Official 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX pictures released

By Phil, April 3rd, 2007 · Filed under 2008 Subaru WRX

After some unofficial pictures of the 2008 Impreza WRX hatchback were leaked last week (yes, it appears the photos were real after all), Subaru has released official information on the new car.

Here it is in its full … glory?

2008 Subaru Impreza WRX sedan
Sedan version of the new WRX. Picture from Inside Line.

It does not look so bad, but Subaru fans’ expectations were very high regarding the new Impreza. It’s much better than the hatchback model in my opinion. Still, the antenna is killing me! It makes the car look so cheap.

2008 Subaru Impreza WRX sedan interior
Sedan interior. Picture from Inside Line.

And what’s with the beige interior? I sure hope it comes in a choice of color. While the cabin has definitely been improved, it looks like the interior of a spaceship.

2008 Subaru Impreza WRX hatchback front
Hatchback version of the new Subaru. Picture from Inside Line.

The 5-door hatchback WRX will replace the current wagon model.

2008 Subaru Impreza WRX hatchback back
The new hatchback from behind. Picture from Inside Line.

The 2008 Impreza WRX sedan is destined for the North American market only. It will use the same 2.5L engine as the hatchback version and will come in either a 5-speed manual transmission or in a 4-speed automatic. Power output is expected to be roughly the same as the current model, about 224 hp and 226 lb-ft of torque, but reachable at 5200 rpm and 2800 rpm compared to last year’s 5600 rpm and 3600 rpm respectively. While the sedan is 4.9 inches longer than the current model, it will actually weight less, losing about 50 pounds.

The WRX STI version is expected to be announced early next year. And you guys with a 2004-2005 WRX out there: hold onto it dearly. As a fellow owner, the 2008 WRX is not what I was hoping for and I won’t be getting one anytime soon.

Source: Inside Line, Car and Driver

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46 responses to “Official 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX pictures released”

  1. Alan says:
    April 3rd, 2007 at 12:22 pm

    Seems a bit odd to put out a major redesign after only two years at the current design. It took me long enough to start enjoying the current model, now they expect me to warm up to this one? I guess I’ll need to get my new model sooner than I was expecting, and grab up an 07 while I can.

  2. Timis from Greece says:
    April 3rd, 2007 at 4:23 pm

    Come on!!!…I cannot believe that we were waiting for this crap!… I wonder..the fired Zapatinas for the face of tribeca and last impreza…(although it was not his design)what they are going to do now…fire all subaru industry?…
    I would never buy a car like this..this is from the 90’s!…TO ALL SUBARU FUNS:
    DO NOT BUY THIS MODEL…so they will got the message!

  3. Timis from Greece says:
    April 3rd, 2007 at 4:41 pm

    REASONS WHY I BELIEVE THIS IS WORST!
    1. It has no Subaru spirit…an Impreza with windowframes?..this is a joke…
    2. Like Phil said…this antenna… is this from an 80’s Golf or what?
    3. The interior of the car reminds me of a korean or indian cheap car(in terms of design)…they have put everything by luck…and the a/c buttons are like the 2001 frogeye impreza…and the a/c and heat opens on the dashboard is the one that they used in the 90’s impreza (please check it and comment)…
    4. the whole sideview design of the car (hatchback) should be a little higher to create dynamism, now its like a ford focus with different taillights… the 3rd window should be smaller (now it looks like a mazda 3 at hatchback and like a suzuki liana sedan on the sedan model)
    5. the frontview…oh..this frontview…is like a 90’s corolla with a frontpumber from an 90’s ford model of american market…

    Last but not least I must mention the site of Subaru stating..”On 5th of April…a legend will be reborned!”…they should change it to …a legend will be die!
    I wonder what is their next step… may be to throw away the boxer engines and the AWD…

  4. SWRT Fan says:
    April 3rd, 2007 at 6:48 pm

    I am so so PISSED!!! now I will never be able to afford a 06-07 STI, THERE VALUE will go through the roof!!!! AHHH lame!! It looks like a feckin Toyota Camery for crying out loud

  5. naruto_uzumaki says:
    April 4th, 2007 at 12:51 am

    subaru is freaking retarded!!!! now i’m glad i bought an 06. I’m switching to kia next lol

  6. Aleksey says:
    April 4th, 2007 at 1:36 am

    This is amaizing. Really, I can’t help but thinking that all the final design decision at Subaru are made by people from Toyota, Honda and other Subaru competitors.

    I think Zapatinas was fired because he wanted to turn this boat around, to make Subaru look agressive, attractive and stylish, but apparently this is not what some boneheads at Subaru have in mind. They keep experimenting with their customer’s loyalty and with the release of 2008 Impreza they finally broke the last straw.

    After owning 3 Subarus in a row I am absolutelly sure that my 2007 STI is the last Subaru I’ll own in a LOONG time. I love good cars, but I also love good looking cars.

    Sorry Subaru, but maybe next time you should post your design blueprints at NASIOC board BEFORE you invest a pile of money in it. Even people on that board seem to understand the true Subaru spirit much better than the designers that you hire.

    Aleksey

  7. Aleksey says:
    April 4th, 2007 at 1:46 am

    P.S. Just to make my previous post clear - the car looks very mainstream and yes, that’s what Subaru needed, but now the car looks like a fricking Corolla or Camry - like a rental car family sedan. 8-0

    It’s the 21 century and the WRX is a SPORTS car, Subaru, hello?! Have your designers totally forgot that?

  8. Phil says:
    April 4th, 2007 at 8:31 am

    Friend of mine, who’s a Mitsubishi fanboy, compares the new WRX to the Toyota Corolla (here).

    It makes us realize the WRX has become very mainstream and much less like the sports car it once was.

  9. jeff says:
    April 4th, 2007 at 3:04 pm

    ive always wanted a wrx…. ive never been able to afford one, now that im getting to a point where i could afford one, they do this. i wasnt thrilled with the looks of the last model, i didnt like the grill or headlights, they have never been a GREAT looking car, but seriously, the front end of this thing looks like a mini van. im gonna go out on a limb and say i do like the hatch-back idea instead of a wagon, but the front ends on these things just get worse and worse. maybe in 2 years they’ll get it right. i agree, nobody should buy this thing to send subaru a message.

  10. Patrick says:
    April 4th, 2007 at 11:39 pm

    at least the sti looks slightly better than this as far as the grill and stuff are concerned

  11. Bollocks says:
    April 5th, 2007 at 8:27 am

    Since when did Subaru join with Chrysler and Mitsubishi? Grill from a Chrysler, taillights from an Outlander! On top of that the profile looks like a Kia Spectra. Where’s the muscle? I can’t believe this is what they came up with. Beige interior??.. Looks like it will blow off the road with the first light breeze. I’m very disappointed in Subaru. Somebody help them. Now I have to go looking for a good used ‘03-’07.

  12. SWRT Fan says:
    April 5th, 2007 at 11:17 am

    I just wanted to put 2 more SENSE in again. I totally agree, it looks like a Toyta’s “beefier” older but slightly retarted brother. NO joke. I am really sad. Someone needs to thow together a website to take a huge poll and send it to subaru to stop this madness!!!

  13. Greg says:
    April 5th, 2007 at 3:48 pm

    Alan… they change the design every 2 years.. its how they do it.. sadly though everytime they change it.. it gets worse and worse.. the 04/05 was the last good looking wrx.. although i don’t think the hatch is horrible.. just needs a new grill.

  14. DocTrembly says:
    April 6th, 2007 at 8:58 am

    I was planning on buying a 2008 WRX. Now I gotta find something else. But there is nothing like the WRX out there. I can’t afford an STI or an EvoX. I’m too tall for most sports cars. I guess I’ll hang on to my civic (which is 8 years old now). Shame on you Subaru.

  15. Aleksey says:
    April 8th, 2007 at 4:04 am

    The most disappointing part is the fact that Subaru DID have an appropriately looking concept that they could use as a platform. The pictures of this design were floating around some time ago, even before Subaru officially moved away from the infamous pig nose design. Some people (as usually) found similarities with other cars and the concept but most of them were pleased with the overall impression the concept made.

    I was one of those who liked it alot, so I saved them. I’d love to see 2008 STI to look like this.

    http://mrlink.hotmail.ru/Fotki/Misc/New_Impreza.JPG

    http://mrlink.hotmail.ru/Fotki/Misc/New_Impreza1.JPG

    http://mrlink.hotmail.ru/Fotki/Misc/New_Impreza2.JPG

    http://mrlink.hotmail.ru/Fotki/Misc/New_Impreza3.JPG

  16. Wayne says:
    April 8th, 2007 at 5:21 pm

    What the ****!?!?! Was the designer drunk or stoned?? Damn, **** off, i’ve never seen a subaru as ugly as that. I’m a proud fan of subaru, but with these new cars, i’m so disapointed!!

  17. John from Oz says:
    April 9th, 2007 at 2:08 am

    I’ve owned a number of WRX’s over the years, but I must say I will not be purchasing this new one. For me, Subaru has killed the ledgend of the WRX with the release of this “mom and pop” car. I just hope Mitsubishi comes up with a killer evo x. Bye bye Subaru, thanks for the memories.

  18. Ricardo says:
    April 10th, 2007 at 9:15 pm

    I share everybody’s dissappointment with the new Impreza, but what I don’t understand is the people who own one of the recent Imprezas. A lot of people claim they love their Subarus, but seem to change them every year, why? I have an 04 Impreza 2.5 RS, it was what I could afford at the time. I love it, and I don’t care what the new looks like that much, since I won’t be buying one soon, or any other car. I love my car both on looks and performance, and am looking foward to enyoing i or along time. That said, if something happened to my car, I probably would look for a used ‘05 WRX.

  19. Rich says:
    April 13th, 2007 at 1:33 am

    that car looks so lame. and putting in the same engine is a joke. how behind are they!!

    very disappointed
    .
    subaru has lost the plot.

    they might as well start making boring corollas and camrys.

    pure disrespect to their fans and customer base!!

  20. James says:
    April 13th, 2007 at 7:35 pm

    Moving up from a clio 182, I have 2 small babies, fast becoming toddlers my natural step was a impreza in 2008, big enough for family, but enjoyable, when they are left at home, i feel subaru has struggled to keep pace with the evo X, and so are taking the chicken’s way and numbing down to take on the BMW and Golf. possibly the launch of the 2007 1.5 should have prepared us all. the real shame is it will leave a real void between £18000 gti, and £30000 evo

  21. Pete says:
    April 15th, 2007 at 9:01 pm

    The new car looks like crap, and I would be embaressed to be driving that mundane joke.

  22. Matt says:
    April 16th, 2007 at 4:59 pm

    Wow - am I the only one to like it?

    Oh, wait, on second thought, it’s horrific. It looks like Subaru is trying to copy the smooth lines of a Kia. I always wanted a WRX. Now I’m very glad I went with a Mazdaspeed3 before seeing this new gen.

  23. lod says:
    April 17th, 2007 at 8:02 am

    i will be staying with my 2001 bulls eye was looking forward to the new wrx. as a person who loves the versitility of the hatch for carrying gear and the absolute joy of driving at the edge fear the new hatch will not let me do both. Would the designers at subaru please at least do some serious market research via current/previous owners and obviously next buyers…. we are all a very loyal lot we love our wrx’s but not happy to not be considered as the ‘next/new buyer’ market - wow HAVE WRX SOLD OUT TO THE NORTH AMERICAN MARKET - nuff said we don’t want to drive a mitsi or a mazda

  24. Tro says:
    April 19th, 2007 at 10:57 pm

    Iv always been a big WRX fan, even thou Iv never even driven one, or been able to buy one. But this new model just dosnt have the mean, sporty WRX look to it. Wheres the classic mean looking WRX fenders that bulge out? And whats with the Chrysler looking grill? The interior dosnt look sporty anymore either, it used to look like it was business only, now it just looks boring and lame. Somehow they even made the hood scoop look shitty. This car dosnt look anything like a rally car, it looks like it would fall appart if you took it off the pavement. And the old wagon was a million times better then this new “hatchback”. The wagon had all the same styleing as the sedan, just with a little more room, it looked awsome. A Subaru WRX Wagon has always been my dream car, not anymore, thanks for killing a dream Subaru.

  25. Troy says:
    April 20th, 2007 at 11:13 pm

    I almost cryed when I seen the new 08 wrx, At first i was like did i hit the kia picture acidently.It is discresfull. and imbearesing,when the 08 comes out, im going to get so much crap to have that thing driving around with the almighty wrx sighn. I have a aspin white 02 wrx, 18″ rota’s,H&R springs, and kyb struts.painted side skirts, raven muffler, act street clutch and the june eyelids for the headlights looks soo mean. when a new mustang pulls up to me I feel good, even he’s checkin out the soob. the car looks beefy, mean, and sporty. The 08 makes me sick, i almost threw up when i seen it, please is this a sick joke, I hope I wake up soon..Looks like i will keep my 02 wrx for a long time. looks like subaru keeps making there wrx’s uglier every year, although the 04, sytle is my fav. 02 with june eyelids looks sweet also. PLEASE SUBARU read these post you still have time!!!! just re realese last years model to by time, someone help us. please please, i beg you, don’t rune the wrx image.

  26. jvw says:
    April 29th, 2007 at 4:18 am

    I love wrxs especially the GC8s and the 04-05 models but subaru has really messed up. this is the worst looking piece of crap car ever. its totally ruined the cult status of the wrx. I’ll never call the new 08 wrx a rex, it doesnt deserve to be called one.

    the 08 wrx has lost the very things that made the wrx what it is. where is the aggressive look, the fenders, the big fog lights (how is the STi suppose to get covers), the 1 tip exhaust not the gay 2 exhausts, the sick looking scoop and the big wing. Subaru has completey ruined the 08 wrx and if i ever see one i will personally remove the badge from it.

    Nobody should buy one at all!!!! So subaru would get the message and release a proper wrx.

  27. jvw says:
    April 29th, 2007 at 4:27 am

    ps the hatchback looks like a chick car and the sedan looks like a car my grandparents would drive.

    but i dont think my grandparents will waste money on that crap

  28. dan says:
    May 6th, 2007 at 8:49 am

    what a load of S**t subaru i think i would look as tough driving your new 08 wrx as i would on a push bike with trainer wheels.
    take a good look at ur design crew they need to be sacked bring back the mean look as you had in 99 2000 iam back to mitsubishi this year

  29. Carlos says:
    May 7th, 2007 at 5:49 pm

    soy de argentina, estuve en este rally viendo los subaru de solberg y atkinson, van a tener que trabajar mucho para mejorar, no es como en años atras, la escuderia se ha quedado sin potencia con respecto al C4 de citroen y el FOCUS de ford.
    espero mejoren para los proximos años

  30. ukrainian says:
    May 22nd, 2007 at 11:24 am

    I think I should have killed the manager at a local dealer who convinced me not to buy the ‘06 WRX and wait for a ‘07 one. That one turned out to be crap and no way I would buy it. But now, wait! If I haven’t seen the logo, I’d say that Chinese are finally making cars that look nice (though resemble kia a bit). But! Holy crap! Why on Earth would THIS get called Impreza??!!

  31. mark says:
    July 29th, 2007 at 9:21 am

    Looks like any other run of the the mill ordinary bland, boring 2000 something car, where is the unique styling of the 2004 wrx, this is a disgrace.

  32. Trevor says:
    August 6th, 2007 at 12:16 am

    I have been waiting for the release of the new wrx, I have never been let down so much by any other manufacturer, not even Ford. To think, mitsu realeased their new Evo linup (very sexy) a long time ago, and there were spy photos a long time before that. Its too bad Subaru not only didn’t raise the bar, but dropped it on the floor instead. My wife said she wouldn’t be caught dead in one of these wrx’s. Looks like Mazda is going to have a new customer, mazdaspeed6 here we come. I have officialy switched.

  33. Mark Henderson says:
    August 20th, 2007 at 12:14 pm

    I have to agree with everyone here, Subaru have become a joke, you only need to speak to thier sales people. they’ve started started running away from their rally winning heritage in favour of the ’school run’. It all seems like a bad dream. Subaru deserve to crash and burn for doing this to the impreza. You dont see porsche turning the 911 into a sensible hatchback do you?

  34. NJ guy says:
    August 22nd, 2007 at 9:21 am

    You guys have got to be kidding bashing the new Impreza look. When the “bug eye” first came out everybody hated them, now everybody likes them .LOL The new look is sleeker and sporty looking the 2007 looks like a VW throw back. The dealer I went to can’t even keep the 08 instock, and they are have a bunch of 07 WRX they can’t get rid of.

  35. Joe says:
    September 2nd, 2007 at 12:00 am

    I still don’t like the “bug eye” Impreza. As several people have mentioned above, the 04-05 WRX looks great. I won’t be buying the ‘08 P.O.S.

  36. yusuf says:
    September 18th, 2007 at 8:50 am

    i agree with all. the new car hasnt impressed me much!they need to take a serious look at redesigning the car interior and exterior. I own a impreza hatch back 1994 model mean looking machine.i also believe they should take view from all subaru loyal owners and even ask some talented individuals out there to throw in design and m sure fans would throw in design and ideas so much that they could come up with a better looking car!

  37. Sevy says:
    September 24th, 2007 at 2:08 pm

    After lookin at the 5door, the 4 door doesnt look half bad, but its still a major letdown. Looks like Civic SI, here I come

  38. Chris Powell says:
    October 4th, 2007 at 8:15 am

    Interesting list of quotes from the trade magazines, even more interesting comments from the readers of this blog. My only question is, do you own one? Well I do! I think the car is great. I’ve had it a week now and traded in my 2003 WRX Wagon for the 2008 5 door. The previous blogger Timis posted “make a comparison with latest VW Golf / Audi A3 / BMW 120i / Opel-Vauxhall Astra models”. Well he is right, only one big difference, it’s a Subaru! I upgraded the car with STI metal pedals and a short-throw shifter. Unfortunately that is all you can get right now from SPT at Subaru. I’ll add intake and exhaust upgrades from the dealership as soon as they become available. The first thing you notice (apart from the more stylish and mature look of the car) is the sound of the doors when you close them. They sound and feel much more like a BMW or Audi rather than that “tin” door feel of my 2003 WRX. As soon as I took off from the dealership I immediately noticed the lower end torque of the 2.5 Liter engine versus my old 2.0 liter block. You also notice much more of the hood out the front windshield in the new version of the car. The handling is completely legendary Subaru. Just yesterday I flew in to a 90 degree left turn on the way to work. I remember quite distinctly in the old wagon that I tried the same turn some years back “a bit too fast”. In that “incident”, I under-steered and nearly slid off the road on the right hand side of the corner as I came out of the turn. This time in the 2008, I hit that hard left (well in to the oncoming lane), and only slid a half lane to the right. I was in much better control of the situation. I was probably well over 100-110kph around the turn in third gear and I mean a two lane, hard 90 degree left (we drive on the right here in the US just in case you haven’t been here). It was only then that I noticed the car also has additional traction control and I saw a wonderful little orange indicator light come on in the dash to let me know I had lost traction. I‘m going to light up that baby more often! I didn’t have any indicators like that at all in the 2003. All in all, the car is very impressive and with the new quiet in the cockpit, the 6 C/D stereo sounds much, much, better. Buy one if you can, we only had five, 5 doors here in Houston (Sept. 07) and the charcoal grey one is smoking tires on the street as you read this!

  39. mike says:
    October 9th, 2007 at 4:24 pm

    guys!!!! this car is actually very kool! i think people wouldnt be happy with it no matter what it looks like. Just like the evo 10! people are staring to love it. what idiots thinking they can citisise multimillion dollar designers

  40. shangoob says:
    November 1st, 2007 at 3:23 am

    I have to say this
    ((It’s the WORST Subaru I ever seen . It’s just a big joke))
    I’m glad I bought the previous model Impreza 06″.
    As I’m a big fan of Subaru’s car .
    I will say,,,
    change it people….change it.

  41. john smith says:
    December 11th, 2007 at 2:47 am

    sad sad,…i am thinking of switching my favorite car to the new evo,…the new sti is pathetically ugly,….! subaru i was expecting more from you,… the 2006-7 model was the best looking of all time then you guys go to this, argh,….!

  42. axlegrease says:
    December 24th, 2007 at 1:47 pm

    Hey guys,

    You need to look beyond your own noses.

    I agree, the new Subie looks tragically boring, in fact it looks like a recycled Civic if you follow the silhouette.

    But it’s quite obvious Subaru is trying to attract a wider audience, the ones you all hold so dearly are too aggressive for joe mama and gang.

    Case in point, the WRX Sti at least maintains a different fascia than the Impreza.

    And hey, don’t think i’m playing the piper, so to speak. I’m in the awkward position of buying a new car, and I think i’m leaning towards the new Impreza wrx. Drawback? Styling of course, but I’m putting my faith in the handling.

    And it’s either the Subie or the Mazda 3Speed for me. Mazda3speed is a great bargain and powerful etc.. but it’s basically a stuffed 3, and the handling capability shouldn’t be the same caliber as the Impreza. I say shouldn’t, since I’ve yet to wring the speed through a test run yet

  43. maarten says:
    March 11th, 2008 at 11:21 am

    jo man what is this chit dude
    this sucks man
    it looks like a resicled mazda with the sign of subaru on it.

  44. Ha Ha Ha says:
    March 28th, 2008 at 10:26 am

    What a fecking ugly piece of shi*t.

    They really have shot themselves in the foot with. When I saw first thing I thought was ford focus but the focus actually looks beeter than this.

  45. Scott says:
    May 31st, 2008 at 7:39 am

    What the hell is this? Its UGLY!

  46. JP says:
    June 21st, 2008 at 5:56 am

    I find this somewhat comical that everyone is bashing the car that already has one. The whole idea of this car line was to introduce the car to a newer crowd (particularly female drivers), since all the previous versions were (and ask any girl I dated) ugly. Just like 80s mustangs, or an 87 Monte Carlo…guys thought they were pimp, and girls, well…not so much. What does a Monte Carlo look like now? Trust me guys, driving around a 2006 wrx isn’t going to get you chicks like in Tokyo Drift. None of you fanboys can drift anyways (ok, that’s not fair, it’s AWD lol)Oh yeah… I actually like the car for the plain and simple reason that there are tons of different body kits, moldings, gps nav and other things available, subaru will do top to bottom service and change my oil like I owned a BMW…and the 2 girls I took with me liked it best :) So again, if you want a 2006, buy a damn 2006 and have people wondering why you blew money on it, while I enjoy a roomier, more comfortable ride. Quit comparing it to older models, because traditional Rally cars are a dying breed. The new Evo if not for the front end looks about the same, just the front bumper has any flavor to it. That and it also has the lowest durability rating in the class. I suppose practicality is taking over in sports cars. Heck, the new Camaro is slated to do 28 or 30mpg highway. But if you have a car you’re happy with, quit wasting your time bashing a car that wasn’t made for you in the first place…it was made for everybody else.

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