan battles!

Popularity: 29% [?]

Subaru continues to whet enthusiast appetites with dark, moody shots of the new STi.

Although not immediately clear in the pics, it seems the STi is going to be designed to stand apart from it’s WRX base with a more masculine, bulked up appearance, with bulging muscular fenders, quad tips, a roof wing, and possibly black versions of the clear tail lights, though it’s hard to tell. It seems Subaru have listened to STi owners classically complaining about the STi looking too similar to the ‘standard’ WRX (Though we’re sure some fans must be wishing Subaru had listened on overall styling, period.).

2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STi. These photo’s have been brightened

The STi will be revealed on the 24th of October at the Tokyo Motor Show (write it in your diaries or something, Scooby fans!)

Popularity: 33% [?]