A Visual History of the Subaru Impreza

MICKSIGARAGE.COM THE CAR PARTS EXPERTS History of the Subaru Impreza Mk 1 1992 - 2000 Weight: 1220kg Introduced in 1992 as a replacement for the Leone The impreza features a horizontally opposed, 4 cylinder • Boxer' engine, available in a rangé of sizes from 1.5 litres to 2.5 litres. 1405mm Unequal length exhaust manifold headers give the Boxer engině a unique sound and character 4340 mm • 4 door saloon / estate & 2 door coupe versions The Impreza turbo was hugely popular and quickly became the dominant force in World Rallying, winning 3 consecutive World Rally Championships in 1995-1997 Most famously driven by the late Colin McRae 2 REPO Multiple limited edition, high performance variants were 1• built, 'including the much sought-after 22B and P1 Weight: 1390kg Mk 2 2000 - 2007 • The all new mk2 Impreza was slightly larger & heavier than the outgoing model & featured some rather quesționable styling in the form of its 'bug-eye' headlamps 1425 mm • The 2nd generation Impreza was facelifted twice during its production run 4415 mm • 2 Door coupe version discontinued • British driver, Richard Burns won the World Rally Championship in his Impreza WRC in 2001 & Norwegian Petter Solberg won it for Subaru again in 2003 • Various limited edition models were produced culminating in the range topping RB320 which had 320bhp & was a rally špec tribute to Richard Burns who passed away in 2005 Weight: 1394kg Mk 3 2007 - 2011 • The 3rd generation Impreza was launched in naturally aspirated & turbocharged forms as a 5 door hatchback, with a 4 door saloon offered a year later 1475 mm • First ever Subaru Boxer diesel engine introduced • Pillarless doors, a design trait from the two previous generations replaced by standard doors to reduce wind noise 4580 mm • For 2009 Subaru upped the power of the WRX to 265bhp, fitted revised suspension & stickier Dunlop tyres. 0-60 times dropped to just 4.7 seconds • WRX STI versions feature a wider body and track than the standard WRX • Subaru announced their withdrawal from the World Rally Championship in 2008 after less than a year of running the 3rd gen hatchback Impreza. The ćar still remains competitive in Global Rally Cross & many other forms of Motor Sport tóday Mk 4 Weight: 1320kg 2011 - Present • Available in saloon & hatchback versions. • Due to better packaging the smaller, lighter mk4 is actually more spacious on the insidé than the mk3 1465 mm • 3rd Generation Impreza WRX models continued production until 2014 • For 2015 the Impreza name was dropped from WRX models & the high performance version is now known as the Subaru WRX 4414 mm • The WRX is visually similar to the saloon version but apart from the doors boot lid and interior the WRX uses completely new panels • Electric assisted power steering introduced • The mk 4 WRX features the FA20DIT engine, which has direct injection and a twin-scroll turbocharger & produces 268bhp Subaru Boxer Engine • The Subaru EJ series engine (as found in virtually all Impreza's) was introduced in 1989 • This type of engine is known as a flat 4 or 'Boxer' engine. The 4 cylinders lie down flat with 2 cylinders either side of the crankshaft. The pistons 'punch' outwards - like a Boxer! • Available in turbo or NA ranging from 96 to 320bhp Commonly used in light aircraft ạnd also popular in kit cars and engine swaps into air-cooled Volkswagen Camper Vans • Unequal length headers produce a burbling exhaust note, unique to the Subaru Boxer engine