I've spoken with a friend in Japan, who tells me that many Japanese journalists have reported that the new Impreza has gained quite a bit of weight, suffers from too much understeer and is too light of steering.
If any of this is so, I beleive the aftermarket might have to step up its modification efforts like never before-putting some real thought into heavily modifing this car.

To take off weight might require some serious engineering work. Magnesium wheels, aluminum bonnet and doors, titanium bits for the engine bay and exhast, light weight seats etc.

To cure the understeer might require a dose of prodrive and/or scobysport reseting the torque-split, in addition to a geometry reset.

About the steering. Lets pray its no-where near as feel-less as that of Audi's. Lets hope the steering is simply the same system over-boosted- this way tuners might have a shot at decreasing it.

And lets pray they do not use suspension sub-frames which further rob drivers of feedback.

Last, I understand that while the rear-suspension is not the Legacy's multi-linc set up, it is some sort of hybrid strut-linc set-up. Now I don't think that anyone had any problem with the previous mac strut, so I'm hoping this new suspension does not ruin the progressive nature of the original.

But if Subaru have been smart, they will have basically left most of the previous chassis intact while only making the new car more rigid for crash saftey, and simply re-seting the shocks and struts to take advantage of the stiffer shell. Lets all hope.

Thoughts...

 

So what you're saying is that it drives as craply as it looks?

 

It can't possibly drive like it looks can it?

It reminds me of a cross between a Toyota Corolla and a Chrysler Neon...

Ugh!

 

I hope not. I showed the wifet the pict of the new WRX and she about but a gut. "You wanna drive that!" And this somes from an Impreza Outback driver....or should I say crasher....talk about accidents. The body shop should start giving me volume discounts

Lovejoy

 

This monstrosity is a dog of the highest order.
Page 12 of MOTOR reminds me of when MGB changed the front end -Too heavy visually
Big black plastic front ugh!
Thanks Subaru I reckon you have just added A$5000 to every WRX in Oz !
I'm keeping my REX !