Subaru’s Impreza saloon concept is set to influence the styling of the Japanese maker’s whole range over the next few years.
The Impreza concept is the first look at how Subaru’s styling language will reflect the brand’s new motto: ‘Confidence in Motion’. Its main features are a strong, Volvo S60-like shoulder line, a distinctive hexagonal grille opening and a ‘wing’ that cuts across the frontal area of the car.
See pics of the Subaru Impreza saloon concept
Subaru’s chief designer, Osamu Namba, said the project’s goal had been to “provide the future design direction for the brand”.
Namba said: “Even though it has the name ‘Impreza’, it’s meant to express all models.” However, he admitted: “We did have the next generation of Impreza in mind. It’s not a precise guide to the future of this model, but it is indicative of where the Impreza will go.”
The concept is intended to herald more cohesive design at Subaru, according to Namba. “In the past, there has been some inconsistency in the design language. This is really the first attempt to unite the language across the brand.”
Read the full story on the new Subaru Impreza concept
As a result, all of Subaru’s forthcoming cars are likely to feature the hexagonal grille treatment and what Namba calls “hawk eye” headlights — and adopt the concept’s lower, wider stance.
Taller, more rugged models, such as the Outback and Tribeca, may have more than one horizontal ‘wing’ motif across the front grille. Namba added that the concept’s new cues had “nothing to do with the WRX/STi design language”.
John McIlroy
