2008 Subaru Impreza WRX at Inside Line

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2008 Subaru Impreza WRX

Courting mainstream buyers has led Subaru to focus its engineering resources on improved packaging and build quality for the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX. Instead of higher-horsepower engines and more complex transmissions, this Impreza lineup features more spacious, higher-quality interiors powered by carryover engines hooked to four- and five-speed transmissions.

Most of the extra interior room comes from a wheelbase that's 3.7 inches longer. There is also an extra 2 inches of living space between the doors, although the exterior width is unchanged. The hatchback is 1.7 inches shorter in overall length than the wagon it replaces, while the sedan measures 4.9 inches longer than its predecessor. Both are expected to arrive with fractionally reduced curb weights.

A tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel makes getting comfortable in the driver seat easier than before. We also sat in the backseat of the hatchback with the driver seat adjusted for a 6-footer. There's plenty of knee and toe room to sit comfortably, but it's the increased headroom that really makes this Impreza feel bigger inside.

Higher-quality materials are used throughout, and the overall dash design is similar to the good-looking layout in the Tribeca. It's a relatively simple setup that maintains the Impreza's standard three-dial climate-control arrangement and clear analog dials. A navigation system finally makes its way onto the options sheet of the WRX, along with Subaru's electronic stability control system.

In addition to the extra passenger room, a new double-wishbone rear suspension helps clear some room in the cargo area, too. Open up the hatch and the suspension struts no longer poke their way into the available loading space. The sedan's trunk is positively huge for a midsize four-door, although Subaru didn't give us any hard numbers. The front suspension is an almost direct carryover from the current Legacy setup. Standard Imprezas will get 16-inch wheels, while the higher-performance WRX models will get 17-inch wheels with 205/50R17 Bridgestone RE92A tires at each corner.

Enthusiasts hoping to see big power gains will be disappointed. Both the base model Impreza and the more powerful Impreza WRX models will use carryover engines with minimal upgrades. The turbocharged 2.5-liter engine in the WRX will continue with roughly 225 horsepower and 226 pound-feet of torque, but more of that torque will arrive earlier. A five-speed manual remains the standard transmission and a four-speed automatic is optional. Subaru says it wanted to maintain reliability and reduce weight, but we've heard production capacities are the real reason for not upgrading the transmission selection.

Subaru made no changes to the all-wheel-drive system, but a quicker steering ratio and stiffer overall steering structure should help sharpen up its reflexes. The brakes are pulled straight from the Legacy and although they only feature two-piston calipers, Subaru claims the overall setup is lighter while providing equally powerful stopping power. Additional details will be released as the car gets closer to its on-sale date in the fall. An ultrahigh-performance STI version will debut around that time and go on sale early next year.