Impreza wins Compact COTY

Media Information December 6, 2007

Impreza wins Compact COTY
The new Subaru Impreza has won the AMI NZ Autocar Magazine Compact Car of the Year award.

Competing in the biggest segment of the new car market, the symmetrical All Wheel Drive Impreza saw off challenges from the likes of the new Toyota Corolla as well as the Honda Civic, Ford Focus and Mazda 3.

The award was presented by John Balmforth, the CEO of AMI at a function hosted by NZ Autocar magazine and AMI.

“We are delighted that the Impreza has been won this prestigious award,” said Chris Rickards, the General Manager of Subaru of New Zealand.

“We have a very good package in the new Impreza thanks to the efforts of Subaru manufacturer, Fuji Heavy Industries in Japan.”

“It’s competitively priced from $26,990 while offering Vehicle Dynamics Control (electronic stability control) and All Wheel Drive on all models.”

Mr. Rickards said the maximum five star ANCAP crash test rating and four star pedestrian protection rating could not be underestimated either.

“I think we overlook the importance of All Wheel Drive, because we live with it every day” he said. “But it provides a solid foundation for the car’s active safety package and also a dynamic chassis which handles and holds the road very well.”

Subaru of New Zealand has had record sales of the Impreza since it was launched in mid-September, with the most popular model being the mid-range Impreza 2.0R Sport.

Slightly bigger than the car it replaces, the new Impreza offers more cabin room, a larger luggage space, while being more economical. “It’s a comfortable, economical car which performs extraordinarily well,” said Mr. Rickards.

Further details are also emerging about the Impreza WRX STI which will complete the Impreza model range when it is launched in January next year.

The STI will be available in two models, both with a 2.5 litre turbocharged motor with 221 kWs and 406 Nm of torque.

Until now the WRX STI has only been available with a two litre motor.

Pricing has not been finalized yet, but the standard model is expected to be under $60,000, while a higher specification car with Recaro seats and BBS 18 inch alloy wheels will probably be in the mid $60,000s range.

ENDS

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