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Subaru Impreza
Subaru to turn on style w ■ Tokyo debut for next Impreza ■ First car in overhauled range Lawrence Allan
Lawrence_Allan@dennis.co.uk
“New Impreza will have much more dynamic design than at present, taking fight to class-leading Astra”
@LobAllan
SUBARU is aiming to make a splash at the Tokyo Motor Show with a bold new vision of its next-generation Impreza. The company will unveil a dramatic concept, previewed here in these design sketches. And the new car aims to firmly banish the current model’s staid image. It’s the first part of the Japanese firm’s exciting ‘Prominence 2020’ five-year plan, announced last year, which will see an overhaul of the entire range and a number of new models hit the market, including a new Forester taking cues from the VISIV concept (right). These sketches suggest the new Impreza will have a much more dynamic design than at present, helping it take the fight to the class-leading Vauxhall Astra. The front end will draw inspiration from the new Levorg, with the trademark hexagonal front grille, but the sweptback headlamp design is a departure. These drawings show a more squat, purposeful stance, with wide wheelarches and oversized wheels giving a sporty look. The coupé-like roofline and rising waistline add to this, while the angular rear end is sleeker than before. We’ve yet to see the interior, but expect a far more modern and minimalist approach than that in the dated current car. The cabin isn’t the only thing that’s well past its best on today’s Impreza. The only engine offered here is a 112bhp naturally
OFFICIAL aspirated 1.6-litre that claims 44mpg and emits a whopping 147g/km of CO2. Expect a completely fresh unit for the new car, with the possibility of a diesel option, although the company will likely persist with the Lineartronic CVT gearbox option. This being a Subaru, four-wheel drive is likely to be an option – although frontwheel-drive variants will allow the necessary efficiency boost. We won’t see the finished production model until next year, however.
STYLING
Purposeful stance and wide arches give racy look, complemented by coupé roof
Rampaging animals cost insurers £1m HUNGRY horses, crazy cattle and daring ducks have cost the insurance industry more than £1million over the past year, according to Saga. The over-50s specialist insurer said it had dealt with more than 500 animal-related cases in 2014, with some incidents more bizarre than others. One customer had parked up at the Dartmoor National Park in Devon before going on a hike. When he returned, he found 12 horses had taken a shine to his car and were licking off the paintwork – the subsequent repair cost £1,200. Another case was due to a cow at a prize-winning cattle show making a run for freedom. It uprooted the post it was attached to, dragged it through the car park and inflicted £800 worth of damage. A lowflying duck caused a motorist to swerve
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into a stone bridge – settled at £1,500 – while a cat under a bonnet damaged an engine, setting the insurer back £4,000. One driver was left ruing his country drive after he slammed on the brakes to avoid a deer, only to be smashed into by another stag, landing a £2,000 bill. Roger Ramsden, chief executive of Saga Services, commented: “It seems that just about anything can send a road trip into turmoil, and the over-50s have to have their wits about them when they’re in the driver’s seat. “We understand that some things are out of our customers’ control, and they can’t predict when they may face lowflying ducks or wild deer darting across the road.”
Wild animals were the reason for over 500 insurance claims in 2014, from licking off paint to causing drivers to swerve
www.autoexpress.co.uk
