Subaru Impreza WRC concept (2007): first official pictures

By Ben Whitworth

First Official Pictures

10 August 2007 09:52

Nice rally car and all, but I'm a bit lost...

It's simple. At the upcoming Frankfurt motorshow, Subaru will pull the wraps off this Impreza WRC 'concept' car, which is great for rally fans. But this car is also a barely disguised preview of the new Impreza STi that arrives here early next year. 'What you're looking at is a ninety percent version of next year's cooking STi' said our source. And we're drooling already. The STi is transformed from the dull-looking base model by its massive front wheelarches, kerb-kissing front spoiler, chunky 18inch (optional) gold alloys, vast bonnet air intake and gaping front chin. These official picture don't do justice to those flared wheelarches that house the extended front and rear tracks. Those at the front are wide accommodate a couple of pint glasses. Our sources claim the £27,000 all-paw Scooby should touch 60mph in 4.5seconds and not run out of go until it nudges 160mph.

Sorry to disappoint you, but that twin-layer wing is the ten percent that won't make it through to production. This aerodynamic monster will be toned down to a much simpler and smaller rear spoiler. You will however, still get the split tailpipe arrangement, front air vents to cool the brakes, a smooth rear undertray and a set or rear arches so flared that the LED rear lights are now deeply inset into the bodywork. We've already caught the 300bhp 2.5-litre turbo-blown STi powerhouse racking up the development miles around everyone's favourite German track, and we'll be first to let you know how it stacks up against its Mitsubishi Evo X rival.

By Ben Whitworth