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Old 12-11-2001, 08:47 PM   #1
blue5spdwrxwagon
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Default Prodrive to Reskin Flagging Subaru Impreza

I found this article in Wards today. What do you think? Will our cars be soon outdated?

Prodrive to Reskin Flagging Subaru Impreza

by Peter Robinson

WardsAuto.com, Dec 11 2001


WARWICK, U.K. – Prodrive, the British engineering company that also runs Subaru’s World Rally Championship team, has been given responsibility for a rushed major facelift of the current Impreza and WRX.

WARWICK, U.K. – Prodrive, the British engineering company that also runs Subaru’s World Rally Championship team, has been given responsibility for a rushed major facelift of the current Impreza and WRX.

Stung by continual criticism of the new car’s styling and slowing sales in some markets, Tokyo sources claim Subaru-maker Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. has ordered the reskin to involve every exterior panel except the doors, rear fenders and greenhouse. Marked for extinction are the car’s ugly, oversized headlights. In their place the revised model gets smaller lights that insiders claim are much better integrated into the overall design.

The new model, not expected to go on sale until early 2003, represents a major coup for Prodrive, which has worked hard to develop a close relationship with the Japanese manufacturer.

Prodrive styled the WRX STi Impreza, the minor facelift for the new 265-hp version, bringing to the car revised headlights and a bigger intake for the hood. Fuji’s confidence in Prodrive’s fast expanding design capability, based in the U.K., led to the decision to hand over responsibility for the revised car. However, it’s believed Fuji’s in-house design team still is in charge of styling the next all-new Impreza, not due until at least 2006 and expected to be built on a new platform.

Meanwhile, sources confirm that an all-new Subaru Forester will make its debut at the Geneva show in March.
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Old 12-11-2001, 08:57 PM   #2
Clement
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Arrow WRX to get major facelift!

From:
http://industryclick.com/microsites/...1004&siteid=26

Quote:
WARWICK, U.K. ?Prodrive, the British engineering company that also runs Subaru’s World Rally Championship team, has been given responsibility for a rushed major facelift of the current Impreza and WRX.

Stung by continual criticism of the new car’s styling and slowing sales in some markets, Tokyo sources claim Subaru-maker Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. has ordered the reskin to involve every exterior panel except the doors, rear fenders and greenhouse. Marked for extinction are the car’s ugly, oversized headlights. In their place the revised model gets smaller lights that insiders claim are much better integrated into the overall design.

The new model, not expected to go on sale until early 2003, represents a major coup for Prodrive, which has worked hard to develop a close relationship with the Japanese manufacturer.

Prodrive styled the WRX STi Impreza, the minor facelift for the new 265-hp version, bringing to the car revised headlights and a bigger intake for the hood. Fuji’s confidence in Prodrive’s fast expanding design capability, based in the U.K., led to the decision to hand over responsibility for the revised car. However, it’s believed Fuji’s in-house design team still is in charge of styling the next all-new Impreza, not due until at least 2006 and expected to be built on a new platform.

Meanwhile, sources confirm that an all-new Subaru Forester will make its debut at the Geneva show in March.
I'm surprised that they are asking Prodrive to get involve...

Last edited by Clement; 12-11-2001 at 10:19 PM.
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Old 12-11-2001, 09:09 PM   #3
i realy want the sti
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is this to all wrx's or just the prodrive???
if it is to all of them i hope it does not effect when we get our sti in the states. cause im sure subaru isnt going to bring a car that will look completely different in one year from the time it gets here. i may be wrong, and i hope i am, any opinions???
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Old 12-11-2001, 09:15 PM   #4
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very interesting. i, like many of you, am more than happy with the style. i'd be interested to see what they do with it.
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Old 12-11-2001, 09:20 PM   #5
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Now would that make the 2002 a collectors item or just a bad investment (let it be known though that I love my car).
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Old 12-11-2001, 10:24 PM   #6
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Well, the article if it's accurate says the major facelift is for the Impreza and WRX. So that probably means the complete Impreza line.

The thing is the WRX STi is supposedly coming here in 2003, which is right when the facelift is dued. So we might not get STi's using the current style. Some may consider that a good thing, others may not.
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Old 12-11-2001, 10:35 PM   #7
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hrm... something about this doesn't seem right, why would Prodrive be charged with this job? And the WRX is at the height of its popularity within the states and Japan,... which are like the two main markets imho... *takes a puff of his 555 Cig* My guess is they'll stay on track till 2005, which was the previously scheduled redesign...

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Old 12-11-2001, 11:05 PM   #8
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I liked the bug-eyes... Not saying they were 'good' looking, but it definitely made the car more noticeable from the Hondas, Toyotas, and other 2WD cars out there.

I think it was best put by someone on this board when they said that Subaru appealed to the small group of followers and didn't care what others thought. I think that is a good way for a not-so-mainstream company to go about business. Build a niche and stick with it. But how many complaints could they really get about the lights? They're fine.... I guess if they coulda made the four-light pod standard (or whatever the racier ones are...)

Oh well, I guess we'll have to get used to the new one and really cherish our MY02s as one of a kinds.... hey, all the better.
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Old 12-11-2001, 11:18 PM   #9
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hey, i'd almost be glad if they redid them right away. that makes all of ours a limited series of cars ( plus w/ all the wreck happening ) it should make our cars hold their value better. heck, i love having a car i don't usually see on the strett, and if this happens, it'll be nice and rare to see a my02 rex ( specially wagon ). it would be interesting to see, if prodrive did redesign the rex, what it will look like.

here's my question, if they redesigned the body, would they be doing much to the internals? or would it be a pure facelift?
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Old 12-11-2001, 11:56 PM   #10
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Kind of like how GM is tweaking the Aztec's "unique" exterior, eh?

The Aztec will always be gawdaful ugly, but the new-age Impreza can be saved. Its not too bad as it is right now. Only things I would change is to give the headlights a more rectangular shape and maybe get more creative with the front fascia.
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Old 12-12-2001, 12:10 AM   #11
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Apparently, this was Subaru's original plan for restyling, but then they finally realized that their stylist is a drug-addict!
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Old 12-12-2001, 12:48 AM   #12
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We are happy because we got the WRX and probably would have bought the thing had it been even more radically designed. The Japanese on the other hand aren't too wild about the styling and they have alternatives to the WRX...so something had to give. Would I rather have had the GC8 styled WRX? Sure; I like the styling of it better, it looks more agressive. Do I hate the styling of the current car? No I actually like the styling of the current car although the headlights turned me off at first, they grew on me, especially after I purchased the car and drove it . I vote collector's item, although I'm guessing it's going to be the other way around since there are quite a few people that don't like the way it looks. My guess is yes they are going to change the headlights/front bumper (more streamlined, no bulging) and probably put on a larger wing on the back.
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Old 12-12-2001, 01:06 AM   #13
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with the STi or UK300 headlights I think it looks pretty good. It sertainly has grown on me since I bought it

-anders
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Old 12-12-2001, 01:36 AM   #14
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Sounds like a pure facelift leaving the mechanicals untouched. There's been talk of this before, but this is the first time Prodrive has been rumoured to be involved. My knowledge of car manufacturing begins and ends with the tour of GM's Oshawa Ontario plant I took a few years ago, but I imagine it's not too hard to change the sheet metal on a car: a new machine here, a new press there and presto! one good looking Impreza.
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Old 12-12-2001, 02:33 AM   #15
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That's one of the cool things about the WRX. You can add a body kit or some other mod and it looks like a new car.
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Old 12-12-2001, 02:38 AM   #16
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what is the "greenhouse"?
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Old 12-12-2001, 03:29 AM   #17
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I think RBPWRX already fixxed it





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Old 12-12-2001, 03:37 AM   #18
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I never was sold on the styling until I got one (thats how it always works). Oh well, I guess will be able to call ourselves "oldschool WRX" owners.

Regan-
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Old 12-12-2001, 03:43 AM   #19
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it's windows and the roof
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Old 12-12-2001, 03:59 AM   #20
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lol "greenhouse" how about "backlight" or "DLO" or "IP"? Damn car designers and their terminology
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Old 12-12-2001, 05:54 AM   #21
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Hmm...why are other japanese companies making such ugly cars? Anyone else see the GT-R concept? Im sure it will get a redisign in no time.
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Old 12-12-2001, 09:13 AM   #22
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Quote:
And the WRX is at the height of its popularity within the states and Japan,... which are like the two main markets imho...
umm...we're not one of the bigger markets for the Impreza...sorry. And the sales in Japan are not close to par with sales in the past for the original Impreza.

And with all things said, if this is due for the 2003 model, we'd see it as a 2004...since ya know, we're the last to get everything
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Old 12-12-2001, 11:31 AM   #23
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Quote:
And the sales in Japan are not close to par with sales in the past for the original Impreza.
I would say that has more to do with the fact that it is slower and more expensive than the previous JDM WRX
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Old 12-12-2001, 12:07 PM   #24
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Well I'm still going to order my wrx this spring and be very happy to get into it in june.
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Old 12-12-2001, 03:44 PM   #25
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And here I thought that the new grille is an improvement already ...
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