Ike

The 2006 Impreza due to debut in August will have the new facelift with the Alpha grill, those who have seen actual photos from Subaru say it rather resembles some of the photochops that have been floating around.

The WRX will have the 2.5l engine and be similar to the Forester XT setup. It's only getting 3 more horsepower however that same engine propells the Forester XT to high 13s in the 1/4 mile so the new WRX should be good for at least that and the 230hp is underrated on the XT.

There is also a confirmed rumor that there will be a TR model of the WRX which stands for Tuner Ready. It will have the old STi 4 pot brakes as well as some other little upgrades.

The guys that have seen the new front say this is the closet chop they've seen to the real deal.

Red Devil

Doesn't look too bad. Anyone else think that chop looks like a Evo in the front nose area?

That stinks that it'll only be "rated" at 3 more hp. I was expecting to hear more like 10-15.

DreRX8

Ike--they had an official pic/drawing of the car from Subaru in the latest round of pics. If I can find which mag. its in I'll scan it and post--but that pic above is about 97% on target. The actual front is a little less pronounced as that but it is the same basic front end. Would I buy one now--not personally--but it looks very good and of course the performance is on par. I'm starting to move away from the 'boy-racer' esque cars--otherwise I'd be all over EVO's and WRXs.

Ike

Who cares what it's rated at, it will be a good bit faster, will have a good amount more WHP and torque, and will also be very easy and cheap to upgrade to the 300whp range.

Ike

None of those have been official even though tons of mags have posted chops and drawings none of them came from Subaru not have they ever been confirmed one way or another.

raji

i like that new face. A HUGE improvement over the 2003 (and older) models in my opinion. Not quite as aggressive as i thought it was going to be. Must have seen a different photoshop.

snizzle

So the TR model will basically be a stop-gap between the base WRX and the STI? A cheaper version for people who would like STI or greater performance at a later date?

Ike

You should hear the Subaru guys whining about it, most hate it :p I swear if it were up to the Impreza guys the car would still look the same way it did two generations ago... I'm undecided on what I think, I'll reserve judgement for when there are official pics and I see it in person, but it is growing on me.

Ike

Sorta, word is it's going to be somewhere between the two in pricing with engine output being the same but some handling breaking and aethetic enhancements. Word is the TR will have leather as well which doesn't make a whole lot os sense to me. The details on this car are still kinda fuzzy.

XDEEDUBBX

that **** looks mean!

rotten42

My first impression on the front nose is YuK!.

However, I need to see it in preson to give final judgement. Some things just don't translate well into pictures

Rotarian_SC

It looks decent, a slight upgrade from how the current WRX looks. The new engine sounds like great news. They should sell a gutted versions of both the WRX and STi though. Is there any news for the new weight Ike? It sounds like a great buy if they make it weigh in less than the old WRXs too.

Red Devil

I agree with you, Ike. That's why I had "rated" in quotation marks. I guess I just never understood the modesty of some manufacturers, or over zealous nature of others.

KC_Prelude

The chop looks cool, very euro. I might be driving a scooby one day if I ever make any money.

LiveToRev

Not my cup of tea, but it is definately different. IMO the current Impreza's front end looks 10x better. Maybe it will grow on me later like the bug eyed Impreza.

Gord96BRG

Do you mean Alfa, as in Alfa Romeo? An upside-down Alfa grill like the Tribeca?

If so, and if it's anything like the pic in this thread, then GAG!!! That grill and that front end is absolutely grotesque (as is the Tribeca front end). It makes me reminisce fondly about the bug-eye Impreza! :p Subaru can make a good looking car (the current Legacy is a perfect example), but the last two Imprezas, and the Tribeca and that future Impreza, are absolutely repugnant.

Regards,
Gordon

Gambit

EEEWWW

I don't like subaru's new front end designs at all. I saw a B9 Tribeca a few weeks ago (I dunno if they're out yet, but it could be an early model because there's a gigantic Subaru office building nearby) That thing was ugly as sin.

--edit--
I agree with gord...I like the current legacy a lot. Even kinda like the current WRX. But everything else is remarkably boring or ugly

cas2themoe

A little too much going on in the Front. Atleast its better looking than the EVO(Which isnt saying much, lol). But its still tears *** on the road! :-)

therm8

I like the front, but the hoodscoop(and of course the wing) has always detracted from its looks .

Steiner

It almost sounds like the TR will be to the STi what the RS is to the Evo...except with leather?

Ike

Looks like we have a legit photo... I really like it and didn't think I would. Aslo new rumors have surfaced and seem pretty legit. There will be a Legacy GT Spec B and also a Forester STi available in limited quantities. Another rumor that the STi will have 387hp is floating around but that one seems bogus.

Ajax

That pic looks MUCH better than some of the early chops I saw.
Not bad at all.

Ike

More...

Fanman

Hideous

Xyntax

Even with the new looks, its performance still outshines it's design.