Subaru’s XV Concept attracted plenty of attention, but it’s the new Impreza that’s of more significance for Australians, and the announcement of Subaru’s EyeSight crash-avoidance technology being available soon in Australia is exciting.
With its largest-ever Australian motor show presence, Subaru is pushing its commitment to safety, style, performance, fun and recreation.
In line with Subaru’s All 4 the Driver customer promise, AIMS is the first show worldwide to display the exciting XV Concept and new generation Impreza at one location.
XV Concept points to a possible new generation sub-compact Sports Utility Vehicle.
AIMS is also the worldwide debut for right-hand drive new generation Impreza, displayed in Melbourne in both sedan and hatch models.
Other Subaru technologies on display at AIMS include the latest generation horizontally opposed Boxer engine and Lineartronic™Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).
Nick Senior, Managing Director, Subaru Australia said: “We’re delighted to have so many examples of great Subaru design and technology on display in Melbourne.
“We have our largest Australian motor show stand to date and it’s a great opportunity to share this exciting preview of our future, plus our current All-Wheel Drive range.
“Both XV Concept and our fourth generation Impreza have been warmly received overseas and we’re grateful that Fuji Heavy Industries has chosen Australia as the first destination where they can be seen in the one location.
“XV Concept could have huge potential if it were to become a reality. Firstly Outback, then Forester, proved Subaru’s ability as a pioneer in the SUV market. XV Concept could well offer similar success, with a different, bold approach to the sub-compact SUV arena.”
He added: “New generation Impreza is already drawing significant customer enquiry and is likely to generate even more interest in Australia thanks to its headlining status at the show.
“Like Impreza, the EyeSight™ safety system will also be launched locally, with Australia the first overseas market outside Japan.
“Some aspects of this technology are currently only available in cars costing around four times what we anticipate.
“It’s again going to highlight Subaru’s long-term safety commitment, which includes a five star rating for occupant safety for every car in our range from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).”
New Generation Impreza
Subaru’s next-generation Impreza features a dynamic, stylish new look, major technical innovations, massive fuel efficiency gains and refined cabins featuring classy soft touch finishes and computerised information displays.
The keenly anticipated symmetrical All-Wheel Drive Imprezas boast huge fuel efficiency gains from the all-new 2.0 litre horizontally opposed Boxer engine.
New Impreza offers significantly improved cabin space – cleverly designed within the same exterior dimensions as the superseded car. It has a longer wheelbase, but shorter overhangs.
For the first time, Impreza will offer a Lineartronic™ Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) in addition to a refined six-speed manual.
The pictures alone reveal that the new Impreza features a bolder, more confident design that emphasizes its sporty roots and safety-enhancing All-Wheel Drive performance. In profile, Impreza displays powerful wheel arches that draw on the design theme warmly received in last year’s Impreza concept car.
Sharply sculpted character lines enhance the way light and shade play on the design. The sleek silhouette incorporates a larger cabin glass area, which also aids visibility - a Subaru design priority. The hexagonal grille, now a keynote feature of all new Subaru designs, features a honeycomb pattern, accentuated by the hawk-eye headlights.
Impreza debuts all-new wheel designs, highlighting the car’s high-tech, sporty and fun nature. Numerous exterior and interior design elements combine to give Impreza a sportier stance, while also offering the driver and passengers a more commanding, confident road view.
Inside, the windscreen is more raked than previously, with the base of the A-pillar moved 200mm forward. This enables a front door opening nearly 127mm wider, for easier entry/exit, aided by doorsills that are 20mm lower than before. Rear doors are also larger in both body styles.
To maximize driver visibility when cornering, Impreza features thinner A-pillars and partitioned front door glass. This allows for a slimmer secondary pillar – and therefore better visibility – compared to other cars using a “pulled-forward” windscreen design and thicker secondary pillars.
The top-of-door interior trim is 60mm lower. These elements contribute to better visibility, which is also enhanced by a 10mm higher front hip point and a 20mm higher rear hip point for occupants.
The instrument panel is lower and flatter than before, resulting in a wider field of vision and a feeling of greater spaciousness. Exterior wing mirrors with 23 per cent more surface area enhance visibility and driving safety. Relocating the mirrors from the A-pillars to the doors contributes to improved sight lines.
The 2012 Impreza is powered by an all-new 2.0-litre four-cylinder horizontally opposed Boxer engine, with the choice of either a six-speed manual transmission or the new Lineartronic CVT. With either transmission, the 2012 Impreza delivers significantly higher fuel efficiency than the car it replaces.
However, new Impreza has not yet been tested to Australian Design Rules, so no local figures are yet available.
The new engine produces 110kW and 196Nm and is expected to be quicker than the previous generation. Subaru’s new engine family, which debuted in the 2011 Forester in 2.5-litre form, uses a double overhead-cam design.
Impreza employs a more efficient exhaust system that allows an optimized catalyst placement for faster heat-up, to reduce emissions immediately after engine start-up. The new-generation Boxer features a longer stroke to maximize low- and mid-range torque, as well as producing environmental benefits. It is even more responsive, especially when equipped with the new Lineartronic CVT.
Subaru first introduced its Lineartronic CVT in the 2010 Liberty and Outback models, and now the 2012 Impreza debuts a lighter, quieter and more compact version that delivers both enhanced driving performance and environmental friendliness.
Unlike a conventional automatic transmission, which uses fixed gear ratios, the CVT provides infinite variability between the highest and lowest available ratios, with, allegedly, no discernable steps or shifts. The lighter, more compact CVT constantly and smoothly adapts to performance demand, helping to keep the engine in its most efficient operating range.
Premium Impreza models with the CVT also feature a six-speed manual mode with steering wheel paddle shifters, allowing the driver to control the transmission via six pre-set ratios.
The driver can engage manual mode with the shift lever or, when in “D” mode, temporarily access manual mode by operating an up or downshift shift paddle. In that instance, the transmission will return to automatic mode once the vehicle is travelling at a constant speed.
EYESIGHT™
Subaru will launch its third-generation safety system, EyeSightTM, in Australia in the near future, becoming the first overseas market for the advanced technology, which has already achieved major sales success in Japan. NRMA DriverSeat has tested the system already, and compiled a video on it, which can be viewed at its YouTube channel: http://youtu.be/3velBcv0Ckk
EyeSight™ uses minute stereo cameras located in a single compact unit near the rear-view mirror, to recognise a variety of potential road hazards and alert the driver.
EyeSightTM is a driver assistance system combining active, passive and preventative safety technologies.
The system underlines Subaru’s long-term safety commitment, which includes independent five-star ratings for occupant safety across its entire range, from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).
EyeSightTM has been extensively tested locally for the last 12 months by engineers from both Subaru Australia and Fuji Heavy Industries, the maker of Subaru vehicles.
The system includes seven key functions:
- Pre-Crash Braking – applies the brakes when a vehicle ahead is detected slowing or stopping suddenly (and the driver has failed to apply the brakes).
- Pre-Crash Brake Assist – if the system determines that a collision is highly likely and the driver applies the brakes, the system can generate 1G maximum deceleration to help reduce impact or damage.
- Progressive Start Control – if a driver accidentally applies full throttle close to a barrier or large object situated in front of the car (such as a car park wall or vehicle immediately ahead at close range), EyeSightTM inhibits the throttle opening, helping minimise or potentially avoid impact. This will also assist in helping to reduce impacts in situations when ‘Drive’ is accidentally selected instead of ‘Reverse.’
- Adaptive Cruise Control – is designed to maintain a safe distance from the ‘target’ car in front irrespective of the varying speed of that vehicle.
- Lane Departure Warning - alerts the driver if the system determines that the car is drifting across clearly marked lanes.
- Vehicle Sway Warning - alerts the driver if the car starts to sway from one side of the road to another, which may occur with fatigue.
- Progressive Motion Monitor - when the EyeSightTM-equipped vehicle is stopped and the vehicle in front starts to move, the driver receives an audible reminder and information display indicator notifying them that the vehicle in front has moved.
EyeSightTM is designed to actively assist drivers in avoiding frontal collisions, lane drifting and low speed impacts. It can ‘lock on’ to vehicles directly in front and, when used together with adaptive cruise control, can slow, stop and accelerate to maintain a safe distance.
EyeSightTM can also recognise pedestrians, motorcycles and cyclists within its field of vision. Depending on conditions, EyeSightTM can use pre-crash braking helping to minimise any impact and damage. If the speed is less than 30 km/h, the car may be brought to a complete stop prior to impact.
