Redesigned 2017 Subaru Impreza to Debut Later This Month

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After detailing its new modular platform earlier this week, Subaru is nearly ready to show us the first production car to ride on these underpinnings: the 2017 Impreza compact. Officially debuting at the New York auto show in just a few weeks, the redesigned Impreza, shown in an accompanying teaser photo, will hit the show floor in both sedan and hatchback forms.

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Along with its redesigned platform, the new compact will debut a sleeker design language, at least based on the Impreza Sedan and Impreza Hatchback concepts shown earlier in the auto show season [pictured below]. Then again, Subaru has a history of stylish concepts that turn into dowdy production cars—let’s hope that it can break that cycle here.

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The re-done platform, which will also underpin other Subarus in the future, targets improved refinement, a lower center of gravity, and increased stiffness. Key Subaru tenets remain, and the 2017 Impreza is a sure bet to feature a boxer-four engine and all-wheel drive as standard. Subaru’s EyeSight bundle of active safety features will be part of the equation, too, and the company claims that the interior is more spacious than before.

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This debut only includes the more pedestrian Impreza lineup—WRX fanboys shouldn’t get too excited quite yet. They may have to wait a while to see a new version of the Impreza-based sport compact, as the current-gen WRX lagged behind the outgoing Impreza by a couple years. The next XV Crosstrek, though, likely will come sooner, and was previewed by a concept at the recent Geneva auto show.

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• 2017 Subaru Impreza Spy Photos
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• Quick-Take Review: 2015 Subaru Impreza
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• Subaru Impreza Research: Full Pricing, Specs, Reviews, News, and More
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Keep an eye out for all this Subie news as the Impreza shows its face to the world on March 23.

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That is one powerful design statement. Japanese styling to the max, with all those angular cuts. Doesn't look like a compact car design. More like a luxury sport sedan type of design. Too bad we can't see the rear. I wonder if they will do something similar to the Legacy.

 

I'm still looking at this in wonderment. Usually car makers try to make small cars look sedate. Or cute. And maybe they do this because a lot of buyers of small cars don't want to appear flashy. I wonder how this thing will sell.

 

I agree. Maybe the U.S. buyers are ready to buy better-looking sedans. I know I was surprised when the Ford Fusion came out with its Aston Martin look, and it sold well.

 

Been thinking about this more. I think a lot of potential Subaru customers will be turned off by that design. Too sporty. To big a jump. At least for the regular Impreza. More suited for a sports version.

 

Maybe you are right. The wheels and blackout are making a big difference. Also, it's not flashing chrome. It will be interesting to see it with the actual trim.