The Scooper of Cars was kind enough to scan the latest cover of Autocar, which shows the new face of Subaru (maybe) and reveals a few other nuggets of knowledge about our favorite road-going rally cars.
The new nose of the Subaru is a welcomed photochop for those of us who never particularly warmed-up the current model's snout. Autocar is confirming what we've already know -- that the new Impreza will likely come in a five-door hatch model, with styling that is more 'Europeanized.' Motivation will come from the tried-and-true 2.5-liter boxer-four that is currently under the hood of both the WRX models and their STI upgraded counterparts. We're sure a few extra ponies will find their way under the hood, along with some new all-wheel-drive wizardry.
On the Mitsubishi Evolution side of things, the article confirms that a production-ready version will make its debut at the North American International Auto Show (or the Detroit Auto Show to the rest of us) this January, with the full production model being unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in October of 2007.
[Source: Carscoop]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
O.I. @ Oct 22nd 2006 3:32PM
This is why I hate concept cars. This thing will never see production in this form, what the hell is the point?
auto specifications @ Oct 22nd 2006 3:56PM
It must be a joke. Never an Mitsubishi Lancer EVO can't look so ugly.
vectorbug @ Oct 22nd 2006 3:57PM
woah, from that angle it looks like a total ripoff of the new scirroco.
solipsism @ Oct 22nd 2006 3:58PM
I guess ill have to buy something else, since the evoX is seemingly a year away. No evoIX's in canada and the wrx sti is a ripoff in canada.
psipwrd @ Oct 22nd 2006 4:29PM
We've seen pics of the EVO X way before pics of the Scirocco.
Sammy B @ Oct 22nd 2006 4:38PM
Hopefully subaru will revise their engine to get rid of some of the lag. If the GTI that has been following the prototype is any indication, they are probably working on it. The supposed front-mounted intercooler would be nice too.
That One Person @ Oct 22nd 2006 4:53PM
Pics of the "next" EVO have been around long than the "Scirocco". But I hope Mitsu works on the interior. The interior on the current EVO is cheap as all hell.
But I also hope Mitsu stays close to the concept. It looks badass. Surprisingly, I am actually looking forward to the EVO X.
And I hope the next WRX is nice...
eddie @ Oct 22nd 2006 5:00PM
i talked to a mitsu dealer a few weeks ago. the salesman said that the EVO X will be in a higher class than the IX. He said to expect a price of near $50,000 for the top model. i hope hes wrong.
Disco Stu @ Oct 22nd 2006 5:44PM
That EVO nose is gross. It's like a car equivalent of an ant eater.
Howard Kerr @ Oct 22nd 2006 6:30PM
Let's hope the "nose" of the next Impreza looks better than that depicted in this photo. That said, if Subaru is about to switch to a 5 door hatchback body style, in order to come across as "more Europeanized" ...I'm betting it is so they can do what Mazda did a few years ago. Mazda offered the Protege as a 5 door hatch (the Protege5) and as a very conventional 4 door sedan. The Protege5 was pitched as a hatch, NOT a wagon. Then, when the Mazda3 was styled, it was as a 4 door and 5 door. I'll bet there is also a conventional 4 door Impreza......Subaru is just too conservative NOT to still offer it.
Kevin @ Oct 22nd 2006 7:14PM
I would like to know why everyone thinks the current evo interior is 'cheap as all hell'. I own an Evo IX MR and it includes alcantara and leather recaro seats, a wonderful leather wrapped momo steering wheel, carbon fiber wrapped e-brake handle, sport pedals, and a machined aluminum shift knob, as well as carbon fiber wrapping the dash. What else does one want in a bang-for -the-buck performance car? It has everything you need and nothing you dont. Its not luxurious in any way, but it is not 'cheap as hell'. I am a doctor and could have afforded basically any reasonable car I wanted, yet I continue to drive my evo every day as a daily driver. Why add unneeded accessories and add more weight to the vehicle? Do you want tvs in the headrest, or 20 speakers?
Chela @ Oct 22nd 2006 8:03PM
"The Evo is a ripoff of the Scirocco"
What??? This hands down wins the award of stupidest comment of the day.
The Evo design has been around and published waaaaay longer than the Scirocco, you dumbass.
Richard @ Oct 22nd 2006 9:26PM
I hope that the next Impreza actually is Europeanized - not in the finger-pointing, beret-wearing sense, but as a 3-door along the lines of the Alfa and Volvo. The Citroen and Peugeot WRC cars are 3-doors, not 5 and Subaru has been nowhere in WRC in the last 2 years so, perhaps they'll shorten the wheelbase and deliver a 3-door..
We'll see.
steve @ Oct 22nd 2006 9:58PM
if the evo x comes in close to 50 k that wont be too far from a 450 horse skyline. I think both the evo x and the scooby in that picture look good, maybe a little too boy racer. Perhaps they will both be a little more refined with quiter interior noise at cruise, better switches etc., or at least something more for the extra $$$ My lard ass a3 3.2 is history one way or the other.
vectorbug @ Oct 22nd 2006 11:08PM
"The Evo is a ripoff of the Scirocco"
What??? This hands down wins the award of stupidest comment of the day.
The Evo design has been around and published waaaaay longer than the Scirocco, you dumbass.
lol sorry, let me get you some plyers to get your panties out of a bunch.
I guess it was a stupid thing to say, since the scirroco is 2 door sports car and the mistu is still a fat sedan with a turbo.
naggs @ Oct 22nd 2006 11:32PM
the evo should stick to its roots, it doesnt make sense as a $50k car.
the wrx and sti should come as a 3 door, would be bad news if they droped the sedan body style for the next gen, a 2 door coupe could look really nice. like an updated 2.5rs
That One Person @ Oct 22nd 2006 11:58PM
#11...I was talking about the Econo car dashboard. Its an orgy of plastic. I dont expect the dash to be something straight out of a Ferrari. I just hope its better designed next time.
I, peronally, dont expect it to be packed with TVs and all that nonsense. I could care less about all the tech...it makes me laugh when I see cars like that. But just the whole layout and look of the dash doesnt attract me. I can honestly say that if I were in the market for a car like the EVO, the interior would be a big selling point.
But I will agree on the seats and the steering wheel. The seats are amazing and the steering wheel has a great feel to it. But the dash just kills it...
Wyce @ Oct 23rd 2006 12:26AM
I don't understand how vectorbug thinks the Mistubishi Evolution Photoshop ripped off the Volkswagen Iroc concept's nose. The yellow Mitsubishi looks practically the same as both the Concept X and Sportback that have been around since 2005.
ScoobyFan @ Oct 23rd 2006 7:42AM
well, there are about 10 different photoshop variants of the upcoming impreza.. where is the true?
Justin @ Oct 23rd 2006 8:00AM
I agree with #18...the dash has always been a turnoff for me. For those prices, I expect something a little more on the luxury end. Doesn't have to be a Lexus, just should at least look half decent and have some features. I figure this would help it break a little more out of just the specialist/enthusiast market.