Subaru Impreza STi.
The sales team at Subaru Australia has a sharp pencil.
It was put to use last week for the pricing of the new Impreza STi (right), which is going to put huge pressure on the new Mitsubishi Evo X with its predicted pricing in the $70,000 range.
Subaru has pencilled in a bottom line of $59,990 for its new pocket rocket, with a fully loaded Spec.R model from $64,990 to still undercut the expecting starting money for the X-car.
The dollar deal was announced by the head of Subaru Australia, Nick Senior, on an action-packed first day at the Brisbane Motor Show.
The Queensland event is nowhere near as frantic as the Melbourne show, which opens on the last day of this month, but still there were close to a dozen new arrivals, including a preview of the new Audi A4 and another appearance by the Commodore Sportwagon.
Kia had a new people mover, Volkswagen showed the hot R36 version of the Passat and the new R50 Touareg, and there was a bunch of new motorcycles.
Saab announced it has moved its ethanol plan up a gear with a tie-up to United Petroleum to begin the Australian roll-out of E85 ethanol fuel, which can be used across its range.
And there was more as the industry picks up the pace after the usual holiday snooze and the emphasis on dollar-driven deals to clear 2007-built stocks.
Things promise to be even more frantic and exciting at the Melbourne Motor Show. Volkswagen confirmed this week it will have a production Tiguan four-wheel drive, Audi promises a peek at its future baby all-wheel drive and Fiat is already fielding calls about the first public appearance of the baby 500.
Check out our Subaru WRX STi section here.
