“HERE all is life and activity,” once exulted 1820’s Dutch East Indies Governor General Sir Stamford Raffles when he first founded the country of Singapore, now known as the Lion City and is one of the most successful global financial centers in Asia.
True enough, this writer was a firsthand witness to all the fanfare when the local motoring media visited the little-known island-state for a little-known vehicle that was launched at the 2017 Singapore Motor Show held at the Suntec Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Stealing the show for the 48,000 spectators in attendance was the all-new Subaru Impreza. Winner of the 2016-2017 Japan Car of the Year, this brightly stunner was the pomp’s masterful centerpiece for Motor Image, the exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles in nine Asian countries.
“The all-new Subaru Impreza features the new Subaru Global Platform that is engineered to make a new type of driving possible. With a host of improvements to its interior, styling, handling performance and an improved CVT transmission, the new Impreza is set to be the first to pave the way for the next generation of Subaru vehicles to deliver a superior driving experience like no other,” noted Glenn Tan, executive director of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., longtime partner Tan Chong International Ltd., which has a vehicle assembly in Malaysia and the mother company of Motor Image.
The Subaru Global Platform
With the inception of the revolutionary Subaru Global Platform in this fifth-generation Subaru Impreza, it now delivers an elevated driving experience with less vibration and noise, combined with precise vehicle control.
“We have enhanced the performance of the vehicle in safety, driving and comfort,” said Takuji Dai, corporate vice president of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.
He added that the vehicle had to be designed from scratch to be able to surpass the “very tough crash test regulation” in the United States.
Increased use of high-tensile steel in the frame structure has resulted in enhanced body strength and a 40-percent increase in collision energy absorption, thus, vastly improving passive safety.
With a unified, single design platform concept put to good use, Subaru’s lineup will further be developed and strengthened, which allows for the brand to plan the main specifications of all vehicle types at one time, offering the flexibility to adjust the different models’ complexities needed in the near future. Hence, a single design concept will allow the brand to produce platform components for multiple models in one production facility, rather than manufacturing them in different factories. With this strategy, Subaru products aspire to become more competitive.
Design-wise, the Impreza, on the outside, now sports extended fender flares, a hexagonal grille and the brand’s iconic C-shaped headlights, while inside are intricately sophisticated details like stitching on the instrument panels and an 8-inch infotaintment system display, complemented by a spacious cabin.
The vehicle is available in the following variants: 1.6i-S featuring a 1.6L port injection naturally aspirated engine producing 114 PS at 5600 rpm, and 2.0i-S with a 2.0L direct injection naturally aspirated engine producing 153 PS at 6000 rpm. Four-door and five-door options are available for both the 1.6i-S and 2.0i-S.
“For the Philippine market, the 2.0i-S [4-door] will be the first one to be released with the price of P1.380 million,” said Motor Image Pilipinas Country Manager Gerry Hernandez.
“Other variants will follow. With this, we want our products to be distinct,” he continued.
Confidence in driving
The day after the launch, we were shuttled to Margaret Drive to personally experience the prowess of this all-new Impreza. Pitted against the Volkswagen Golf, the Mazda 3 and the Audi A3 in three various make-shift tracks, the Impreza proved that it was notches above in terms of handling, grip on the road and the solid compact feel of the car.
Because of its symmetrical all-wheel drive system, it was able to minimize slip and thus was able to provide the feeling of safety one needs while out on the road.
Personally, I clocked it in my best time of 17.34 secs with the Impreza against the Mazda 3 (18.38 secs) and the much powerful Audi A3 (17.47 secs); hence, luckily also setting the best time for my group that day.
Already from that brief tryst alone, the much-needed excitement seems to have—come back.
Image credits: Ronald Rey M. de los Reyes