- Subaru will launch the redesigned 2012 Impreza this year.
- A Subaru executive confirms an August U.S. release in an interview.
- The first reveal of the redesigned Impreza may come at the 2011 New York Auto Show in April.
TOKYO - Subaru pulled a major surprise when it rolled out its much acclaimed Impreza Concept at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show last November. Now comes word that the production 2012 Subaru Impreza may launch earlier than expected, perhaps at the 2011 New York Auto Show.
The Impreza Concept, a powerfully built "four-door coupe" was clearly a signpost to how the next Impreza would shape up, but as to when that all-new Impreza would actually appear, well, Subaru predictably was pretty coy about that.
Now comes news that the next Impreza will launch much sooner than expected. In fact, it will go on-sale in the U.S. market this August. Tom Doll, Subaru of America executive vice president, confirmed as much in a recent auto show interview, and that ties in with its expected release in Japan, too.
Ahead of that, Subaru is expected to reveal the new production 2012 Impreza in April at the coming 2011 New York Auto Show.
The current Impreza bowed at the 2007 New York Show and the next-generation appeared - with uncharacteristic speed - in concept form less than four years later at last fall's Los Angeles auto show. Subaru is on a major roll these days in the U.S., and a New York show debut would tie in with the automaker's recent practice of timing major product launches for U.S. auto shows.
The next Impreza will be offered in both sedan and hatchback body styles and feature Subaru's efficient new Boxer engine that's already on sale in the Forester SUV. With luck, it will recapture the magic that made the first two generations of Impreza such icons for the brand.
Inside Line says: Subaru's sharp new generation Impreza just can't come soon enough. - Peter Nunn, Correspondent
Source: InsideLine
