Subaru has unveiled its fifth generation Impreza* overnight at the 2016 New York International Auto Show, featuring an impressive suite of technologies, including the first use of the new Subaru Global Platform.
The 2017 Subaru Impreza will be arriving on NZ shores early 2017.
Subaru of New Zealand’s Marketing Manager Daile Stephens says: “The entry level Subaru Impreza will continue to be every inch a Subaru, offering kiwis Subaru’s unique benefits including Symmetrical All Wheel Drive as standard, and a newly developed 2.0l Direct Injection Boxer Engine."
“The entry level Subaru Impreza will continue to be every inch a Subaru, offering kiwis Subaru’s unique benefits including Symmetrical All Wheel Drive as standard, and a newly developed 2.0l Direct Injection Boxer Engine."
“The current generation Subaru Impreza continues to be a strong seller, which is only limited by production. With an RRP of $29,990, every Impreza that arrives in New Zealand is being delivered to customers within weeks of arriving. The new generation model featuring the new Subaru Global Platform along with Subaru’s EyeSight® driver assist system , and all new styling will no doubt ensure it continues to appeal to both adventure seeking loyalists and new Subaru customers,” Mrs Stephens says.
The new All-Wheel Drive Impreza is the first strategic offering under the company’s Prominence 2020 mid-term management vision.
The Subaru Global Platform significantly enhances body and chassis rigidity, and strength.
Impreza also offers world-class collision safety and hazard avoidance, as well as far more driver-responsive handling and ride comfort.
The Subaru Global Platform, together with Subaru’s core technologies such as the newly developed 2.0-litre direct injection horizontally-opposed Boxer engine, Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD), and EyeSight® driver assist system, represent a major advance in Subaru’s delivery of “enjoyment and peace-of-mind” for customers - the foundation of the next generation of Subaru vehicles.
Impreza is the first production model to fully incorporate the company’s DYNAMIC x SOLID design philosophy. It also features a greatly enhanced interior and exterior finish.
SUBARU NEW DESIGN LANGUAGE AND ITS SIGNATURE FUNCTIONALITIES
EXTERIOR
The Subaru look is seen in Impreza’s wide and low stance, and the unified three-dimensional structure extending from the classic hexagonal grille to the hawkeye headlights.
A character line extends from the front guard to the door panels and rear shoulder, also rising toward the rear from the lower door panel, giving dynamism to the body surface. The flared guards express the reliability of Subaru All-Wheel Drive.
The rear combination lights share the same motif as the headlights, also expressing the wide and low stance.
The sedan body’s sleek styling from cabin to boot lid, enhances the sporty impression.
On the hatch five-door body, the powerful looking shoulder silhouette achieves the sporty look too.
The new model combines the Subaru performance essentials of superior aerodynamics and visibility with advanced styling.
INTERIOR
The combination of sporty and advanced design, and sophisticated construction delivers an interior that far surpasses its class.
The spacious design flows from the instrument panel for a feeling of refinement, while seat structures are more fitting to the occupant bodies.
In the centre of the instrument panel is an 8-inch touch-screen display for the infotainment system.
Detailed stitching on the instrument panel complements the quality feel.
In addition to the enhanced interior design, signature Subaru functionalities have been further strengthened, including excellent all-round visibility, spacious cabin, and cargo room.
DRIVING PERFORMANCE TO ACHIEVE ENHANCED DYNAMIC FEEL
New Impreza incorporates a number of improvements to achieve enhanced dynamic feel, including the driver’s impression of security and comfort.
Based on thorough and precise analysis of the steering and pedal feedback, vehicle behaviour, vibration and noise - and other elements that the driver senses - Impreza offers dynamic quality befitting this first in a new generation of the Subarus.
BODY AND CHASSIS
The new platform dramatically increases rigidity throughout the body and chassis (a 70-to-100 per cent increase over present models). It incorporates substantial improvements to the suspension system and achieves a lower centre of gravity, producing highly responsive steering that allows drivers to control the vehicle as precisely as they want. The eradication of unnecessary movement in handling offers superior straight-line stability and cornering performance, to grip the road surface.
Optimised frame structure and stronger joints between parts allow the new platform to improve overall torsional rigidity by 70 per cent over present models. This distributes the resonance and distortion throughout the body, greatly reducing vibrations from the steering wheel, floor and seats. It achieves a quietness beyond vehicle class.
The new platform increases the rigidity of the suspension mounting, improving suspension absorption without warping the car body, and providing a smooth and comfortable drive. By mounting the rear stabiliser directly to the body, the new platform reduces body roll by 50 per cent compared to present models.
Active Torque Vectoring enhances turning and steering performance.
ENGINE
Around 80 per cent of the parts on the FB 2.0-litre direct-injection Boxer engine have been completely revamped, making it lighter, delivering more power and fuel efficiency.
The improved Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission greatly enhances ratio coverage and lightness, boosting acceleration performance and fuel efficiency. As well as employing full auto-step shift control, Impreza features a seven-speed manual mode function, allowing the driver to accelerate as desired.
Noise and vibration are greatly reduced in both the engine and transmission, for more pleasant sound and a dynamic feel.
WORLD-CLASS SAFETY
Subaru’s safety performance is highly rated by third-party organizations. New Impreza adopts technologies to further enhance safety, including the new platform and the advanced preventive safety system.
ACTIVE SAFETY
The new platform achieves a centre of gravity 5 mm lower than present models. Together with major improvements in rigidity and evolution of the suspension system, this offers outstanding hazard avoidance capabilities on a level with a high-performance sports car.
PASSIVE SAFETY
Thanks to a frame structure that enables more efficient energy absorption in the event of collision, and the enhanced body strength resulting from the increased use of high-tensile steel plates - including materials formed by the hot press method - impact energy absorption is improved by 40 per cent over present models.
PREVENTIVE SAFETY
EyeSight, Subaru’s innovative and highly acclaimed driver assist technology, delivers extremely reliable preventive safety and reduces driver burden through features such as Pre-Collision Braking Control, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Lane Keep Assist.
The new High Beam Assist links to the EyeSight stereo camera, automatically switching from high to low beam according to what is happening ahead of the vehicle. Steering Responsive Headlights move the beam right or left when turning, illuminating the direction of travel. Impreza employs the two headlight controls for the first time, dramatically improving night-time visibility and the recognition capabilities of EyeSight.
Impreza has a newly adopted automatic braking system for reversing. When reversing, a sensor inside the rear bumper detects obstacles and alerts the driver of possible collisions. If the driver fails to act, the system automatically brakes to prevent a collision or reduce damage.
Impreza also adds blind spot detection and reversing assistance, enhancing all-round preventive safety.
MAIN SPECIFICATIONS (NORTH AMERICA)
Body type: Hatch
Body size (Overall length/width/height): 4460 x 1777 x 1455 mm
Wheelbase: 2670 mm
Engine: FB20 type 2.0-litre, DOHC, Horizontally-Opposed, 4-cylinder, direct injection, normally aspirated
Displacement: 1995 cc
Bore, Stroke: 84 x 90 mm
Maximum output: 112 Kilowatts
Transmission: Lineartronic CVT
Drivetrain: Symmetrical AWD
Tyre size: 205/55 R16, 205/50 R17, 225/40 R18
Seating capacity: 5
*All contents refer to North American specification-only. New Zealand specifications have yet to be confirmed.
For further information, please contact Subaru of New Zealand Public Relations - Catherine Pattison (027) 4455 389 or email catherine.pattison@subaru.co.nz