Boxer Diesel Impreza: Pure Genius

In the last article we touched on how the luke warm reaction to the new Subaru Impreza changed as more powerful versions like the WRX & STi entered the market place.

Given the current ecomonic climate and more customers turning to vehicles with lower emissions, it seems the arrival of Subaru's all new Impreza Boxer diesel couldn't have come at a better time.

The Revolutionary Subaru Boxer Diesel

In 2008 the Boxer diesel engine made its debut when Subaru announced the all new Legacy and Outback models at the Geneva Motorshow.

Hailed by the motoring press as being one of the smoothest, most refined diesel engines with petrol-like throttle-response and torquey power delivery, the new Boxer diesel engine set class-leading fuel economy and emissions, recording almost 50 mpg on the Combined Cycle with 151 g/km CO2 for the Legacy Sports Tourer.

Add to that the 350Nm of torque in the 1800 - 2400 rev range and 150 PS of power, this Boxer engine is no slouch, which is just as well given the Legacy and Outback are not your typical lightweight town cars. In the Impreza this engine is going to be a hoot.

The unique layout of the Boxer diesel engine means a smooth and quiet power delivery. In a Boxer engine the cylinders are positioned 180 degrees apart on both sides of the crankshaft and move in the opposite direction to inline or V-type engines, this dramatically counteracts vibrations and noise.

In tests the Impreza diesel acheived 1,000 kilometers on one tank of fuel, 48.7 mpg with 152 g/km making it one of the most environmentally-friendly cars in its class. Mated to a six-speed manual transmission, the new Impreza Boxer diesel clearly offers outstanding fuel efficiency.

An essential element of the Subaru DNA is handling and grip. This is acheived through Symmetrical AWD which positions the transmission, transfer to propeller shaft and rear differential in a straight line behind the engine. This simple design provides supreme grip and balance on all four sides of the car and when its combined with the equally balanced Horizontally-Opposed Boxer diesel engine, the Impreza offers stability and assured handling.

The new Impreza diesel should be in showrooms before the spring and offered in R, RC and RX variants. No prices have been announced as of yet but expect the Impreza diesel to start around £15,000.

Subaru Impreza Diesel Coming Soon

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.