Subaru Vortex Reviews

If it comes to fruition, the Suzuki SX4 Sport, as the road car might be called, would be a direct competitor for the new Subaru WRX, which has been a dominant force in the performance small car segment for years.But the new Rex (WRX) has lost its hard performance edge and is unlikely to appeal to its traditional audience. A Suzuki hot rod could be too tantalising for keen drivers looking for a Rex replacement.It would be made in Japan, have rally cred, look the business and carry the Suzuki name which has a lot of respect.And what would be really good for Suzuki is that Nobuhiro (Monster) Tajima, one of the most dominant drivers at the frightening Pikes Peak hill climb in the US, would have direct input into the road car.It would be a finely fettled device to be sure and would quite possibly rattle the cage of good, many so-called performance models.The WRC car, is due to embark soon on its initial foray into the title challenge, which has impressive specifications.It runs a 2.0-litre, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine delivering 235kW/590Nm output. That's equivalent to a good V8 in a small car weighing 1230kg. It has a five speed sequential manual transmission and a carbon clutch. Drive is to all wheels via an electronic centre differential.The suspension is by struts using high quality adjustable dampers and the brakes are 370mm discs on the front with eight piston calipers, 355mm at the rear with four piston calipers.It's a wild looking car with a huge multi-deck rear wing protruding from the rear screen and a low centre of gravity. The wheels are 18-inch diameter and carry Michelin tyres at present.Tajima has used expertise gleaned from Pikes Peak on the WRC car so it should be able to cut it right from the outset. Tajima has built up and stored a huge knowledge base over the years and refers to it for the correct set up when racing.Obviously, any road-going version of the car wouldn't be specified to this level but it is conceivable that the SX4 Sport would be good for 150-160kW, without too much trouble and would have running gear to match, which means big brakes, firm suspension and sporty dynamics.Suzuki execs go a little bit coy when potential specification of an SX4 Sport is mentioned. They throw back the line of being more concerned about carbon dioxide emissions than sports performance. But pressure is building from many quarters within the Suzuki world, to leverage the company's involvement in motor sport and the World Rally Championship by building a road car.Otherwise, what is the point of competing?An SX4 would need to sell in the $40,000 range to be competitive and be specified to a reasonable level of luxury and safety, all of which is available from the Suzuki parts bin.Tajima would be able to tell Suzuki how to calibrate pretty well the entire car for road use while retaining a sporty flavour.The current SX4 all-wheel drive is a handy car, but lacks a hero model in the range to attract performance car buyers to Suzuki. That's where the SX4 Sport comes into the picture.It's all hypothetical right now but entirely do-able by Suzuki. Here's hoping. 

So which carmaker is the world's cleanest? Not sure? Well, an independent survey released last week has found that BMW has most improved its average fuel efficiency and CO2 emission rate. Indeed, it's done so to an extent which will embarrass other carmakers.The study, began from 1990-2005 by Environmental Defense, a US-based non-profit environmental advocacy group, which shows BMW has improved fuel economy by 14 per cent and carbon emissions by 12.3 per cent.The next best reduction was Toyota's 3 per cent. The C02 performance of every other leading carmaker deteriorated.BMW has made much of the fact that the report covers a period when its US sales increased fourfold.The Americans, of course, buy more big X5 SUVs than the rest of the world combined. The report, Automakers' Corporate Carbon Burdens, studied the impact of 12 major carmakers' product strategies on fuel efficiency and overall automotive carbon emissions.BMW improved fuel economy on several key models, including the 3 Series, 5 Series, 7Series, Z4 M Coupe, M5 Sedan and X5 SUV. Of course, the group's Mini Cooper accounted for almost half of BMW's overall fuel economy improvements.BMW Australia spokesman Toni Andreevski says the group has made further substantial improvements to fuel consumption and emissions since the end of the survey period.“Already in 2007, one-third of new BMWs sold in Europe have a CO2 rating of no more than 140g per kilometre,” he says. “Basically it is a great result that shows that we can continue to optimise current engines. It also shows petrol and diesel engines that outperform existing hybrid technology at comparable costs.”With its latest diesel and lean-burn direct-injection petrol engines, (the latter is no good for Australia because of the high sulphur content of our petrol) BMW has taken its own hybrid direction. This week at the Frankfurt motor show, it showcased its new dual-mode hybrid that returns a claimed 20 per cent economy improvement on the highway and in town.BMW's other more vaunted green gambit is the Hydrogen 7, the first hydrogen-powered luxury sedan. Driven in Germany last year by carsguide, the Hydrogen 7 emits primarily vapour when running on a non-petrol engine.Toyota rated second best, reducing CO2 3 per cent overall, a result in part due to its introduction of the Prius hybrid, but mainly to improvements made to the best-selling Corolla.The report also rated the overall 'carbon burden' that carmakers placed on the environment, derived from factors including vehicle emissions and the number sold. GM came out on top, with a 6.5per cent reduction in overall carbon burden, though its carbon emissions rose by 3 per cent. Toyota, while low in CO2, grew its carbon burden by 125 per cent because of an increase in overall sales. Snapshot: Carbon savings BMW: reduced 12.3 per centToyota: reduced 3 per centVolkswagen: up 1.3 per centSubaru: up 1.6 per centGeneral Motors: up 3per centMitsubishi: up 4 per centHonda: up 4.4 per centFord: up 4.7 per centDaimlerChrysler: up 4.8 per centNissan: up 9.2 per centHyundai: up 17 per centKia: up 30 per cent Source: US Environmental Defense group 

The days of the hot-rod WRX are over. The turbo tearaway has been tamed as part of a complete model change for the Subaru Impreza that emphasises refinement, value and safety.The new Impreza is still fun, and the WRX can still hustle, but this is a more grown-up, compact car than anything Subaru has produced.It reflects new thinking, a new customer target and a confidence that has been built on the Euro-Japanese approach to car design and development. It has already worked with the Liberty.You only have to shut the doors for the first time to hear the change from tin-can carmaking to something much more substantial.The Impreza is not cheap it's $24,490 to $39,990, but it has a far better chance of luring people and keeping them.And there is great news for fans of all-wheel-drive performance; the coming Impreza STi will be wild and fast. The styling will be a direct steal from Subaru's coming World Rally Car, right down to the flared guards and large wings. The engine and gearbox will be more responsive.The upscale STi is one of the reasons for the stealthy new WRX, but it also reflects a change in Impreza thinking.The car moves up and away, leaving the regular Impreza models, including the WRX, to get down to business.“It's an exciting opportunity for us. It's a vehicle that ticks all the boxes,” Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior says. “We believe we can redefine and reshape the small-car class in Australia.”That's unlikely. Subaru will be selling about 1000 Imprezas a month; Toyota is selling more than 4000 with its latest Corolla.But Subaru is touting five-star safety, improved economy, reduced weight and better value for the Impreza. And it is aiming at the class leaders, including the Corolla, Mazda3 and Honda Civic.“We believe, for the first time, we can go head to head on any details,” Senior says.The Impreza will be sold only as a hatch, at least for a year, as Subaru emphasises a single body style.The styling has all sorts of hints but is closest to the BMW 1-Series, particularly from the side.But some things, such as the 2-litre flat-four engine, are Subaru. It is now revised with more technology, 20 per cent more power and 7 per cent more torque — and the all-wheel-drive system in every car.The model lineup is R, RX, RS and WRX. Changes run to a body that is shorter, taller and wider, but a substantially bigger cabin.There are framed doors for the first time on an Impreza, double-wishbone rear suspension, upgraded seats and trim, better cabin insulation and isolation, and a height-reach adjustable steering column.Subaru gets a five-star ANCAP rating for standard electronic stability program, anti-skid brakes and six airbags. It also rates highly for pedestrian protection.The Impreza is also lighter, at a time when most all-new cars are heavier. The company claims better fuel efficiency for all models.But there are shortcomings; a four-speed auto, a shift back to a five-speed manual in the WRX, the missing Impreza sedan, and the lack of a local on-sale date for the coming diesel engine.Still, Subaru is even touting the new Impreza as a rival to the VW Golf, as well as a safety-first car that is a better deal than the cars that won Volvo its safety-first following. On the roadThe new Impreza is impressive to drive. It feels more solid and substantial than the previous model. The engine is smoother and more responsive. And the car has more space and is more refined.The WRX is not as punchy or memorable, but that should make the STi special.Subaru Australia wants to net older businessmen with the new WRX. They will not miss the whistling and boofing from the turbo system or the trousers-down body bits.Subaru previewed the new Impreza models over testing roads near Byron Bay. They would have had the previous model bucking and banging and rattling and crashing even at touring speeds.The new cars, from the R through to the WRX, are more composed and quieter. They are significantly nicer to drive and nowhere near as tiring or demanding.The seats still do not have enough shape or support. The auto needs an extra gear. The centre console looks cheap and under-done. And you cannot pick the WRX from the rear until you get close enough to read the badge.A rear luggage cover on one of the test cars was ripped, a quality flaw that was reported to Japan for an investigation and fix.But the positives are extensive, starting with the solid feel of the doors, the extra cabin and boot space, and a dash that is more elegant and looks less like a sub-$20,000 cheapie.It is a common theme. The Impreza has been upscaled in every area to run with the Corolla, Mazda3 and Civic crowd, and you can see, hear and feel the differences.The ride is smoother. It has more travel and better control. The cornering grip is good. There is more response as you turn into corners.The brakes are fine and there is no reason to doubt Subaru's claims on the safety front.The updated engines feel a little smoother with more urge, and the WRX gets along nicely with more boost and response from lower revs.The new Impreza is a landmark car in most areas.And the WRX is far less boy-racer and more likely to bring a high-profit sales boost from older buyers who may be jumping out of a fast Ford or Holden.

A late call on a new Impreza sedan could have cost Subaru Australia another showroom record this year.The new Impreza hatch has just landed, with more models on the way, but short supplies from Japan will limit the number of cars Subaru can deliver to the end of the year.The sedan will boost Impreza sales by about 200 cars a month, from a hatch estimate of 1000 cars a month. But it will not join the local line-up until the third quarter next year.It is lagging behind the hatch because the car was originally developed for the US and it took time for Australia to make a business case.Before then, Subaru will also have a facelifted Tribeca people mover, a new Forester and the high-performance Impreza STi. An Impreza diesel is also on the way.So the head of Subaru Australia, Nick Senior, believes he will not have enough cars to claw back lost ground this year.Sales are up but the 3 per cent improvement trails in an industry that has grown by more than 9 per cent to the end of August.“We'll struggle to do another record this year, to be honest. We cannot get enough cars,” Senior says. “There is simply not enough time. We're expecting some solid months to the end of the year, but we won't claw it all back.”He believes the safer new Impreza will be a hit but admits the plan has changed following the late development of the four-door sedan.“The intention with the new Impreza was to have one variation globally and that was the hatch,” he says. “Relatively late, the US decided that to maximise the potential of the car in their market they would like a sedan.“When the decision was made to build a sedan for the US we were asked if we had an interest, so we researched the potential. We thought we could add some incremental sales, but the timing meant we would have to wait 12 months.“There will only be the North American market and Australia having both hatch and sedan. But in the past we've had a foot in both camps, with half a wagon and half a hatch.”He believes Australian buyers could take up to 350 sedans a month but, with some hatch substitution, is aiming for total Impreza sales of about 1200 cars. That would make it the company's No.1, ahead of the chunky Forester.But that could change with the arrival of the new Forester early next year. 

The wide-eyed French wonder has a hybrid HDi drivetrain from which Citroen claims fuel consumption of just 3.4L/100km.As well as saving fuel, the concept aims to cutback on resources used in its construction. The cabin is made up of just over 200 parts, which Citroen says is about half the usual number. Peugeot's sleek 308RCZ concept gives a big nod towards a future body style for the 308 family.The ultra-light 2+2 coupe uses aluminium, polycarbonate windows and carbon-fibre body parts and is powered by a 160kW 1.6-litre twin-scroll turbo jointly developed by PSA Peugeot Citroen and BMW.Mitsubishi will unveil its Concept-cX compact SUV at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Concept-cX uses interior trim materials made from bamboo and other plant-based resins.The concept is powered by a new high-output, high-efficiency 1.8-litre diesel engine, featuring a variable geometry turbocharger for optimum boost control and a diesel oxidation catalyst with diesel particulate filter, and Mitsubishi's new twin-clutch sport-shift transmission which will be a key element in the Lancer Evo X.GM will show environmentally-conscious concepts at Frankfurt, including the HydroGen4 fuel-cell car, the Volt all-electric car and further adaptions of its EcoFlex technology.The HydroGen4 produces an electrical output of up to 93kW backed by a 73kW electric motor.GM claims it can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 12 seconds and has a top speed of about 160km/h. It will also show off its E-Flex strategy, which combines various fuel-efficient propulsion systems in the same vehicle shape and design to suit local demands, in an Opel Corsa small car.Of the production cars being launched at the show, the Mini Clubman wagon is likely to rate highly. The five-door model has double rear doors and a suicide door on the driver's side. The suicide door, which is rear-hinged, is designed to allow passengers easier access to the back.Renault will also show a mini wagon with its Clio Sport Tourer, due to go on sale in Europe early next year.Halfway between concept and reality is the 2008 World Rally Car concept from Subaru.It is both a pointer to what the next WRC will be like and an insight into how the new WRX STI, which will go on sale in Australia early next year, will look. 

The move, which is likely to cause a strong reaction among some new car manufacturers and importers, was announced this week by Australasian New Car Assessment Program chairman Lachlan McIntosh.

Subaru revealed its new Impreza range at picturesque Byron Bay today. The rolling green hills of the country’s most easterly point was an apt setting for the new look Impreza, where traditional buzzwords like ‘muscle’, ‘aggression’ and ‘performance’ made way for more refined variants like ‘elegance’, ‘cosmopolitan’, ‘sophistication’ and ‘safety’.The range will debut at this year's Australian International Motor Show in Sydney in October.Subaru is offering four Imprezas: R, RX, RS, plus the turbocharged WRX manual.The roomiest ever Impreza is launched as a five-door hatch, with a four door sedan expected to arrive in Australia around this time next year.Subaru is trying to steer away from WRX as the ‘hero’ model and has instead focused more on the mainstream Impreza versions, in a bid to attract a more diverse consumer base.In his launch speech, Subaru managing Director Nick Senior said: “..While the emotion and headlines for this new Impreza may well centre around the WRX version, it is the normally-aspirated models that provide us with our greatest opportunity.“To be able to sell a $24,490 vehicle with five star safety, four star pedestrian safety, all-wheel drive, anti-lock braking system, Vehicle Dynamics Control, 2-litre double overhead cam engine, air conditioning, six airbags, cruise control and the rest of the equipment …is exciting for the brand.” said Senior.Subaru is highlighting the new range’s safety credentials — the new, lighter and stronger Impreza has as a five-star ANCAP rating for occupant safety, giving it one of the strongest safety stories in its class.“Undeniably we have the high ground in the small car sector when it comes to total safety,” Senior claimed.Senior said key structural points on all Imprezas are now reinforced by high tension steel, which has increased rigidity and ride comfort. Subaru claims improvements have been achieved with Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH) in all Imprezas.The new-generation Impreza comes in normally-aspirated and turbo charged variants. The new double overhead camshaft provides improvements in power (more than 20%) and torque (more than 7%) over the SOHC engine used in the superseded 2.0i and RV. Compared with previous models, the turbo-charged engine delivers smoother torque from lower revs.As usual, All Wheel Drive is a standard feature. Improved ride comfort and more interior and cargo space are the result of a longer wheelbase and new double-wishbone suspension.Aesthetically, the sophisticated new style is an obvious change from earlier models.The new shape has sparked debate among WRX purists, who claim the rounder, softer Impreza is too bland.The MY08 Impreza hatchback is slightly taller and shorter, emphasised by a distinctive shoulder line that carries through to the front end for a more integrated feel.Clear headlight lenses and rear LED lights with metallic highlights distinguish the premium look. The change is consistent, not only outside but also throughout the interior of the vehicle.The sweeping twin-cockpit design offers greater head and shoulder room, and the use of plastics and other materials throughout the cabin is offset by aluminium-style highlights, across the range.Subaru Impreza starts at $24,440 for the R model, through to $39,990 for the WRX.

In a move that promises to benchmark small car safety standards for the next decade Subaru has claimed the moral high ground with its new Impreza. The all-new car will come standard across the range with electronic stability control, all-wheel-drive, a full suite of airbags and maximum five-star crash and four-star pedestrian safety ratings, a first for any car in Australia.“Undeniably, we have the high ground in the small car sector when it comes to total safety,” Subaru general manager Nick Senior says.“This will redefine the small car in Australia. That is a big statement, but no longer will small car buyers be disenfranchised from safety.”Impreza is only the second car (after the $100,000 Citroen C6) to earn five-star crash safety and four-star pedestrian safety, both maximum ratings. “It is certainly the only car to test in Australia to this level,” Senior says.The decision to include a stability system in every car and absorb the cost, the new Impreza entry level model at $24,490 is just $50 dearer than the equivalent outgoing model, which is as daring as the company's move almost a decade ago to sell only AWD models.Senior says that from the time the decision was made to maximise safety in the Impreza, there was never any suggestion of holding anything back for the premium models.“Safety was non-negotiable,” he says. “There are other features and styling that can be included for higher-specified models. Safety was something we were going to deliver to every buyer. This will be the first time in the small car segment that there will be VDC (vehicle dynamic control) in every model, not just the more expensive variants in the category.”The Impreza will launch as a five-speed manual hatch only in four specification levels, the R ($24,490), RX ($26,490 — $450 less than the current model), RS ($29,490 — $950 less) and WRX ($39,990 — $450 less). The optional four-speed automatic will add $2000.The red-hot STi will join the garage early next year with the sedan version of the new car available about the middle of next year.The R, RX and RS will come standard with the normally aspirated 2.0-litre DOHC engine with 110kw of power and 196Nm of torque.Subaru claims improved fuel consumption on 95 RON but says the engine also operates on 90 RON fuel without issue.The entry-level R will have front, side and side curtain airbags, full-time symmetrical AWD, VDC stability control, ABS with EBD, brake assist, 16-inch steel wheels, telescopic and height adjustable steering, air conditioning, cruise control, power windows and mirrors and a single CD, MP3/iPod compatible four-speaker stereo.The RX adds 16-inch alloys, fog lights, six- stack in-dash CD player with MP3 and iPod compatibility, 10 speakers, audio controls on the steering wheel and climate control.The sportier RS has 17-inch alloys, body kit, mesh grille, privacy glass, sport seats and trim.Across the range, a fully integrated touch screen satellite navigation and DVD entertainment system with Bluetooth compatibility is $2990.The WRX steps up to a turbocharged 2.5 litre engine with 169kW and 320Nm, specific 17-inch alloys, high intensity discharge headlights, electroluminescent gauges and a security system as effective (but far more user-friendly) than the outgoing model's number pad. In the new car the pad still exists but is tucked neatly out of sight and with programmed security is not needed each time the car is started.“For the first time we can go head-to-head on detail with anyone in the small car market,” Senior says. “The WRX may be the emotional and headline story but it is the naturally aspirated model that presents us with the greatest opportunity, younger customers, more female customers and new customers.”Subaru is confident of supplying 1000 cars a month, increasing to 1200 a month when the sedan joins the model range next year. On the road'It's soft; it's lost its distinctive look; it's become just one of the crowd...' observations of the new WRX question what Subaru has done to the turbo titan. All have some validity but the biggest question of all is, how does it drive?There are plenty out there who like their performance cars to live on the edge, screwed down suspension that rattles your teeth and power delivery that is raw and nasty.They were the characteristics that won the original WRX its outlaw following more than a decade ago when it burst on to the affordable performance scene, somewhat unfortunately, as the ram-raider's car of choice.If you are set in your ways, then the new WRX is going to disappoint you. It is, in its own little way, quite refined. The exterior is certainly more mainstream with softer lines. There are times it looks distinctly European, at others there is a hint of Korean.Inside the cabin, however, is where the philosophy really shifts gear. Gone is the workbench look of the previous models. Where once flat surfaces dominated there are curves and softness. Just the ticket for a car that is actively courting female white-collar shoppers.The plastics are still hard and the materials still speak of cost awareness, but the styling is designer chic. Does this come at the expense of performance? In a word, no.Indeed the new WRX is more useable, more stable and considerably quicker point-to-point than the outgoing model.Overall the car is slightly bigger, the suspension a little more compliant and the output from the 2.5-litre turbocharged flat four stays the same at 169kW. The additional advantage of a marginal increase in torque, some 5 per cent pales beside the huge benefits of that torque arriving earlier and sticking around longer. Most of the 320Nm of urge is on tap from as low as 1500rpm right through to 3600rpm.The wider, earlier torque band equates to a claimed 0.1sec improvement in the sprint to 100km/h, now a claimed 5.8 seconds. In real world terms the benefit is that the WRX still has the ability to jump when called on but with less need to frantically shuffle the five-speed box.Subaru declined the six-speed manual for the WRX, saving 20kg on weight and claiming a better ratio fit from the five-speeder.The gains from the engineering changes can be felt from the driver's seat. Ride quality improvement is immediately evident as are improvements in noise, vibration and harshness.A redesigned double wishbone rear-end and slightly (5mm) lower centre of gravity give the car better mid-corner stability and grip, most noticeably by not needing to take a second bite at the steering when getting back on the power.Subaru Australia technical services manager Derk Ashby says the new dynamic chassis control concept provides for a highly rigid platform on which to base a more compliant and flexible suspension package.“This intelligent suspension control system provides for even higher levels of grip, steering response and vehicle stability ... at the same time (delivering) vastly improved levels of ride comfort with much lower levels of shake, bounce and impact harshness,” Ashby says.The company is also claiming a slightly improved fuel consumption from the WRX, about 2 per cent but more from the 2.0-litre models with improvements up to 0.5L per 100km.

Subaru revealed its new Impreza range at picturesque Byron Bay. The rolling green hills of the country’s most easterly point was an apt setting for the new look Impreza, where traditional buzzwords like ‘muscle’, ‘aggression’ and ‘performance’ made way for more refined variants like ‘elegance’, ‘cosmopolitan’, ‘sophistication’ and ‘safety’. The range will be unveiled to the public at the 2007Australian International Motor Show in Sydney in October. Subaru is offering four Imprezas: R, RX, RS, plus the turbocharged WRX manual. The roomiest ever Impreza is launched as a five-door hatch, with a four door sedan expected to arrive in Australia around October 2008. Subaru is trying to steer away from WRX as the ‘hero’ model and has instead focused more on the mainstream Impreza versions, in a bid to attract a more diverse consumer base. In his launch speech, Subaru managing Director Nick Senior said: “..While the emotion and headlines for this new Impreza may well centre around the WRX version, it is the normally-aspirated models that provide us with our greatest opportunity. “To be able to sell a $24,490 vehicle with five star safety, four star pedestrian safety, all-wheel drive, anti-lock braking system, Vehicle Dynamics Control, 2-litre double overhead cam engine, air conditioning, six airbags, cruise control and the rest of the equipment …is exciting for the brand.” said Senior. Subaru is highlighting the new range’s safety credentials — the new, lighter and stronger Impreza has as a five-star ANCAP rating for occupant safety, giving it one of the strongest safety stories in its class. “Undeniably we have the high ground in the small car sector when it comes to total safety,” Senior claimed. Senior said key structural points on all Imprezas are now reinforced by high tension steel, which has increased rigidity and ride comfort. Subaru claims improvements have been achieved with Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH) in all Imprezas. The new-generation Impreza comes in normally-aspirated and turbo charged variants. The new double overhead camshaft provides improvements in power (more than 20%) and torque (more than 7%) over the SOHC engine used in the superseded 2.0i and RV. Compared with previous models, the turbo-charged engine delivers smoother torque from lower revs. As usual, All Wheel Drive is a standard feature. Improved ride comfort and more interior and cargo space are the result of a longer wheelbase and new double-wishbone suspension. Aesthetically, the sophisticated new style is an obvious change from earlier models. The new shape has sparked debate among WRX purists, who claim the rounder, softer Impreza is too bland. The MY08 Impreza hatchback is slightly taller and shorter, emphasised by a distinctive shoulder line that carries through to the front end for a more integrated feel. Clear headlight lenses and rear LED lights with metallic highlights distinguish the premium look. The change is consistent, not only outside but also throughout the interior of the vehicle. The sweeping twin-cockpit design offers greater head and shoulder room, and the use of plastics and other materials throughout the cabin is offset by aluminium-style highlights, across the range. Subaru Impreza starts at $24,440 for the R model, through to $39,990 for the WRX.  

The ratings, given by the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), measure the safety of various aspects of a car based on crash tests.The car received a rating of five out of five stars for occupant safety and four out of four stars for pedestrian impact safety.Besides being the first tested in Australia, the Impreza is also the second car worldwide to achieve the double top-star rating.The Impreza now joins stablemates, Liberty, Outback, Tribeca and the All-Wheel Drive Forester with ANCAP’s highest possible occupant safety star rating.Subaru Managing Director Nick Senior said: “Safety is a major consideration during the vehicle purchase.“This should be a major influencer for not only private buyers, but government and statutory authorities.”During the ANCAP process, Subaru volunteered the Impreza for optional pole testing, where it achieved a rating of two out of two. A pole test is where the car travels sideways at 29 km/h, striking a round pole lined up with the driver’s head. This measures the effectiveness of head protecting side airbags and can result in extra points being scored.• Offset test: 14.93 (out of 16)• Side impact test: 15.73 (out of 16)• Pole test: 2 (out of 2)• Seat belt warnings: 2 (out of 3)Total = 34.66 (out of a possible 37)Pedestrian test: 27.76 (out of 36)Across the whole Subaru range, not just for the Impreza, all safety features described below are divided into active and passive categories.Active safety systems include constant All-Wheel Drive, anti-lock brakes, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution which improves rear braking and Vehicle Dynamics Control(VDC).VDC monitors vehicle stability and makes appropriate adjustments to the car’s suspension and handling. In extreme cases like swerving or entering a spin, VDC controls each wheel individually via braking, engine output, and the All-Wheel Drive system.Passive safety features includedual front and side SRS airbags, front seatbelt pretentioners, Automatic Emergency Locking Retractors(A/ELR), steering wheel impact minimisation, reinforced door beams and strengthened side frames, and safety pedals.The ANCAP five-star success began for Subaru in 2003 with the Forester XS Luxury pack and they have since achieved the prestigious rating across the range every year up to 2007 with the new Impreza.“Safety has been a long-term commitment for Subaru and we’re delighted to gain five stars for every car in the range. Said Senior.“It is now undeniable that we are producing some of the safest vehicles in the world.”