2008 Subaru Impreza S-GT/15S Spy Shots

[mikeyb]

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/05/p1-1.jpg

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/05/p12.jpg

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/05/p2-1.jpg

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/05/p3-2.jpg

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/05/p4-2.jpg

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/05/p5-1.jpg

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/05/p6-1.jpg

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/05/p7.jpg

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/05/p8.jpg

Still not feeling this Impreza.

[sanblaster]

(pukey) (puke)

[mhrebin]

ew. the interior pic looks horrible.lol

the first and second shots look the best because you cant see the front grill and the rear tail lights. thank god.lol

[Karma_hunden]

(boom07) (puke)

[clicknext]

Cool. I don't know why everyone has such negative feelings about the rear, I rather like it. Get rid of the rear chrome/altezzas, put a mesh grille without chrome in front, and I think it'll look awesome.

[seanmcsean]

Still fugly.

[Crazee D]

Not diggin it

[altspace]

oye!

[warrier04]

definitely not feeling it.

[CantCMe]

the front end looks like a chrysler crossfire...the interior looks ok but i'll pass on this one.

[Newf]

could they make the hood scoop larger? or the tails uglier? I can see potential underneath all of the ugliness though.

[MakeMeGoFast]

No longer a Suburu, but a bad copy of an MS3(yupnope)

[dmitrik4]

i like it except for the grille and the taillights. a step up from the awkwardness of the current wagon.

[727crazy]

Kindof ashame, really wanted a STI one of these days, guess it's not going to be a new one.

[Karma_hunden]

I LOVE IT, EXCEPT...the grill is fugly, the 14inch looking wheels are fugly, the wheel gap sucks, the back is ugly, the interior is alright like all subies, the fact its a hatchback sucks (to me), it doesnt even look like a pocket rocket, it looks more like a mini van...I guess I just like the engine.

my "loving" this car was sarcasm btw.

[Phoenix5]

Ridiculous!

Evo X FTW!

[PakmanMP5]

subaru no longer have my 100 pecent respect....when the 06 models came out....I was like ehhhhh....it ok....but now I'm like what are they thinking.........they are not thinking LOL

[Micah]

Subaru has an odd way of instilling buyer loyalty with the Impreza. You buy an impreza - you love it because of the performance and modding ability - but everyone tells you how ugly it is. The car grows on you more and more despite how "ugly" everyone says it is, and then it happens - the new model refresh comes along - and suddennly the previous one looks better. Now you've got the good looking impreza, and the new one is ugly. But the new one is a little bit nicer with the features - you'll want it too.

Currently I'm not impressed with the 2008, I would rather have a 2007 STI limited. Still, I'm waiting to see what the final USDM 2008 STI is going to turn out to be. In the meantime I'll keep enjoying my 2002 bugeyed WRX, it looks better every two years.

[CanMP5]

Subaru has an odd way of instilling buyer loyalty with the Impreza. You buy an impreza - you love it because of the performance and modding ability - but everyone tells you how ugly it is. The car grows on you more and more despite how "ugly" everyone says it is, and then it happens - the new model refresh comes along - and suddennly the previous one looks better. Now you've got the good looking impreza, and the new one is ugly. But the new one is a little bit nicer with the features - you'll want it too.

Currently I'm not impressed with the 2008, I would rather have a 2007 STI limited. Still, I'm waiting to see what the final USDM 2008 STI is going to turn out to be. In the meantime I'll keep enjoying my 2002 bugeyed WRX, it looks better every two years.


LOL...that's so true...that's what my bro and I first felt about the '06 but for some reason I can't see how this new one can look good. Maybe the STI form would be better, but several things were changed that really make me question the new WRX:

1) They are no longer using aluminum panels (ie. the hood) or parts (ie. the control arms). Like they did in the past.

2) The intake manifold is apparently a hardened plastic instead of the aluminum used in the 06-07 and previous models. This limits the maximum boost capability due to the added flex of the material.

3) The move back to standard calipers instead of the 4-piston ones on the 06-07.

Granted these might all change for the STI but the WRX is a disappointment as it stands right now.

[kableguy]

id hate to be the designer of this and have all the pressure of destroying one of the best tuner cars of all time

[mountjonas]

3) The move back to standard calipers instead of the 4-piston ones on the 06-07.


the last i heard, the 4pot/2pot brakes are old parts from the gc bodied sti. the new brakes should be from the legacy gt which, while not as cool looking, perform better.

the car is sitll wierd looking. i don't hate it as much as before, but i'm not in lov, either. i can't wait to see one in person, though.

[tunersteve]

The "bling-bling" taillights make me want to vomit. Interior is wayyy too Toyota-ish, which is not a good thing at all. I'm still a fan of the 2002, but I liked every model up to this one...

[SuperProtege5]

It just looks too bland in the interior and too much of a radical depature from designs past. Maybe it'll grow on me, but...............................

[dmitrik4]

i believe they discontinued the aluminum panels b/c aluminum has gotten significantly more expensive.

the plastic manifold is lighter. i don't think subaru is particularly concerned with the ability of buyers to increase boost easily...in fact, they would probably prefer that buyers didn't. so it's a double positive for them.

the last i heard, the 4pot/2pot brakes are old parts from the gc bodied sti. the new brakes should be from the legacy gt which, while not as cool looking, perform better.


no way. more pistons = teh better. it has to be better; it's more. ;)

[Swerny]

what a steaming pile of elephant dung

[peajay]

the plastic manifold is lighter. i don't think subaru is particularly concerned with the ability of buyers to increase boost easily...in fact, they would probably prefer that buyers didn't. so it's a double positive for them.

Though it hasnt been the entire intake in recent years they were using the blowmolded plastic around the stock intercoolers and these were having a problem with boost leak even under stock pressures. So, its not a totally new theory and it can work ok but would i want a car with one? nope.
As for the hatch, the reason they made the hatch was due to recent changes in WRC rules that stated it had to be a hatchback car. So, they are trying to work within those new rules. HOWEVER, i think it was done quite poorly. As someone stated before me it looks very minivan-ish.
And the steering wheel. there's plastic slippery looking crap right where i wouild put my hands.....no go!!

[CanMP5]

Though it hasnt been the entire intake in recent years they were using the blowmolded plastic around the stock intercoolers and these were having a problem with boost leak even under stock pressures. So, its not a totally new theory and it can work ok but would i want a car with one? nope.
As for the hatch, the reason they made the hatch was due to recent changes in WRC rules that stated it had to be a hatchback car. So, they are trying to work within those new rules. HOWEVER, i think it was done quite poorly. As someone stated before me it looks very minivan-ish.
And the steering wheel. there's plastic slippery looking crap right where i wouild put my hands.....no go!!

Really, it has to be hatchback car??? I haven't heard that. Then what will Mitsu do with teh EVO X? Hopefully this isn't so.

[ottawaP5]

Kinda wierd that the speedo only goes up to 110 mph on the S-GT

[Talbot]

Everytime I see this new Subie, I dislike it even more.

[Donas64]

Since when did Chris Bangle start working for Subaru?

Its got potential but dand its like they were on a mission to make it look as bad as they could.

[peajay]

Really, it has to be hatchback car??? I haven't heard that. Then what will Mitsu do with teh EVO X? Hopefully this isn't so.
Ok, so, i dont think there are strict regulations specifing it but subaru themselves have been having issues keeping up with cmpetition (mostly with handling and wieght of a sedan etc etc) so they switched to the hatch this year to try and be more competitive with the fusion and the puegots.... and the styling is supposed to follow the rally cars, and i guess they think its going to appeal to the mainstream more. so whatever haha, im sure some people will love it and some people will just be repulsed by it (guess which side im on)