Subaru replaced its dull and rapidly ageing 1.6/1.8 series with all new Impreza in 1993. Like the outgoing car, the Impreza came in four and five door guises and had, like nearly all Subarus permanent four wheel drive installed. The first Imprezas were quickly praised, but with just 101 bhp under the bonnet, they couldn’t help but be regarded as somewhat sluggish. It was a fair criticism, and Subaru had to some degree already anticipated this problem. Subaru was known for its keenness for turbo charging, so few people were surprised when the company released the 208 bhp Impreza Turbo, complete with bonnet scoop, deep front bumper, rear spoiler and wide wheels. What few expected, however, was that the Impreza would turn into a modern day junior super car classic, following in the type treads of the Audi Quattro and Lancia Delta Integrale. Unlike the other contemporary 4×4 turbocharged sports hatches, the Ford Escort Cosworth, for example the Impreza was smaller, more widely and less intimidating to drive. The simple, Audi like four wheel drive layout and low centre of gravity afforded by the flat four engine helped give the Impreza a fabulous ‘road ability’ and the Impreza’s sheer performance was breathtaking.
Subaru used the car for the World Rally Championships, and chassis improvements figured out by Prodrive made it even better and helped the vehicle’s impressive performance. The Impreza become a cult classic. Very few cars could beat it from A to B across country, but it cost little more than a high specification family car.
