2021 SUBARU IMPREZA The smallest vehicle in the Subaru fleet continues to punch above its weight
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The Subaru Impreza has represented a compelling proposition from the moment it debuted nearly 30 years ago . In the early days , the first-ever Impreza was the model designated to lead the Subaru charge in the World Rally Championship ( WRC ), tackling a wide range of driving conditions from the deserts of Africa to the Scandinavian cold above the Arctic Circle .
Right from the start , the Impreza proved a near-perfect solution to the challenge of a production-based form of motorsport that is notoriously punishing on both man and machine . There were technical aspects of the firstgeneration Impreza that resonated strongly at the time ; many of these characteristics have been carried forward and they contribute to making the fifth-generation version a regular class-leading contender .
First and foremost , the original Impreza was a compact car with dimensions that proved especially useful on the WRC circuit at the time , where agility and high-speed stability where valued equally . The Impreza measured 4,340 mm in length , 1,690 mm in width and 1,405 mm in height . The wheelbase was an assuredly compact 2,520
STORY BY : PAUL ST . -SOEUR
mm and the curb weight rolled in at 1,220 kg .
A quick comparison with the current model — in 4- or 5-door form — shows that the latest Impreza is longer , wider and taller than the original . The wheelbase has gained 150 mm , giving passengers more room to manoeuvre . But even with all-dimensional growth and a curb weight some 160 kg more than the first Impreza , the latest-generation version clearly still qualifies as a compact vehicle .
Back in the no-quarter-asked , no quarter-given world of rallying , the compact size of the Impreza was further supported by the reliable power of the SUBARU BOXER 4-cylinder , the superior traction of Subaru Symmetrical Full-Time All-Wheel Drive and the resolute all-road capability of the fully independent long-travel suspension system . The Impreza debuted in WRC competition in 1993 and went on to record 46 victories and six world titles over 16 seasons , an incredible record of success . Their drivers over this time include some of the genuine legends of the sport — Carlos Sainz , Richard Burns , Petter Solberg , Tommi Mäkinen and Colin McRae .