Subaru updates the Impreza for 2012, with both a hatchback and sedan on tap.
It’s been a good couple years for Subaru, the Japanese automaker establishing one sales record after another. And how do you keep the momentum going, company officials ask, other than with new product
Which set the stage for Subaru’s moment in the spotlight at this year’s New York Auto Show, where the maker pulled the wraps off the latest version of its compact Impreza model.
Two versions of the all-wheel-drive model will begin rolling into showrooms by autumn, on schedule despite the crisis in Japan that has forced the delay of a number of other vehicles, Subaru’s top U.S. executive, Tom Doll, stressed.
In keeping with industry trends, Subaru’s product development team focused on delivering a roomier, more emotionally styled vehicle that, of course, has to deliver better fuel economy than the product it replaces.
The 2012 Subaru Impreza. American buyers traditionally opt for sedans over hatchbacks.
That means combined mileage in the range of 30 mpg, the maker says, and 36 on the highway. All versions of the new Impreza will get the third-generation Boxer engine, a 2.0-liter flat four making 148 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque. Buyers will get a choice of the Subaru CVT gearbox or a 5-speed manual. The Lineartronic CVT can be put into manual mode to emulate the behavior of a 6-speed stick, but operated from steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
Safety gear includes seven airbags, stability control and a variety of brake-related systems.
The interior of the new Subaru Impreza is both larger and more refined.
From a creature comfort standpoint, the new Impreza boasts more room, especially in the rear of an overall upgraded cabin.
The Japanese maker will offer two different body styles, a new hatchback and a new sedan, the more conservative of the two, but the one most likely to appeal to American drivers. The 2012 Subaru Impreza’s design features updated grille and headlights, larger front doors, and a generally more sporty feel, especially the hatchback, which adapts a curved, coupe-like roofline.
Last year, Subaru’s sales surged 22% to a record 264,000. The automaker is taking aim at 300,000, this year, for the first time, and Impreza could be crucial to meeting that goal. Among the Subaru line-up, the outgoing Impreza was distinct in recording a 5% decline last year, some buyers apparently waiting for the arrival of the 2012 model.
Significantly, the new Impreza is expected to sail into showrooms without a delay, unlike some Japanese products — like the Scion iQ — which are experiencing delays because of problems created by the Japanese natural disaster of March 2011.