2008 Subaru Impreza WRX Australian Details
30 Jul, 2007
25 Comments 
This morning Subaru Australia released the first official image of its Australian spec 2008 Impreza WRX. Subaru Australia also confirmed there will be three naturally aspirated variants alongside the WRX.
Although rumours of a Sedan model still revolve around Subaru enthusiast forums, it’s now officially confirmed, once again, that all new Impreza models will only be available as a hatchback - for now.
In response to our opinion poll, Subaru Australia spokesman David Rowley told CarAdvice:
“We are delighted and humbled by the sheer volume of blog debate on new WRX”
Mr Rowley also confirmed the two track days that took place in Sydney last week where CarAdvice acquired some video and pictures.
It appears the N/A Impreza variants are also set to undergo some noticeable changes:
“While much of the focus so far is on WRX, there are going to be some significant changes to the naturally aspirated versions too, which already make up the bulk of Impreza sales. The new car is certainly going to be an opportunity to expand Impreza’s audience right across the range.” Mr Rowley Said.
Details and specifications for the new not-so-pretty Impreza range will be released by early September.
So far over 85% of our readers have indicated that they are not too excited with the new WRX. Click here to tell us your opinion. All new variants except the STi will go on sale in September.
Subaru Australia has confirmed the release date of the Australian Spec STi for February 2008.
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July 30th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
Is the person who designed the crap Falcon AU working at Subaru, they have battled at Subaru with weird designs and have left the aggressive bold design of earlier models. The car looks like a cross between a Kia Rio, Mazda 3 and a Australian Post slot stuck on the bonnet = flush it down the toilet. Aggressive bonnet scoop and plain jane driving lights and conservative style = contradictory design cues. On a scale for deign from 1 to 100, I would rate it at best 40 and yes I realise it might look better in the flesh but still a HUGE FLOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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July 30th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
I was thinking the exact same thing Roberto! It’s as if some high level executive decided it was their turn to design a car.
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July 30th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
The grill looks much better, but still…
there is a lot to improve.
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July 30th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
Mate, honestly it looks like a public servant working overtime and real tired and stressed designed it = in other words it is a crap car polished up for the cardigan brigade, Call a spade a spade… it is rubbish pedestrian stuff!
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July 30th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
Just as well Subaru took heed, that big airflow darth varder slot in the bonnet looks menacing… rest opposite cod ordinary!
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July 30th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
I think it will be a lot better when you see it up close, however I do believe it will again only last for about 18months before subaru change it, this is another bug eye.
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July 30th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
“DOOF DOOF”
Cheers
F-O
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July 30th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
… smiling bug eye on dope with massive dart varder slot to turbo on bonnet. Nice sort of car but too conservative for cardigan chardonnay latte set and not in tune with balls and all aggresive turbo set
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July 30th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
Roberto u have no idea what u are talking about so keep your mouth shut
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July 30th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
Keep the opinion 2 yourself moron!!
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July 31st, 2007 at 12:53 am
i like the “boring head lights” they kinda remind me of the older imprezas with the thin head lights just the conservative look is nicer on the eye especially the grill. i dont like the hatch idea one little bit its obvious that it wont be very popular so why make it and from that photo above it looks sorta like the BMW 1 series (the doors)
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August 15th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
Nobody has ever liked the next WRX design. Bug eye… new nose… this that or the other. Never stopped since the first one arrived.
I like it! I would buy it! I would like its smooth power curve! I would like its 5 doors and hatch back. I would like not being mistaken for a git for a cap on backwards.
Timo
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August 16th, 2007 at 12:53 am
this wrx looks like a holden viva with a bonnet scoop - what a joke!!! subaru needs to take a good hard look at itself design wise - i dont have a problem with them going with a hatch design but when you consider what the great designers have done at nissan with their gtr and mitsubishi with their evo x
this latest “cutting edge” design from subaru is laughable - made even worse by the fact that there were lots of “guess work” designs bandied around on the internet before, all of which would have been a better option, which in my opinion is the WORST.i have a number of suggestions for subaru 1 if you insist on having a cardigan design for the impreza because you want to make it more like a mazda 3 thats fine just make sure that the wrx and sti are NOT included in that and are designed and marketed totally seperately 2 for your next attempt at the impreza range in particular the wrx and sti get the designer from nissan or mitsubishi, there will be a vacancy anyway after the subaru guy gets fired for this monumental flop!
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August 16th, 2007 at 7:28 am
Yes VIVA too, maybe Mike Simcoe and Co penned this below par car that should be more aggressive as earlier models where. Derryn Hinch would say “SHAME, SHAME, SHAME”
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August 17th, 2007 at 12:15 am
what subaru are forgetting is that wrx and sti owners make up the majority of members in subaru clubs worldwide
they are fanatical about their car, promoting and marketing the the subaru brand better than subaru themselves
they welcome inquisitive new members in to look, drive and ask questions about subarus, in particular wrx and sti’s
they love what the wrx and sti represents and it shows in the way they proudly drive and show their cars at club events
so subaru must have got it wrong BIG time for these die hard, one eyed fans from clubs all over the world to say that the latest model subaru is shit and that they would rather go to the dark side and BUY a MITSUBISHI evo x than buy or promote this reworked holden viva with a bonnet scoop being sold as the iconic wrx and sti
it is pretty hard to kill the cult following that the wrx and sti have built up over the years, but in one foul swoop of the designers pen subaru not only have managed to do that but also to kill the following of the majority of subaru club members worldwide
killing off the sales of wrx and stis, your flagship cars, in the hope of attracting an audience for an entry level ugly 2008 impreza, that not even a die hard subaru member would buy, will prove to be complete madness and commercial suicide
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August 24th, 2007 at 10:31 am
I think it looks fantastic - went and sat in one yesterday and it felt good. Each to their own…
I’ll be getting one
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August 27th, 2007 at 12:46 am
have you had your eyes checked lately at OPSM..???
if so…and you are still getting one…my condolences to you…
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September 4th, 2007 at 11:58 am
at the rate they are going, i wouldn’t be surprised if the future wrx and sti turn into a minivan… WTH were they on??? god forbid this sort of stuff should b ILLEGAL… damn ugly thing…shouldn’t hold the sti badge…doesnt deserve it… now how are they gonna compete with evo with this sort of work???
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September 4th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
Mate, I agree. It is the other hammerheads who go on with silly thinking saying it is fine. It looks like crap. The purpose of a high powered motor is performance and you should expect a hot aggressive look to mirror that. This car is like the TRD Aurion CRAP and it is the armchair wallies who try and defend these cars by saying it is fine. These type of people support hero cars designed by Mr Bean!
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September 25th, 2007 at 12:34 am
I have got one on order (Black)
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October 1st, 2007 at 11:06 pm
This is a great design that will achieve its objectives of attracting a new ‘cardigan’ market group to the impressa grange, which is the exact reason I would never buy one. It’s greatly appreciated to see it has more under the hood, 20 per cent more power and 7 per cent more torque; but its an ugly car. The Subaru liberty should be the car Subaru use targeting this market.
I actually love the new liberty because they look mean and aggressive similar to the impressa WRX models. Subaru need the WRX and STi to compete against Nissan’s gtr and Mitsubishi’s evo models, which are uniquely bold and beautiful. A characteristic the impressa models have had all along. Scrap the design!!! The cardigans can go buy a forester.
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October 25th, 2007 at 10:56 pm
I am a massive wrx / sti fan with my fave model being the 05.
at first when i saw the new 2008 wrx i was really angry lol. i hated it with a passion, how it went against everything the wrx stands for. But after slowly being introduced to more pics, and overtime i guess i started to not hate it as much. Then i actually went to see it at the showroom and it looks alot better in real life than it does in pics, now i actually kinda like it.
With that said the 2008 STi looks alot nicer than the wrx does imo, i cant wait to see a 2008 wrx STi in the flesh in black paint. :)
I always think if the new 2008 wrx was never released as a wrx but under a different range if people would like it a whole lot more. i think they would. I still think that would have been the better option, have a entire new range and still keep the old wrx style.
my fave is still the 2005 model, but i’ll wait until i see the 08 sti first.
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October 25th, 2007 at 11:37 pm
Jeremy, there’s pics of the STi on here, posted recently.
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December 14th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
That thing looks like a daewoo lanos… usually when a new WRX comes out I see alot of them on the road … so far I’ve only seen one of these this year and they are trying to tell us that they are making sales lol.. I drive past a subaru dealer every day and just laugh to myself when I see those daewoo lanos look-alikes and whats even funnier is that not one of them has been sold yet LOL!!!!!
I’ve always loved the rexies but now that Ssangyong has taken over they wont be getting my money
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April 16th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
I wanna see you laugh even harder when a Kia Rio look alike murders your cute car with lots of body kit. Rex is there for purely 1 thing, to win WRC. I’m picking mine up tommorow and I’m an ex 02 WRX and 06 Impreza owner. Rex for life.
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