Currently reading: 2016 Subaru Impreza concept revealed at LA motor show
The next-generation Subaru Impreza will enter production late next year, and has been previewed by a concept car at the LA show

The next-generation Subaru Impreza has been previewed by a thinly disguised concept car at the Los Angeles motor show.

The four-door Impreza saloon concept car was revealed just weeks after a similar concept showcasing the five-door Impreza hatchback was revealed at the Tokyo motor show.

Set to enter production in late 2016 at Subaru's Indiana factory, the new Impreza is described as being the first of a new generation of Subaru models. It is key to the company's Prominence 2020 plan, announced last year, which aims to enhance Subaru's product offering, while also growing the brand.

Central to that plan is the adoption of a new standardised platform, intended to underpin every Subaru model from the Impreza to the Outback. The new platform is expected to bring significant weight savings to the Impreza, while also being stronger.

Subaru is clearly benchmarking the car against key rivals in the family hatchback market. Recent spy shots showed prototype versions of the saloon and five-door running in convoy with a Ford Focus and a Mazda 3.

If the finished production model follows the lead of the concept, then the new Impreza will take on more of a conventional hatchback shape than the current car. Highlights include a new grille with large air intakes at the front, and a prominent lip spoiler at the rear. Subaru also says that the look of the five-door concept hints at the look of the company’s future range as a whole - although judging from the spy pics, the headlight treatment is going to be toned down for production.

In fact, the new Impreza is styled to usher in a new design language from Subaru. Dubbed Dynamic x Solid, it will also be seen on future Subaru models. Subaru design boss Mamoru Ishii said: "This concept was created under a new design theme, representing a design carved from a hard, rigid material while also flowing. We included many design cues within the concept that are symbolic of Subaru engineering.

Subaru's US chief Tom Doll said: "It’s a precursor to what you can expect from the next-generation Subaru Impreza sedan. We know that in the US, sedans will play a vital role in our company’s continued sales growth. We are on target to sell 570,000 cars in 2015."

Power is expected to come from a new generation of engines featuring cylinder deactivation technology. The current car is powered by a 112bhp 1.6-litre flat-four engine and is available with either a five-speed manual transmission or a CVT.

Autocar understands the next-generation Impreza will be launched late in 2016. Prices aren't expected to rise too far from the £17,495 of the current car.

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Cyborg 22 November 2015

Subaru

I hope they put this car into production as is. Its the decent looking Subaru in years!
Cyborg 22 November 2015

Cyborg wrote: I hope they put

Cyborg wrote:

I hope they put this car into production as is. Its the FIRST decent looking Subaru in years!

Will86 19 November 2015

Estate please

Still looking good, just bolt on a estate, or even a liftback version, and you've potentially got a new customer sitting here. Saloons simply don't work with my needs.
Symanski 3 November 2015

The problem with Subaru in the UK...

is Subaru UK! The group which manages Subaru's UK interests are inept and far too greedy. One day claiming they wanted to take on the likes of Audi. What did the change? Same product, higher price. The STi going up in price over night by £7.5k. And refused to offer their best seller in the format you wanted - saloon, in blue, with a wing. Claimed it wasn't being built by Subaru, yet every other country in the world had that combination pictured their website. And significantly cheaper than the UK was offering it for too.
cynikill 15 November 2015

Completely agree, they have

Completely agree, they have killed Subaru in the UK.

It could be revived in a simple stroke - bring in the AUS spec 2.0 STI at a fair price and they would almost drive themselves out of the showroom.
IM / SUK have have a lot to answer for.
Still running my 10 Yr old wide-track PPP as nothing since has offered any improvement at a reasonable cost. 10 years and £30K of petrol later, its still going strong with nothing more than a water pump and consumables (Lots of brakes/tyres) in its 110000 life. Who is going to be able to say that about the 2.5 lump forced on us?