Bold Design Statement Also Enhances Functionality
The 2012 Subaru Impreza conveys a bolder, more confident design that emphasizes its sporty roots and standard All-Wheel Drive performance. In profile, the 2012 Impreza draws focus to its wheels with powerful arches that are a design cue to the standard symmetrical full-time AWD system. The sleek silhouette incorporates a larger greenhouse, which also aids visibility - a Subaru design priority.
In front, the Subaru badge centres the hexagonal grille and hawk-eye headlights, design elements that are becoming integral to all Subaru designs. A range of new 15-inch wheel covers and 16- or 17-inch alloy wheel designs also debut on the 2012 Impreza.
Numerous exterior and interior design elements combine to give the Impreza a sportier stance while also offering the driver and passengers a more commanding, confident view of the road. The windshield is more raked than in the previous model, with the bottom of the A-pillar moving forward by 200 mm. This allows for a front door opening that is nearly 125 mm longer for easier entry/exit, abetted by doorsills that are 20 mm lower. The rear doors are also larger on both body styles.
To maximize driver visibility in the corners, the Impreza features thinner A-pillars and partitioned front-door side glass. This configuration allows for a slimmer secondary pillar - and therefore better visibility - compared to cars that use a pulled-forward windshield design and thicker secondary pillars. The top-of-door interior trim is also 60 mm lower. These elements contribute to better visibility, which is also enhanced by higher hip points, both front and rear. The instrument panel is lower and flatter than before, resulting in a wider field of view and a feeling of greater spaciousness. Exterior side-view mirrors with 23 percent more surface area enhance visibility and driving safety, while relocating the mirrors from the A-pillars to the doors contributes to improved sightlines.
Improved Room and Refinement
The combination of a longer wheelbase and redesigned door, roof trim and front seats yield gains in passenger and cargo room, with additional details demonstrating Subaru's mastery of smart vehicle packaging. This Impreza model's wheelbase also grows to 2645 mm as compared to 2620 mm in the outgoing model. Vehicle length and width remain the same as before for both the sedan and 5-door models yet - thanks to redesigned door panels - the 2012 Impreza offers increased hip and shoulder room.
Rear-seat passengers gain approximately 50 mm of legroom, thanks to both the longer wheelbase and a new, scalloped-style front seat backrest design. Sedan trunk room and 5-door cargo room have both increased, and the 4-door now provides a virtually flat load floor with the standard 60/40-split folding rear seatbacks in the folded position. Relocating the car's electronic control units (ECUs), power window motors, and fuel vapor charcoal canister also helped make the new gains possible within the same exterior dimensions as the outgoing model.
The 2012 Impreza interior is not only more spacious than its predecessor, but also delivers a major step up in refinement that's completely unexpected for vehicles in its category. The sporty instrument panel and 3-spoke steering wheel are augmented on all models by an information display or a 4.3-inch colour multi-function display (on Sport and Limited models) with trip computer, located in the centre of the dashboard. Richer-looking appointments and details abound, including soft-touch materials for the dashboard, door trim and centre console armrest. In the higher line models, the armrest features a slide adjustment for greater comfort and versatility.
Optimizing the shape of the cargo-area trim and nearby components enables the sedan to carry four golf bags. In the 5-door, it is easier to load and unload heavy objects, thanks to the removal of a stepped section under the opening. The cargo area cover can now be stored under the cargo floor, as on the Forester.
In the sedan, trunk functionality is improved with support arms that are reshaped and enclosed within the trunk interior trim, ensuring that they do not make contact with stored items when the trunk is closed. When the trunk release is activated, from within the car or via the remote control, the trunk lid opens wider than before. Subaru designers increased not only cargo area and trunk room in the 2012 Impreza, but also carrying space and utility throughout the vehicle. Larger door pockets can hold plastic drink bottles and large maps. Numerous compartments located in and around the centre console hold all manner of personal items such as phones, USB drives and MP3 players. For those who still prefer to listen to music on CDs, the console compartments provide ample storage for jewel cases.
Highest Level of Comfort, Convenience and Luxury Ever Offered in a Subaru Impreza
More spacious than before, the 2012 Impreza also offers greater comfort, versatility and more advanced technology. The front seats are newly redesigned with long-distance comfort in mind and feature higher seatbacks, increased lumbar support, and cushions that more effectively distribute pressure. As in the 2010 Legacy, the seats are optimized for a rear-end collision. A tilt/telescoping steering wheel is standard on all 2012 Impreza models.
Standard comfort and available amenities have increased across the Impreza line for 2012. The 2.0i entry model, for example, features power windows, door locks and side mirrors, a 60/40-split flat-folding rear seat, outside temperature gauge, heated body-colour exterior mirrors, cruise control, a multi-function display with fuel economy information, remote keyless entry system, security system with engine immobilizer, tilt/telescopic steering wheel, variable intermittent windshield wipers, and a low windshield washer fluid warning light.
Impreza 2.0i Touring Package models add more amenities, including 16-inch alloy wheels, an advanced AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA audio system with six speakers, voice-activated Bluetooth® hands-free system, steering wheel-integrated hands-free and audio controls, a MediaHub for iPod®/USB audio integration with Bluetooth streaming audio, a rear stabilizer bar for crisper handling, heated front seats, automatic headlights, and a front windshield wiper de-icer among others.
The Impreza Sport Package adds 17-inch alloy wheels, power sunroof, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear selector, upgraded gauges, automatic climate control, aerodynamic side ground effects, front fog lights, rear spoiler, and a stainless steel exhaust tip on 4-door models. A 4.3-inch multi-function display - a fully bilingual system that is only available in Canada - offers a wide array of fuel consumption data as well as maintenance reminders. Also included in this system is a Vehicle Dynamics Control monitor that displays All-Wheel Drive in action on slippery surfaces.
At the top of the Impreza range for 2012, the Limited Package delivers the highest level of comfort and convenience ever offered in a Subaru Impreza. Building upon the Sport Package content, the Limited Package adds dual-zone automatic climate control, HID headlights, leather seating surfaces, outside mirror-integrated LED turn signals, a Pioneer® display audio system and SIRIUS®Satellite Radio with 3-month trial subscription as well as chrome trim on the truck lid and exterior door handles.
All-new SUBARU BOXER Engine with Newly Available Lineartronic CVT
The 2012 Impreza is powered by an all-new 2.0-litre 4-cylinder SUBARU BOXER engine, teamed to a five-speed manual transmission or the available, new Lineartronic CVT. With either transmission, the 2012 Impreza delivers significantly higher fuel economy than the car it replaces.
The new 2.0-litre engine produces 148 horsepower and 145 lb.-ft. of torque. This new Subaru engine family, which debuted in the 2011 Forester in 2.5-litre form, uses a Double Overhead Camshaft (DOHC) design, compared to the previous Single Overhead Camshaft (SOHC) configuration. The Dual Active Valve Control System (Dual AVCS) controls valve timing on both the intake and exhaust valves to optimize performance, fuel efficiency, and emissions. The 2012 Impreza employs a more efficient exhaust system that allows an improved catalyst placement for faster heat-up to reduce emissions immediately after engine startup.
Compared to the outgoing Impreza's 2.5-litre engine, the new-generation 2.0-litre SUBARU BOXER offers greater environmental friendliness and is even more responsive than the 2.5-litre engine it replaces, thanks to lighter vehicle weight - especially when equipped with the new CVT.
Subaru first introduced its Lineartronic CVT in 2010 and the 2012 Impreza features a lighter, quieter and more compact version that delivers both enhanced driving performance and environmental friendliness. Unlike a conventional automatic transmission, which uses fixed gear ratios, a CVT provides infinite variability between the highest and lowest available ratios with no discernable steps or shifts. The CVT continuously and smoothly adapts to performance demand, helping to keep the engine in its most efficient operating range. Compared to CVTs used in other brands, the Lineartronic CVT provides wider ratio coverage, due to a larger difference between the largest and smaller pulley diameters.
Subaru refined the CVT in the 2012 Impreza to deliver smooth, linear acceleration, closer to a conventional automatic transmission while still delivering the efficiency benefits of a CVT. Low-speed acceleration in particular is even stronger than a comparison of performance figures alone might suggest. The engine now also supports standing starts in the pre-selected "second gear" ratio to reduce the likelihood of wheel spin on slippery surfaces.
Impreza Touring, Sport, and Limited Package models with the CVT also feature steering wheel paddle shifters that allow the driver to control the transmission via six pre-set ratios. The driver can engage Manual Mode with the console shift lever or, when in "D" mode, temporarily access manual mode with the paddle shifters. In that case, the transmission will return to automatic mode once the vehicle is travelling at a constant speed.
New Technology for Better Fuel Efficiency
In addition to the new engine's greater efficiency, the Impreza adopts additional technologies to maximize fuel economy. Among these is the new electric power steering system, which by itself contributes a two-percent efficiency increase. The tires, in 15-, 16- or 17-inch sizes, have lower rolling resistance for better fuel economy without compromising braking distance or other performance parameters. A further efficiency gain comes from reducing disc brake drag by using a spring-type pad return mechanism.
Because the 2012 Impreza offers such a significant increase in fuel economy over the outgoing vehicle, Subaru was able to use a smaller capacity fuel tank (now 55 litres compared to 64 litres in the previous model) while also increasing driving range. The smaller fuel tank, in turn, enabled Subaru to relocate the charcoal vapor canister, which helped increase cargo room.
Confident, Agile Handling and Safety for any Road
Strengthened suspension components, front and rear, enhance agility, while new liquid (hydraulic) engine mounts help to dampen vibration. A new front support connecting the front cross member and rear bushing section of the front arm enhances stability, agility, and ride quality. The double-wishbone rear suspension features new, strengthened components and pillow ball bushings for improved ride, straight-line stability, handling, and vehicle response. Touring, Sport, and Limited Package models add special rebound springs in the front dampers as well as a rear stabilizer bar for even more responsive handling. Enhanced body rigidity and the new suspension design help to reduce levels of noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH). The stiffened rear subframe ensures greater resistance to twisting, which also contributes to better stability and handling. New sound insulators in the toe board and around the floor tunnel also help maintain a quiet interior.
Continued Safety Leadership
Subaru's advanced ring-shaped reinforcement frame safety structure, proven over a decade in all Subaru models, again forms the foundation for crash protection and occupant safety in the new-generation 2012 Impreza. Building on Subaru's renowned safety leadership (all 2011 Subaru model lines were IIHS Top Safety Picks), the 2012 Impreza was designed to excel under the more stringent NHTSA testing regimen. The new body structure makes greater use of high-tensile strength steel and features special stiffening elements at key locations.
As standard equipment, the 2012 Impreza includes front seat side-impact air bags and side curtain air bags that offer additional head protection for front and rear occupants. The new driver's front air bag offers added protection for drivers who position themselves close to the steering wheel. Immediately after deployment, the driver's air bag spreads thin and wide, then thickens as deployment reaches completion. The passenger-seat front air bag features a shell-type design with a centre groove, thus decreasing the impact force upon deployment. All 2012 Impreza models add a new driver's knee air bag to the roster of safety features.
All Impreza models for 2012 are equipped with Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC), which combines stability and traction control functions. Likewise, all 2012 Impreza models are equipped with standard 4-wheel disc brakes with Subaru's 4-wheel, 4-channel, 4-sensor Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist. The 2012 Impreza also features a new brake override feature that lowers engine output when both the brake and the throttle pedal are depressed simultaneously, ensuring a drama-free stop.
Subaru Symmetrical Full-time All-Wheel Drive
Subaru offers two different symmetrical full-time All-Wheel Drive systems in the 2012 Impreza, providing a confident driving experience that exceeds expectations. In models equipped with the five-speed manual transmission, the AWD system uses a viscous-coupling limited-slip centre differential to distribute power 50/50 front to rear.
Impreza models equipped with the Lineartronic CVT feature the electronically controlled Multi-plate Transfer Clutch (MPT) AWD system that uses an electronically managed continuously variable transfer clutch to actively control power distribution in response to driving conditions. This system can transfer more power to the rear wheels under acceleration, but power is distributed 60/40 front to rear under normal driving conditions.
About Subaru Canada, Inc.
Subaru Canada, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of over 85 authorized dealers across Canada. For more information on the 2012 models, including complete specifications, please go to Link.
