Subaru dealers have received the first launch brochures of the much anticipated Boxer Diesel version of the all new Subaru Impreza.
Available in three trim levels, the new oil burner sets history by becoming the first Impreza ever to be powered by a diesel engine.
The reaction to the new Impreza split opinions wide open when it first arrived on the scene. Out went the wide arches, big alloys and aggressive looks and in came what can only be described as a bland looking 5-door hatchback with skinny wheels and an ugly front grille.
However, that all seemed to change when the WRX and STi models arrived and journalists got behind the wheel. That’s when the Impreza started to grow on you. Suddenly the pitch forks and torches where put away and the excuses that all Impreza’s never really looked stunning anyway, came to the fore.
Of course things didn’t help when it’s Nemesis arrived from Mitsubishi in the form of the new Lancer with it’s aggressive ‘Sharks’ nose, ‘Jet Fighter’ style spoilers and even more super car slaying power trains. The Impreza suddenly looked doomed to history until they went head to head on Top Gear and the Impreza’s well thought out chassis and world beating 4WD and handling characteristics managed to tame the Lancer in a head-to-head around the test track.
Since then the sales have started to flow and things are looking rosy again.
With the world’s ecomony slowing down to a trickle, consumers are now starting to think long and hard about their next car purchase. Car tax bandings and lower emissions are high on the agenda and all of a sudden we’re becoming a little less fussy about what we drive as long as it contributes the minimum to Gordon Browns coffers.
Enter the Boxer Diesel and all of a sudden Subaru’s Impreza strategy doesn’t look that bad after all. Maybe they knew something we didn’t because Lancer sales aren’t that good at the moment and their oil burners are looking a little pricy right now.
In the next article we’ll take a look under the hood at the new Impreza’s ‘Boxer’ diesel engine.