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AUTOMOTION

IT’S. NO
Piece, but

_ Styling master-
the surprising

new Subaru Impreza is one
of the most comfortable,
>refined and_ technologically
innovative small cars avail-

Im-

able today. ;
The compact four-door
Preza, available in sedan and

wagon/hatchback body styles; is -

scheduled to replace the aging but
still popular Loyale sedan and sta-
.tion wagon. The Impreza is slight-

ly longer and taller than

the

Loyale and considerably wider (43
-mm/1.7 in.), about the size of the

new Toyota Corolla.

The Impreza sedan and wagon

look identical from the front,

but

re ey.tp Ay oRNT

4 The Impreza’ s horizontally opposed “boxer” engine is
extremely smooth, particularly at sustained highway

differ at the rear. .

The rather unorthodox ‘sport’
wagon (the AMC-Pacer comes to
mind) is nevertheless a very prac-
tical family vehicle. The big cargo
area will swallow’ sports equip-
ment, camping supplies, groceries,
and other family-related items
likely to be hauled to and fro.
With the 60/40 folding rear seats
laid flat, there is enough room to

carry bulky items such as a TV or.

small mattress.

Unlike some other compact sta-
tion -wagons and small minivans,
the Impreza Wagon is the base
model in the Impreza range, not a

. premium model, and can be pur-

chased at a base price. The base
model is estimated to be in the
$13,000 range.

Imprezas come in three time
levels: Base, L and LS.

Standard features on all Im-
prezas include engine-speed-sen-
sitive power steering, five-speed
manual transmission, tilt steering
wheel, tachometer, rear defogger,
centre console, right side mirror,
and vertically adjustable shoulder
belts and rear child locks.

However, an automatic

speeds. 9

transmission :is not available on

the base FWD model. A’

driver’s:side 2irbag is not avail-
able on any basic models, and
items like air conditioning,
sunroof, and ABS are offered on-
ly on top-of-the-line LS models.

Both Imprezas have a low
hoodline and a tall ‘greenhouse,’
providing occupants an excellent
view to the outside. The cabin is
wide for a small car and feels
unusually spacious and airy. The
doors are long and wide, offering
easy entrance and exit, and the
trunk lid or hatchback drops all
the way to the bumper for easier
loading.

1 had just one smal! complaint
with the interior: the pull-out cup
holders obscure the radio controls.

Like the Loyale and other
Subarus, the Impreza is available
with front-wheel drive or four-
wheel drive.

The Impreza’s system is a per-
manentiy engaged all-wheel-drive
system, not @ part-time unit as in
the Loyale.

In: good road. conditions, the

. Impreza’s all-wheel-drive system

puts most of the ‘power through

the front wheels. (85% front/15%
rear). When ‘slippage occurs, tor-
que split can go as high as 50%
front/SO% rear for greater trac-
tion,

The Impreza’s - permanent
system*can be run on dry and
slippery road without damagé to
the drivetrain, although fuel con-
sumption is worse than with the
front-wheel-drive model. Normal-
ly, this difference is about 10 to
15% but in the case of the Im-
preza, Transport Canads _ fuel
“sonsumption figures show a dif-
ference of just 5%.

The Impreza’s horizontally op-
posed ‘‘boxer’’ engine (cylinder
opposite each other) is a smaller
version of the Legacy’s 2.2-litre
engine, and like the Legacy’s, is
an extremely smooth-running
engine — particularly. at sustained
highway speeds.

The fuel-injected, 110-
horsepower 1.8-litre aluminum
alloy engine has four valves per
cylinder and a_ single overhead
camshaft. The bulk of its torque
is developed at around 2,400 rpm;
providing useful low- end power

See Inmprezas page 34

Photo submitted

Base price estimated $13,000

Type four door, five-.
passenger hatchback
Layout longitudinal front

engine/front-wheel drive
Engine 1.8-litre. four cylinder,
four valves per cylinder,
SOHC, multi-port fuel injec-
tion

Horsepower 110 @ 5,600 rpm
Torque 110 Ibs-ft @ 4,400
rpm

Transmission five- -speed
manual/(four-speed
atitomatic)

Curb weight 1,09!
lbs.

Wielbase 2,520 mm/99. 2i in.
Length 4,370 mm/172.0 in.
Width 1,705 mm/67.1 in.
Height 1,400 mm/55.1 in.
Tires P165/80R-13 all-season
radials .

Fuel consumption City 10,1
L/100 km, 28 mpg; Hwy 7. 5
L/100 km, 38 mpg

Warranty three yrs/60,000
km Major Components five
yrs/100,000 km :

kge/2405

-The Subaru Impreza is ex-
pected in showrooms in
‘March. Inquire about the
wagon at Specialty. Motors,
1235 Marine Dr., North Van-
couver,