Impreza Subaru Impreza Design Concept

[HighestOfHigh]

SUBARU DEBUTS IMPREZA DESIGN CONCEPT AT LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW
* Design concept hints at future model.
* Interior integrates latest in infotainment and safety technology.
* New-generation Subaru Boxer engine and CVT.

LOS ANGELES, November xx, 2010 – Subaru of America, Inc. today unveiled the Impreza Design Concept, which previews the carmaker's new "Confidence in Motion" design and brand strategy. The Impreza Design Concept will remain on display throughout the show, which runs November 19-28 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The Impreza has been Subaru's global compact car since 1992.

Built to express possible future Subaru design elements, the Impreza Design Concept conveys a sporty and lively "four-door coupe" style. The Impreza Concept combines environmental compatibility and comfortable ride of the Impreza with the trusted performance that Subaru's Symmetrical All Wheel Drive provides. The designers blended two ideas – "dynamic flow and confident stance" – to showcase Subaru's engineering core values of dynamic performance, safety, driving enjoyment and quality. The Impreza Design Concept features a roomy four-passenger interior.

From the front, the Impreza Design Concept is clearly recognizable as a Subaru, with a hexagonal grille with spread wings in the center and hawk eye-style headlights. At the same time, the front view previews a new direction for the brand's design, with the hood, grille and headlights designed to project three-dimensional character.

Fin-shaped fog lamps, which follow the wing motif, emphasize a fresh expression of Subaru identity. The car's low-and-wide stance is meant to convey reliability, security, and safety. The design of the prominent wheel arches echo that message while also emphasizing the vehicle's All-Wheel Drive technology. The new-generation Legacy debuted this design feature.

In profile, the Impreza Design Concept shows a sleek, continuous line from the A-pillar, along the roof and through the C-pillar. The design yields both a roomy cabin and excellent aerodynamic performance. Subaru designers applied simple and clean lines and surfaces rather than complicated forms. This produces a contrast with the powerful fender design and results in a lean side view, accented by satin silver window frames. The wedge-shaped side rear-view cameras sit along the sharp line of the A-pillar.

At the rear, the hexagonal theme repeats with a garnish that radiates outward from the center. The rear lights also follow a sharp-edged theme, and are stretched into the body sides to join the character line along the car's flanks. The taillamp design features a unique layering and gradation to create the impression of depth.

The front and rear bumper corners, shaped in the wind tunnel, contribute to the car's overall aerodynamic efficiency. Diffusers on the underside of the rear bumper and the rear deck emphasize sportiness and also do their part for aerodynamics, contributing to vehicle fuel efficiency. The Sky Silver exterior color underscores the Impreza Design Concept's stylish and dynamic silhouette, and suggests a silver tone to be used on the next generation of Subaru vehicles. The high-luster silver aluminum wheels, with their five-twin-spoke design, convey vehicle lightness and agility. Carbon fins garnish the spokes, aiding brake cooling.

"Dynamic, Enticing, Secure" Interior
For the Impreza Design Concept's interior, the designers followed a theme of "Dynamic, Enticing, Secure." The smooth integration of the instrument panel with the door trim and armrests suggests sporty yet comfortable driving. The roomy platinum-leather four-seat layout envelops occupants. Dark blue piping and double stitching accent the leather. A "layered" approach to color, with the upper part light platinum and the lower part a shade darker, gives the interior a feeling of spaciousness and sophistication.

A large display in the center dash combines functions for navigation, vehicle information and audio. The touch panel technology provides ease of use, seamlessly melding information and entertainment features.
The platinum leather-wrapped steering wheel features D-shaped spokes set off by piano-black center sections. The wheel innovatively incorporates its own touch panels, giving the driver easy access to various vehicle functions.

New Safety and Performance
Subaru's own advanced driving-assist EyeSight system is installed along the front edge of the roof. The images the camera takes can be viewed on a monitor in the center of the gauge cluster, positioned for easy visibility. EyeSight is also networked with the latest in collision-prevention technology, underscoring the safety that customers expect from Subaru.

The combination of the 2.0-liter naturally aspirated Boxer engine with a Lineartronic™ Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) represents Subaru's next-generation powertrain. A 2.5-liter version of this engine powers the 2011 Forester.

- http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/17/subaru-impreza-design-concept-has-us-hating-on-current/

 

[Giannis]

SUBARU DEBUTS IMPREZA DESIGN CONCEPT AT LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW
* Design concept hints at future model.
* Interior integrates latest in infotainment and safety technology.
* New-generation Subaru Boxer engine and CVT.

LOS ANGELES, November xx, 2010 – Subaru of America, Inc. today unveiled the Impreza Design Concept, which previews the carmaker's new "Confidence in Motion" design and brand strategy. The Impreza Design Concept will remain on display throughout the show, which runs November 19-28 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The Impreza has been Subaru's global compact car since 1992.

Built to express possible future Subaru design elements, the Impreza Design Concept conveys a sporty and lively "four-door coupe" style. The Impreza Concept combines environmental compatibility and comfortable ride of the Impreza with the trusted performance that Subaru's Symmetrical All Wheel Drive provides. The designers blended two ideas – "dynamic flow and confident stance" – to showcase Subaru's engineering core values of dynamic performance, safety, driving enjoyment and quality. The Impreza Design Concept features a roomy four-passenger interior.

From the front, the Impreza Design Concept is clearly recognizable as a Subaru, with a hexagonal grille with spread wings in the center and hawk eye-style headlights. At the same time, the front view previews a new direction for the brand's design, with the hood, grille and headlights designed to project three-dimensional character.

Fin-shaped fog lamps, which follow the wing motif, emphasize a fresh expression of Subaru identity. The car's low-and-wide stance is meant to convey reliability, security, and safety. The design of the prominent wheel arches echo that message while also emphasizing the vehicle's All-Wheel Drive technology. The new-generation Legacy debuted this design feature.

In profile, the Impreza Design Concept shows a sleek, continuous line from the A-pillar, along the roof and through the C-pillar. The design yields both a roomy cabin and excellent aerodynamic performance. Subaru designers applied simple and clean lines and surfaces rather than complicated forms. This produces a contrast with the powerful fender design and results in a lean side view, accented by satin silver window frames. The wedge-shaped side rear-view cameras sit along the sharp line of the A-pillar.

At the rear, the hexagonal theme repeats with a garnish that radiates outward from the center. The rear lights also follow a sharp-edged theme, and are stretched into the body sides to join the character line along the car's flanks. The taillamp design features a unique layering and gradation to create the impression of depth.

The front and rear bumper corners, shaped in the wind tunnel, contribute to the car's overall aerodynamic efficiency. Diffusers on the underside of the rear bumper and the rear deck emphasize sportiness and also do their part for aerodynamics, contributing to vehicle fuel efficiency. The Sky Silver exterior color underscores the Impreza Design Concept's stylish and dynamic silhouette, and suggests a silver tone to be used on the next generation of Subaru vehicles. The high-luster silver aluminum wheels, with their five-twin-spoke design, convey vehicle lightness and agility. Carbon fins garnish the spokes, aiding brake cooling.

"Dynamic, Enticing, Secure" Interior
For the Impreza Design Concept's interior, the designers followed a theme of "Dynamic, Enticing, Secure." The smooth integration of the instrument panel with the door trim and armrests suggests sporty yet comfortable driving. The roomy platinum-leather four-seat layout envelops occupants. Dark blue piping and double stitching accent the leather. A "layered" approach to color, with the upper part light platinum and the lower part a shade darker, gives the interior a feeling of spaciousness and sophistication.

A large display in the center dash combines functions for navigation, vehicle information and audio. The touch panel technology provides ease of use, seamlessly melding information and entertainment features.
The platinum leather-wrapped steering wheel features D-shaped spokes set off by piano-black center sections. The wheel innovatively incorporates its own touch panels, giving the driver easy access to various vehicle functions.

New Safety and Performance
Subaru's own advanced driving-assist EyeSight system is installed along the front edge of the roof. The images the camera takes can be viewed on a monitor in the center of the gauge cluster, positioned for easy visibility. EyeSight is also networked with the latest in collision-prevention technology, underscoring the safety that customers expect from Subaru.

The combination of the 2.0-liter naturally aspirated Boxer engine with a Lineartronic™ Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) represents Subaru's next-generation powertrain. A 2.5-liter version of this engine powers the 2011 Forester.

 

[Centurion]

That could as well carry a Ford badge and be named a Mondeo.

 

[Deleted member 25]

Or a hundai one, there's such a lack of interesting design these days.

 

[Giannis]

 

[martinbo]

That looks great, Subaru. Pity so much of it has been done before. A couple of times.

Nonetheless, Subaru is finally freed of its Zapatinas legacy (no pun intended) and if they make the next generation Impreza nearly as handsome as this, I'll remain a loyal customer. (Actually, as long as Subaru continues to deliver the value-for-money, high satisfaction ownership experience I'd probably still remain a loyal customer.) It's funny how it's taken Subaru so long to revert to the hexagonal grill design motif (and with it the best potential for a distinctive frontal DRG) that we saw in the previous generation Legacy / Outback!

I suspect that the new Impreza will be toned down a lot from this. With the emphasis on A LOT. The front door window, for example, will gain a separate front quarter glass so ubiquitously applied on many a horrible people-mover. I'm not looking forward to this. The front overhang is admirably short for a car with its entire engine ahead of the front axle for two reasons: a) the new architecture, narrow-bore (think Audi approach) Boxer engine is shorter and thus affords packaging benefits and, b) it's doubtful that this concept's proportions have been rendered with full crash safety compliance in mind. So expect next-gen Impreza to still have a long shnoz.

Subaru's own-design Lineartronic CVT will be the perfect accompaniment to the new generation Boxer as it really is the best CVT "box" I've ever tried and it works well with the Boxer engine's character. Overall, as a Subaru loyalist (which is quite different from being a fan or cheerleader) I am pleased with the direction of this almost mainstream but never to be mass-market brand. Looking forward to my next purchase.

 

[martinbo]

Some live LA AutoShow pics:

 

[Monster]

That could as well carry a Ford badge and be named a Mondeo.

Or a hundai one, there's such a lack of interesting design these days.

Doesn't matter as long as it doesn't resemble the current generation, it looks so boring it actually puts me to sleep.

It's funny how it's taken Subaru so long to revert to the hexagonal grill design motif (and with it the best potential for a distinctive frontal DRG) that we saw in the previous generation Legacy / Outback!

Just what caused Subaru to ditch the hexagonal grill before? It was one of the most distinctive front grill design, and it was very well recognized, and apparently it wasn't good enough for the design team?

I suspect that the new Impreza will be toned down a lot from this. With the emphasis on A LOT. The front door window, for example, will gain a separate front quarter glass so ubiquitously applied on many a horrible people-mover. I'm not looking forward to this. The front overhang is admirably short for a car with its entire engine ahead of the front axle for two reasons: a) the new architecture, narrow-bore (think Audi approach) Boxer engine is shorter and thus affords packaging benefits and, b) it's doubtful that this concept's proportions have been rendered with full crash safety compliance in mind. So expect next-gen Impreza to still have a long shnoz.

Subaru has been good at disguising the front over hang of their cars. I took a long look under the bonnet of my car while changing the batteries and realized how far forward the engine is to the front axle. You would't have noticed it just by looking at the exterior.

As long as they keep the front grill and those headlights, the car should look alright.

 

[NarutoRamen]

I like it. Plain and simple.

 

[Human]

I see OPEL.

 

[bum-man]

Subaru feeling the sting of the universal criticism about current design of the Impreza. Wasn't that car put on sale a few days ago??

Anyways, huge improvement! Make this the facelift Subaru!

 

[Centurion]

Subaru feeling the sting of the universal criticism about current design of the Impreza.

The brand is currently dealing with an identity crisis and these concepts they have been showing off attest to Sabaru's ambitions to perhaps lean a bit more to the mainstream side of the scale. Sales volumes for the company are not bad but just like other quasi-niche manufacturers like Land Rover and Jaguar, Subaru are looking to sell to more than just enthusiasts.

What they need to figure out is a new long term design strategy. My fingers can't point on anything unattractive about concept but it's not distinctive and rings the bells of Holden and similar Australian cars.

 

[martinbo]

So when last has anyone thought of a Subaru as the star of a motor show? Well, Autocar's Chas Hallet seems to think so. Story here: LA motor show has won me over - Motor shows

My star of the show though was the Subaru Impreza concept. Finally, Fuji Heavy Industries looks like its giving us a car which has been designed to compete with Europe’s best. Most observers reckoned that it was an homage to Mazda, Ford, Audi and even Holden styling. But the point is that it doesn’t look like weird old Subaru anymore, inside and out. And if the company can sell as many cars on looks as it does on all-wheel drive chassis technology and functionality then it will have overcome a very big hurdle.

What’s more, the next Impreza is likely to herald a whole new family of Subarus, including a supermini. Let’s hope it also heralds a new generation of interesting Subarus again. It’s been mediocre for far too long now.

It looks like the Impreza Concept is garnering favourable critique all round.

So, it begs the question: how close is this concept to reality? Some suggest to take a look at this car - the Legacy Concept of 2009:

It's not often that Subaru gives a concept car the name of an existing model. In the past we've seen stuff like "Sports Hybrid Tourer Concept" and others but these were never anything more than future-watch exercises. When they did give a concept a production model name like Legacy Concept, it turned out to be a very close preview of the end-result. Can we expect the same from Impreza Concept? I don't know for sure but something tells me there's more substance to this concept than may be immediately apparent. If so, good on ya, Subaru, I'm praying that you have the conviction to follow through on this one.

I can't wait to see what the WRX and STI spin-offs are going to look like!

New Impreza is expected in around 9 month's time.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Looks Great!

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

So when last has anyone thought of a Subaru as the star of a motor show? Well, Autocar's Chas Hallet seems to think so. Story here: LA motor show has won me over - Motor shows



It looks like the Impreza Concept is garnering favourable critique all round.

So, it begs the question: how close is this concept to reality? Some suggest to take a look at this car - the Legacy Concept of 2009:

It's not often that Subaru gives a concept car the name of an existing model. In the past we've seen stuff like "Sports Hybrid Tourer Concept" and others but these were never anything more than future-watch exercises. When they did give a concept a production model name like Legacy Concept, it turned out to be a very close preview of the end-result. Can we expect the same from Impreza Concept? I don't know for sure but something tells me there's more substance to this concept than may be immediately apparent. If so, good on ya, Subaru, I'm praying that you have the conviction to follow through on this one.

I can't wait to see what the WRX and STI spin-offs are going to look like!

New Impreza is expected in around 9 month's time.

See, that's what worries me. IF the transition from concept to production is anything like the Legacy, then I'm worried. I fully understand compromises must be made due to cost, safety regs, etc. but the final product was disappointing, inside and out. For example the rearlights are so simple and boring, it's evocative of the Legacy from the early 90s. It's like they barely acknowledged the previous generation, which IMO was one of the best designed midsize sedan out there. But I digress, my "issues" with the current gen Legacy is well known on this board () and this is about the Impreza.

Also it looks that when it comes to the slushbox option, they are sticking with the CVT. Martin, I do agree it was on of the better CVT especially with it's programmed shift points, but it still felt odd. Will they ever consider a 6-speed automatic? Is it more of a packaging issue especially with a boxer configuration? Also, Martin, I remember you explained why a DCT will never be an option due to, again, packaging issues with the AWD system and boxer set-up. The details were a bit hazy. Is it possible to do something like what Lamborghini is about to do by going with an ISR transmission or is that too exotic/expensive? I'm hoping their manual option has 6 (forward) gears.

Again, I'm skeptical, borderline optimistic, but I am prepared to be disappointed with the real deal.

 

[martinbo]

See, that's what worries me. IF the transition from concept to production is anything like the Legacy, then I'm worried. I fully understand compromises must be made due to cost, safety regs, etc. but the final product was disappointing, inside and out. For example the rearlights are so simple and boring, it's evocative of the Legacy from the early 90s. It's like they barely acknowledged the previous generation, which IMO was one of the best designed midsize sedan out there. But I digress, my "issues" with the current gen Legacy is well known on this board () and this is about the Impreza.

I get you and agree that the production Legacy was "dumbed down" a little in terms of the details that missed the transition from the concept car. Ja, especially those rear tail-lights which just ended up being so ordinary. Of course for the rest of it - the sheet metal, profile, proportions etc. - the Legacy Concept was proved to be very similar to the end product which is what I'm alluding to. Details, certainly will be omitted/diluted but can we be optimistic at least regarding the sheetmetal, silhouette and general proportions? I think we can...

Also it looks that when it comes to the slushbox option, they are sticking with the CVT. Martin, I do agree it was on of the better CVT especially with it's programmed shift points, but it still felt odd. Will they ever consider a 6-speed automatic? Is it more of a packaging issue especially with a boxer configuration? Also, Martin, I remember you explained why a DCT will never be an option due to, again, packaging issues with the AWD system and boxer set-up. The details were a bit hazy. Is it possible to do something like what Lamborghini is about to do by going with an ISR transmission or is that too exotic/expensive? I'm hoping their manual option has 6 (forward) gears.

Engineering a car as specialised and as borderline niche as a Subaru has always presented FHI with specific challenges that surely would be overcome by a larger volume or higher price point manufacturer. The feature vs. benefit vs. end customer price problem is that much more distinct for FHI. Remember that Subaru as a brand sits sandwiched in between the mass car market segment below it and the high volume premium brand segment above it. It needs to be postioned here for a number of reasons, the most obvious being that it needs to create a unique yet tangible value proposition in order for the marque to be viable.

It's a long-winded story, I admit, but the short of it is this: in order to position Subaru Symmetrical AWD where it is presently, certain technological and (deemed) non-essential features will be omitted in order to retain the price point. The CVT, in low-torque applications, is a great solution to a number of issues: firstly its compact design affords real packaging and weight-saving benefits within the ambit of the Symmetrical AWD concept; it also goes some way to mitigating the low-end torque deficit characteristic of the normally aspirated Boxer engines. Without being constrained by gear ratios means that the engine has far greater scope to function in its optimum rpm-range based on the intent of the driver. Interestingly, I hardly ever used the pre-determined shift points in manual mode when I had the car on demo for a weekend - it was simply better and faster when left to its own devices. And of course, CVT transmissions are more efficient (when it comes to both fuel economy and transmission losses) than torque convertor autos.

Dual Clutch Transmissions are out of the question from a cost and mechanical complexity point-of-view for Subarus in my view of the brand. Perhaps the ISR concept as pioneered by Lamborghini is a cost-effective alternative - who knows?

Again, I'm skeptical, borderline optimistic, but I am prepared to be disappointed with the real deal.

I don't blame you. Let's hope history doesn't repeat itself.

 

[Kowalski]

I feel nauseous every time I see a Subaru Impreza. It's so ugly, it makes the BMW X1 look good in comparison.

 

[martinbo]

^ Funny, I've grown quite accustomed to my WRX's oddball looks!

 

[Human]

I feel nauseous every time I see a Subaru Impreza. It's so ugly, it makes the BMW X1 look good in comparison.

^ Funny, I've grown quite accustomed to my WRX's oddball looks!

Oddball's we are Martin

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

I feel nauseous every time I see a Subaru Impreza. It's so ugly, it makes the BMW X1 look good in comparison.

When it comes to the current gen, I agree since it's so diluted, compromised and vanilla, especially when it went from a wagon to a hatchback. The previous gen initially looked ugly, especially prior to the facelifts, however, now I find it funky yet with substance. It had character without looking too "rice-rocket"-like.

With this concept, it's more of a throwback to the previous gen rather than the current generation. And hopefully they will offer a wagon instead of a compromised hatchback. If they offer a proper wagon, then I know what I'm going to be saving up for as my next car. We'll see what happens.