2011 Subaru Impreza to make right-hand drive debut in Melbourne

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By Tim Beissmann | June 14th, 2011

The 2011 Subaru Impreza right-hand drive sedan and hatch will make their international debuts at the Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne on July 1.

Subaru’s Japanese manufacturer, Fuji Heavy Industries, chose Australia to unveil the right-hand drive models, following the international premiere of the left-hand drive variants at the 2011 New York International Auto Show in April.

Subaru Australia managing director, Nick Senior, said it was a special honour to be the first market outside North America to see to new Impreza in the flesh.

“It has had a fantastic reception and we’re really excited about showing it to the Australian public,” Mr Senior said.

“Current Impreza is the best-selling version of Subaru’s small car to date and we are confident that this fourth generation will bring even greater success.”

The 2011 Subaru Impreza will be powered by a new 2.0-litre Boxer engine with 110kW of power and 196Nm of torque. It will be available with either a six-speed manual or continuously variable transmission.

Subaru Australia is yet to confirm a local launch date for the new Impreza. More details and images from the New York unveiling can be found here.

Subaru Australia says the Impreza is just “one of several surprises” planned for Melbourne, with more information to be announced in the coming weeks.

The Subaru XV Concept is one vehicle that has already been confirmed to join the Impreza on the stand at Melbourne next month.

macca

before the wrx design war starts – note that the next wrx is not based on the new impreza (it will be a completely different model).

re: the impreza, be interesting to see the fuel specs.
Roadtard

Mine eyes !!?!!

Labrys

Yeah I pretty much wanted to grab a spoon and dig out my eyes when I saw the first picture.
Seriously, how did that ever get the greenlight?
Is everyone at Subaru blind?
Jober As A Sudge

Yes….the goggles do nothing!
Perhaps there’ll be an option of camouflage paint to spare us from seeing it. Hopefully the WRX/STi variants will be far more appealing.

Suntory time

Ugly slab-sided design needs to be rectified quick-smart… these cars look horrible in the flesh. If only the Japanese had some taste when it came to car design & aesthetic, because their excellent engineering will not be enough to ever draw me.

Jober As A Sudge

Japanese do have some good designs out there. Problem is Subaru trying to cater for the American market and failing miserably with their design efforts

Hyperbole

I think the sedan actually looks rather good.

Carnie

I agree, in my opinion its the best looking Impreza since the MY04 model. Not too sure where the ugly comments are coming from, but it looks better than the previous one.

j

I have no idea what’s with the negative comments, but some people seem to forget the horrors that are the pignose, bug eye, Tribeca and current Liberty.

Sure it’s a little bland. At least it’s not horrible to look at.

Nath746

Does anyone else look at the back of the hatch and think of the new Focus?

Ima Hogg

I thought it looked a bit like the American Civic from the back. Also Was I the only one who likes the current model Hatch back in the sti. People always rip it off but I seem to like it for some reason

davie

I think the “exciting” surprise from Subaru will be a standard Japanese-domestic-market Forester XT with ugly blue seats, a SIMPLY AMAZING AND AWESOME!!! 5 speed automatic (when compeditors have 6 or 7 gears). and the turbo from a MY09 WRX.

oh, wait, they already did that.
Vibe

The hatch looks like the Focus done properly, I like it.

But the interior is a massive rip off from the Mazda 6.

sina_corina

I’m glad though – the interior is definitely a huge step above the current model’s.

Kilantro

Reminds me of the Sebring. *shudder*
Doctor

Definitely styled with the USA in mind (like the Liberty).
Shak

I dont know if we should consider it an honour that they are launching the RHD variant in our market, or as an insult because we are the only market that is blind enough to buy these hideous things.

delux

Seppo’s love them.

delux

I love how everyone is bagging the new look. It’s not like like anyone, ever, has bought an Imprezza based on styling.

Adam

Maybe so, but it wouldn’t kill them to actually make a decent looking version for once.

Mr Gaspo

Another styling fail from Subaru. Oh, and where is the diesel auto version? Shame really, the boxer engines and AWD are great… Imagine, a well styled car, expensive looking interiors, diesel engines… Subaru would be an aspirational purchase!
ron

Is there going to be an 1.6L version for the Australian market?
BOSSCR

Not a good looking car. Let’s hope it out-performs it’s competitors like the original WRX did.
Blitzkrieg

It actually looks like just a smaller version of the current liberty.Does anybody else see that resemblence?
Handsome Al

At last.. as advertised by Subaru itself.. This is the new model that has been long coming which was codenamed “Mediocrity” They have built it at last… Praise them… to make this into reality…

Ohh if you guys wondering what I’m talking about.. please kindly have a look at 2011mediocrity.com.. This is Subaru brainchild…

For once I thought it was a joke… But I was so wrong… They are damn Serious….

Doctor

Mediocrity.com: “I started a joke… that started everyone laughing… but I didn’t see… that the joke was on me”.

RD

No one really buys an impreza for its looks lets be honest, people buy them because they’re quite nice cars to drive and they’re very reliable. I do think this is an improvement over the last one though for sure.
Blitzkrieg

Agreed RD,much better interior too.
Vince

U.G.L.Y you aint got no alibi.
Mark

Will admit the new impreza sedan looks so much better than the current on in non widebody models.

The hatch should have done back to the Sedan with a bigger back window and a tailgate like the older shapes, not the follow the run of the mill hatchbacks models.

I think I am going to be hated and mocked but I like it, besides those wing mirrors!

P.S get rid of the Tribeca already.
GG

They’ve simply put the face of the old Liberty on it.
Josh

Style = Fail.

What happened to that Impreza Concept they were showing? It looked much better – more sharper lines in the design. Hopefully the WRX will use that design.
HJP

I got to say that Subaru has stepped up themselves in addressing the criticism on current Impreza. I think the current model looks much better and most of the merit gone to the interior where it has improved a lot and better material were used.
michael

They should go back to the pre 2000 syle imprezas
nickdl

Well the interior looks better and ummmm… That’s about it. Good to see they’ve gotten rid of the 4 speed auto but why not a 6 speed or a dual clutch?

Anyway let’s hope the WRX models will still be brilliant.
http://www.greeenmanufacturing.purdue.edu green manufacturing

Does anyone know where this model is going to be made? The Subaru plant in Lafayette, IN USA is a zero landfill plant. For that I support the company even if I don’t go ga ga over their styling.