Acropolis debut for new Impreza [Archive]

aussiefan

20th May 2008, 10:15

Subaru have announced that the new Impreza WRC2008 will make it's debut at the Acropolis Rally.
It certainly looks the goods!

Here's the story (http://www.rallysportmag.com.au/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2698&Itemid=2).

tannat

20th May 2008, 10:23

The car looks fab...

All committed WRC manufacturers converting to that rear hatch dual element wing-there really must be something to it.

Hope this car gives Solberg/Atkinson what they need to be a front runner again.

ITC55

20th May 2008, 10:31

Maybe too early??? this could either be a brilliant debut or a mess for the rest of the season....

Ranger

20th May 2008, 10:33

The car looks alright, but the important thing is that it goes fast!

Although I always liked the blue and yellow livery, they should bring that back.

bennizw

20th May 2008, 11:01

Interesting to see if it is competitive in Greece. I expect Markko has done some serious work when testing :)

Viking

20th May 2008, 11:06

Anyone that can read what dampers they are using? :)

Let hope that the car is quick and reliable.

bennizw

20th May 2008, 11:27

They are still using BOS dampers, which seems to be irritating a certain man in the team. Don't think there is any chance that they will be able to recieve Rieger dampers as Ford owns 51% of the company. Maybe there will be more success with BOS on this car?

grugsticles

20th May 2008, 11:40

Ahh, so that explains all the secrect regarding the launch of the new car of last - it was just around the corner.
In regard to the comment of the colour sceme, I dont mind the new one.
In one way it represents a change of fortune for SWRT. I know that the rally blue and fluro yellow with light blue highlights is a worldwide icon for Subaru, but maybe the colour change can be seen way of putting the loved sedan Imprezas behind us and moving on with the hatch version. Thats the way I see it.

It could also be just a launch paint sceme like Suzuki had (white car with blue/black rear end).

Now, I think I be reading some driver/team quotes before I select my pick-em's to guage its possible performace.

PS. God damn it looks like a Focus from the rear if you ignore the tail lights.

Viking

20th May 2008, 11:40

I love this people writing press releases :up:

“The WRC2008 will also sport a dramatic new livery created around the Subaru corporate identity but at the same time preserving the iconic blue identity familiar to rally fans worldwide.”

I guess it was more like this: Let’s put a big Subaru sticker on the side of it, and maybe change from yellow to….silver…hmm...maybe a splash more silver in the back. :D

AndyRAC

20th May 2008, 12:04

There are two ways to look at the ‘New’ livery;
One – it’s iconic, the Blue and yellow of Subaru – however it was their old main sponsor’s colour (555 State Express), from when they were successful.
Two – A fresh start, new beginnings – leave the past behind. Maybe they should have gone the whole hog – got a new sponsor, and a whole new colour scheme.

Sulland

20th May 2008, 12:06

http://www.swrt.com/news/latest_news.html?id=1485

tmx

20th May 2008, 12:08

Corny

20th May 2008, 12:42

They dropped the yellow... :(

Buzz Lightyear

20th May 2008, 12:47

A little early, if it's using the same current damper then might not be good. The car remind me slightly of the Focus 2004, which is really nice, abeit not most sucessful. But it is also more like a hovercraft than the previous Impreza, let's hope it doesn't break on the first day. I've been following Petter's bad luck since 2005 and now I can not imagine this car and the idea of it going fast at the sametime, I can't seem to picture it in my mind.

The new deep blue color is really nice though.

sure swrt can design their own dampers, in conjuction with BOS? citroen dont seems to have a problem. i just think otsberg pace in sweden has put their heads in a spin. now they see the problem only with dampers.

it should be fairly simple

identify the problem
test a solution
stick it on the car

COD

20th May 2008, 12:48

Not that I was a huge fan of the old livery, but the new was is really boring + silver on blue is really hard to see on photos and specially on TV.

At least now Subaru has a fresh excuse if they are not competitive - " the car is still new, wait for while...."

Flynn

20th May 2008, 12:52

The rear spoiler looks like it has been ripped from the Focus :x

Viking

20th May 2008, 14:49

An icon evolves. Nice :up:

http://www.swrt.com/aniconevolves/

koko0703

20th May 2008, 16:38

Hummmm.... there is no air scoope on the bonnet and the old livery got is lost :( I have to say this livery is very boring and looks like some Gr.N privateers in the national championship level. But hopefully the performance won't be as dull as its appearance.

F1boat

20th May 2008, 17:22

I hope that it will be fast!

gloomyDAY

20th May 2008, 17:27

An icon evolves. Nice :up:

http://www.swrt.com/aniconevolves/Loved that!

Alright people. Let's hope this ends the drought.

GigiGalliNo1

20th May 2008, 17:43

schweeet!

Zico

20th May 2008, 18:10

Would they have entered it for the acropolis ahead of schedule if they didnt think it was quicker than the outgoing car? ;)

With regards to outright speed.. I think it will be mixing it with the Fords and Citroen. Have to wait and see about reliability though.

This is their ideal oportunity to start from scratch and address the fundamental design flaws with the old car. I have a sneaky feeling, a hunch that they'll succeed and I really hope they do... the WRC really needs a competative SWRT right now.

mrs markie

20th May 2008, 18:24

Car looks GREAT, lets hope this is the answer SWRT have been looking for :up:

20th May 2008, 19:38

looks excellent.
will it show competitivness to Ford and Citroen?!

L5->R5/CR

20th May 2008, 20:22

Not bad timing.

Get the car out there.

If you find problems in the first couple of events you have the summer break to work them out.

A.F.F.

20th May 2008, 20:23

I hope the car works as fine as their net site. That was superb :up:

ProRally

20th May 2008, 20:34

I hope it works better then "N14" because that still has LOTS of troubles.......

Roy

20th May 2008, 21:19

Maybe too early??? this could either be a brilliant debut or a mess for the rest of the season....

After test of months Subaru has a lot of knowledge of the car. And I agree with
these phrases:

Interesting to see if it is competitive in Greece. I expect Markko has done some serious work when testing :)

Not bad timing. Get the car out there.
If you find problems in the first couple of events you have the summer break to work them out.

:up: Subaru Go, for a excellent drive. Give us a exciting WRC 2008.
Atkinson, Solberg can maybe fight with Loeb, Latvala and Hirvonen for wins.
WRC needs more competition.

Tomi

20th May 2008, 21:26

I hope it works better then "N14" because that still has LOTS of troubles.......

Tommi did just a 5 day test in Rumania, he did drive 4 days, Ketomaa 1 day.

duff

21st May 2008, 05:24

I think we are all hoping the same thing - that subie will finally be fighting at the front of the pack thus giving us a much more exciting championship.

I personally think that they are rushing the car and they know it. But possibly their mentality is that the car was so uncompetative in Sardinia that they might as well bring the new car and iron out the problems as they go.

C'mon Subaru and make a show of it!!!

jonkka

21st May 2008, 05:56

I think we are all hoping the same thing - that subie will finally be fighting at the front of the pack thus giving us a much more exciting championship.

Exactly. And additionally, I personally fear that yet another disaster of a car might mean end of Subaru at the top. There is a lot of hopes pinned on that vehicle.

I personally think that they are rushing the car and they know it.

That's one fear, yes. But they've been developing the car for a long time and hopefully their engineering department has been sorted out now with Lappy back as consultant.

t.j.

Tom206wrc

21st May 2008, 08:05

Can't wait for the Acropolis rally to start now :)

Viking

21st May 2008, 09:45

Petter talks (a little bit) :)

“ I have only tested the car two days so far (yesterday), but it has much more traction than the old one. I am wery happy, and hope it works optimal.” :up:

Viking

21st May 2008, 09:52

Also some change of mood in his blogg :D

http://www.pettersolberg.com/html/index.php/category/blog/?lang_pref=en

Glee

21st May 2008, 11:05

According to Norwegian media Petter didn’t know that the new Impreza was going to be used in Greece.

http://209.85.135.104/translate_c?hl=no&sl=no&tl=en&u=http://www.nrksport.no/motorsport/1.5730258

It could however be that he did know, but didn’t know that it was official.

Viking

21st May 2008, 11:18

koko0703

21st May 2008, 15:32

If you find problems in the first couple of events you have the summer break to work them out.

Exactly my thought.... even if they have trouble, Subaru will have time to react during summer break. I personally think even if the new car won't turn out to be immediate winner, it won't do any harm to Subaru at this point. With current entry list, the decent car will give Chris 5th or 6th, and Petter can't go any more wrong than right now.

Buzz Lightyear

21st May 2008, 15:36

Exactly my thought.... even if they have trouble, Subaru will have time to react during summer break. I personally think even if the new car won't turn out to be immediate winner, it won't do any harm to Subaru at this point. With current entry list, the decent car will give Chris 5th or 6th, and Petter can't go any more wrong than right now.

there is no excuse for prodrive/subaru. they should know the limitations of the current car, have designed those issues out. surely they have done back to back tests, and they know its quicker. another concern is acropolis. surely not the first event you would pick.. one of the roughest rallys of the year.

L5->R5/CR

21st May 2008, 16:12

there is no excuse for prodrive/subaru. they should know the limitations of the current car, have designed those issues out. surely they have done back to back tests, and they know its quicker. another concern is acropolis. surely not the first event you would pick.. one of the roughest rallys of the year.

More than likely though on the first couple of events you'll find yourself breaking silly parts that you didn't think you would break.

The car will either be fast or it will be a turd. The question is will it be reliable or not. That is something that we continue to see that testing can't fully address, at some point the car needs real stage miles to see what doodad or whatchamacallit will break that you never thought would EVER break.

If it turns out that they are breaking important parts, you have something like 6 weeks to work on fixing it.

Tomi

21st May 2008, 16:33

More than likely though on the first couple of events you'll find yourself breaking silly parts that you didn't think you would break.

The car will either be fast or it will be a turd. The question is will it be reliable or not. That is something that we continue to see that testing can't fully address, at some point the car needs real stage miles to see what doodad or whatchamacallit will break that you never thought would EVER break.

If it turns out that they are breaking important parts, you have something like 6 weeks to work on fixing it.

Agree, also Subaru has nothing to loose, with the current car too many competitors has to retire so that they could win.

jonas_mcrae

21st May 2008, 17:27

it looks awesome I will miss the yellow, but still I just think this livery is just introductory and gives some space for sponsors.

leno

21st May 2008, 21:19

i think they start and era in which they will change their livery quite often

Waldrons11

21st May 2008, 23:46

Yeah, it certainly looks the part. But they're still stuck with the same dampers (which has been their main problem for the last 2 years), so don't expect too much too soon

Patwrc

22nd May 2008, 01:18

As a fan of SWRT and notably Petter Solberg, I simply hope that this car is a change of fortune. Not only for Petter, and also the entire the team. The spirit of the whole team is necessary to be lifted up. I have been waiting for a win of SWRT for nearly 3 years, and I desperately hope that this car could fulfill its objective - winning rallies.

kleisj

23rd May 2008, 14:41

I am really looking forward to see it live. I hope this will change the luck and motivation of Peter.
I ll post pics hopefully on Thursday from shakedown and the service park.

grugsticles

23rd May 2008, 15:32

I am really looking forward to see it live. I hope this will change the luck and motivation of Peter.
I ll post pics hopefully on Thursday from shakedown and the service park.
Do you do photo requests?
Im interested in the engine and its layout mainly.

tmx

23rd May 2008, 18:13

Fischer

23rd May 2008, 18:50

crash.net interview shows petter saying he's has a "good feeling" with the new car. he didn't say he would "win outright" or "i'm very very happy with the car", but i hope it means something positive.

Do yourself a favour and don't believe what Solberg says, his predictions weren't very accurate the last 2 years.

Tomi

23rd May 2008, 19:37

Do yourself a favour and don't believe what Solberg says, his predictions weren't very accurate the last 2 years.

Yes, it was better when Pasi was testdriver, then you had reliable news about the car.

kleisj

23rd May 2008, 23:36

Do you do photo requests?
Im interested in the engine and its layout mainly.

I don't know if I will be able to have the access for these kind of pics. Since the only you can see from the car is the rear in the service park. Of course if I have the opportunity I will take it, be sure of that.

atsiotras79

24th May 2008, 08:48

I don't know if I will be able to have the access for these kind of pics. Since the only you can see from the car is the rear in the service park. Of course if I have the opportunity I will take it, be sure of that.

I will be at the presentation of the S14 on Wednesday. If they open the bonnet I ''ll try to take some photos. If not maybe in one of the service sessions.