| What is the big news about the Subaru Impreza | | | | the next generation Impreza WRX at the 2007 |
| WRX? Well, the car boasts same power with a | | | | New York Auto Show. Since then, its appeal |
| roomier interior and a lighter body. Also, it | | | | has captivated a multitude. And the |
| still rips to 60 mph in a matter of 5.9 | | | | magnetism's blaze, illuminating as Subaru |
| seconds. Experts could attest to the fact | | | | Headlights, evokes what is forthcoming. |
| that such combination is a rarity. | | | | Created for the 2008 model, the new Impreza |
| | | | is offered as both a four-door sedan and |
| Today, each new model weighs more than their | | | | five-door hatchback. The dynamic feature of |
| ancestors. This is because automakers keep | | | | the car is expected to pull more customers. |
| adding power to compensate. But the Japanese | | | | |
| automaker has done exactly the opposite. But | | | | Unfortunately, not some of the aficionados |
| it is not all roses. The new WRX is | | | | find it hard to love a "soft" Subaru. "We |
| marginally slower in the quarter-mile than | | | | have had a soft spot in our heart for Subarus |
| the car it replaces, 14.5 seconds at 94.4 mph | | | | for many, many years. In the late 70's a move |
| compared to the 14.3 seconds at 95.5 mph. The | | | | to bucolic Bradford, N.H., brought a Brat |
| car's chassis setup, according to those who | | | | into our driveway. We figured with winter |
| tested the car, is also noticeably softer and | | | | coming on we needed more than two-wheel drive |
| there is no shortage of body roll. | | | | to make it down our narrow and winding road |
| | | | to work on a winter's morning," said Ron |
| On paper, it sounds as if the WRX really has | | | | Amadon of MarketWatch. "Over 88,000 miles, we |
| not changed, but the WRX we loved for its | | | | had more fun with that little truck than we |
| finger-in-the-air attitude is gone, replaced | | | | could have ever imagined at the outset. It |
| by a WRX with its finger on the pulse of the | | | | was rock solid reliable, sounded like a |
| mainstream market, said Josh Jacquot, the | | | | tractor, and took us everywhere that we |
| Senior Road Test Editor at Edmunds, an auto | | | | wanted to go. What it lacked was much |
| shopper's online guide. | | | | acceleration and some sporty handling." |
| | | | |
| "The 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX has received | | | | But there are still lots of reason to love |
| shortage of coverage in the past year, but | | | | the car. "Enter the Impreza WRX STI. The |
| after all that hype and all that hearsay, | | | | brand's considerable experience with road |
| what we really want to know is how this AWD | | | | rallies came into play here with a neat |
| beast performs. The guys at Inside Line | | | | 2.5-liter, DOHC intercooled turbo four under |
| recently took the 2008 Subaru WRX for a | | | | the hood," he added. |
| series of track tests, including the slalom | | | | |
| and stopping distance tests, and in the end, | | | | "The sounds the car makes getting up to speed |
| they determined that the WRX has 'gone | | | | are just great and give the Suby its |
| soft,'" said Michael Kwan of Mobile Magazine. | | | | character. And, they are enough to produce |
| | | | images in your brain of racing across vast |
| At $30,000, the price point is not all that | | | | surfaces of Sweden or Norway in the dead of |
| attractive either. That said, even though the | | | | winter. Subaru's 'Symmetrical All Wheel |
| new WRX five-door hatchback may look like a | | | | Drive' system makes sure the right amount of |
| family car, it will certainly outrun any | | | | power goes to the proper wheels and |
| production Corolla or Camry, Kwan added. | | | | eliminates any torque steer. It should also |
| | | | make it easier to get to the office in bad |
| The Japanese automaker officially unveiled | | | | weather," Amadon concluded. |