Imprezive debut for Subaru

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

This is the first picture published in New Zealand of the WRX Impreza that Subaru will use in next year's World Rally Championship.

It is a prototype from British rally specialist Prodrive, and was airfreighted to Australia last weekend for the launch of the new Impreza range, the first time it had been seen outside the Prodrive factory.

Insiders say it differs only slightly from the actual car Subaru will use in January's WRC opener, the Monte Carlo Rally.

The left-hand-drive four-door featured rally suspension, special alloy wheels, roll cage, engine and safety systems.

It will remain in Australia for next month's Sydney Motor Show.

Subaru has based its WRC campaign on the two-door Impreza coupe.

But it dropped the model from its all-new line-up, saying the four-door is inherently strong enough for rallying.

The new all-wheel-drive Impreza range in New Zealand includes WRX sedan and hatchback, and the hatch-only RX.