Subaru tones down Impreza
Discreet model and big plans on way
2006 Impreza rolls up
He said: "Early in the New Year we will introduce a special STI Spec-D version with 300 units initially available. The specification has to be finally decided so the price is not known yet. This car is aimed at people like me -- D stands for discreet, no bright blue paintwork, big rear spoiler or gold coloured wheels.
"The Type D will come with beautifully restrained grey metallic paintwork, nice alloy wheels, a much smaller rear boot spoiler, sober black leather interior, more sound deadening, satnav and an upgraded stereo system. It is for customers who want the performance of the 158mph WRX STI, but not the high profile looks."
On his wider plans, at the launnch of the new Impreza, Kinnaird said that he would be trumpeting the Subaru's best-kept secret. "With the launch of our new non-turbocharged 2.0-litre Impreza four, and often forgotten five door models, each with 34bhp more power, we have a genuinely sporting AWD car with prices starting at just £16,200 on the road.
"Last year we sold 8,800 Subaru cars in the UK, this year it will be around 9,250 and, in 2006, I am aiming for 11,000 sales which is entirely possible with our new range and the additional Subaru Tribecca SUV models to be introduced late next year. We feel the Subaru range should be attracting 12,000 to 15,000 customers annually and we have the potential to reach 20,000 annual UK sales in five years."
He said he would be growing the dealer network from 85 to over 100 in the next year, and will be setting up "a retail showroom and Subaru exhibition site instead of taking part in the re-located 2006 British International Motor Show. The half million pounds or so it would cost us to attend the show can be better spent promoting the Subaru brand and products directly to customers in London 365 days a year."
_Al_ said:
Seriously nice looking motor! Shame they didn't do styling like that instead of the rev 2 'frog eye'.
You have GOT to be kidding??
(blimey, i'm starting to sound like a broken record)
I agree the frog-eye styling was a mistake, but this is just plain awful too, imho.
I mean, look at it in this picture:
www.pistonheads.com/pics/news/12023/subaru_Impreza_2006-L.jpg
Ghastly! Might as well have Proton badge and makes Fords look like exotic luxury cars!
This car holds a gold-dust like niche and has an amazing reputation for its performance - why on EARTH can't they put the investment in to give it the looks to match its reputation
>> Edited by Merefield on Friday 7th October 13:22
Woohoo!
Gazboy said:It's quieter & more refined. Neither of which are things I value much in a car - I do value lightness though.
The japs never 'waste', so I'm sure if it weighs 200kg more, then it's for a reason- isn't it a bigger car?
It's supposed to be torsionally stiffer, although to be honest I hadn't noticed mine flexing much.
Whatever happened to the slew of aluminium cars that were supposed to revolutionise the car industry? Audi do a couple, although to be honest they are still heavy slugs
Guess I'm just getting old & still think that anything over 1300Kg is just a heavyweight.
Gazboy said:No, but the original Impreza STis had Alu bonnets & doors, lighter windows etc which made over 100Kg difference IIRC. These cars were still b*gger all to buy in Japan, so the actual manufacturing of the cars wasn't the major factor in cost.
I think ally is too expensive- the NSX was £70k in 1990. Are there many cars that uses aluminium extensively?
I guess I'm in a minority of 1, but I personally would like a family car that was pretty stripped out, relied on a foam-covered roll-cage for crash protection/rigidity (so no airbags etc) & weighed about 1100Kg & had around 300BHP. Don't care about traction control, ABS would be nice, but not essential, must be 4WD or RWD.
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