The ultimate Subaru Impreza?  Brand hints at next-generation EV replacement for Hyundai i30, Toyota Corolla rival as brand moves to eight new electric vehicles by 2030 – Car News

The ultimate Subaru Impreza? Brand hints at next-generation EV replacement for Hyundai i30, Toyota Corolla rival as brand moves to eight new electric vehicles by 2030 – Car News


Subaru has just launched the new generation Impreza, with a slimmed-down rear deck as the subcompact market shrinks. Is this an early indicator that this could be the last?

Speaking to CarsGuide at the launch of the Solterra mid-size SUV, Subaru Australia Managing Director Blair Read weighed in, hinting that there could be changes in the future.

“The last impreza? It’s too early to make that call,” he said. “It’s a brand name. Is it likely to change in the near future? Absolutely. I think there will always be a place for that type of car in the market.”

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Read’s comments come as Subaru reaffirms its commitment to increasing battery electric vehicle production. By mid-2023, its new goal is to reach 50 percent of battery electric prices and 50 percent of hybrid and ICE sales by 2030, and it has promised to have eight new EVs on the market by that point.

Looking at the brand’s range which, domestically, has seven models including the BRZ and now the Solterra it’s developing with Toyota, leaves room for battery-electric versions of its entire base range.

A slide shown to the media in 2023 shows production lines in Japan switching to ‘domestic BEV production’ in 2025 with an additional ‘dedicated’ BEV line added around 2027, each with a production capacity of 200,000 units per year.

Subaru has just launched the new generation Impreza, with a slimmed-down rear deck as the subcompact market shrinks.

The ‘next-generation HEV’ also shown in this slide is expected to be the now-revealed Forester, which has been confirmed to use Toyota’s hybrid system to improve its fuel efficiency over the current e-Boxer hybrid, although Japanese media speculate that version of electricity may be next.

Read confirmed that a new Forester hybrid would arrive in 2025. His comments about the Impreza’s future ‘transformation’ seem to suggest that the Impreza may not be far behind.

At least for now, Subaru fans looking to get their hands on the hatchback needn’t worry, as Read also confirmed the Australian division will continue to supply the Impreza hatch from the Japanese factory for as long as it’s available.

The Impreza has been part of the Subaru range in Australia for over 30 years. The Impreza has been part of the Subaru range in Australia for over 30 years.

Additionally, for those hoping for more than the stripped-down three-wheeled version that the new generation launched with, Read confirmed that the brand was aiming to bring a sporty version, like the venerable Impreza seen at the country’s Tokyo Motor Show. early 2023.

“We’re always looking at that, where we might have an opportunity to add some variety to the lineup. We had the S Edition before and it went really well, so something in that space is always on our radar.”

The STI-tuned version shown in Tokyo may not have the limited WRX that some fans may be after, and changes are likely to be limited to cosmetic touches such as a body box, black wheels, a flared rear spoiler, with the biggest changes being the twins. rear exhaust.

Subaru has extensive plans to expand its EV production by 2030. Subaru has extensive plans to expand its EV production by 2030.

While the Impreza fleet imported from Australia only had one engine option, the 115kW/196Nm 2.0-litre boxer four-cylinder without turbo was mated to a CVT and all-wheel drive, another interesting exploration of the STI car shown in Tokyo. is the presence of ‘e-Boxer’ badges, suggesting it could be shipped with the 110-litre/196Nm 2.0-litre engine and 12kW/66Nm electric motor hybrid from the Crosstrek. The hybrid version of the Impreza is not currently available in Australia.

And Subaru promising four of its eight new electric vehicles by the end of 2026, we expect to learn more about its EV plans beyond the Solterra and the future of its long-running hits like the Impreza soon, so watch this space.