Subaru Impreza wagon returning

It's the Sportswagon, a value-added wagon that first hit the road in Australia in the early 1980s.  This time around it will be a tickle-up on the Impreza hatch with a pricetag just below $30,000.

The Impreza XV, as it is called, will be previewed at the Geneva Motor Show next month and looks basically similar to a car sold in the USA as the Outback Sport - even though it is based on the Impreza.

"The Sportswagon started in the early 1980s with the Leone. It was the original idea to transform a wagon into a lifestyle recreational vehicle.  In those early days we put things on it like white Sunraysia wheels, bullbars and roof racks," says Nick Senior, managing director of Subaru Australia.

"That crossed over with the L-Series in 1983 and went right through until Impreza was launched in 1993. Then we did a few years of Sportswagons on the Impreza hatch in LX all-wheel drive specification.    When the Forester arrived we phased it out."

But times have changed, and Senior says there is a gap in the Subaru line-up for something with a chunkier look to run below the Forester.  "Over time the Forester has obviously grown and we see an opportunity under the Forester for a lifestyle recreational vehicle. It's based on the Impreza hatch, with some extra versatility and extra ground clearance," Senior says.

"The XV is being shown at the Geneva Motor Show and we expect it early in quarter three."  The current car closest to the old Sportswagon is an Impreza in the USA called the Outback Sport - even though it's not an Outback.

It gets the familiar two-tonne paintwork which has been on the Sportswagon from the start, as well as raised suspension, a roof rack and heated front seats.  The XV will look significantly different from the American car, with a different treatment on the grille, sills and bumpers. The exact specification has not been set, but Senior sees a major opportunity.

"I think one of the most exciting things for us is that it will be marketed at a younger audience. It gives us the chance to speak to Gen- Y and do something a little bit different.  "We haven't had that opportunity in the past. We can have a bit of fun with this and learn."

The price will undercut the Forester and the XV is expected to account for around 10 per cent of Impreza sales in Australia.  "I think it's around about 100 a month. That's about 10 per cent of Impreza sales," Senior says.

"I think it will be largely incremental. There is always a bit of crossover, but of the 100 I would hope that 60-70 per cent are incremental."  Senior is expecting a big year for Subaru Australia after a major turnover of models in the second half of last year.

"We've got a full 12 months of Liberty and Outback, as well as diesel and Exiga. We have a Forester diesel to join us in June and the reaction to the Outback diesel has been fantastic."