Subaru Impreza 2005 test drive - 2007 sedan

Subaru Impreza 1.5R car overview after low modernization

Technical characteristics of the Subaru Impreza 1.5R (2WD) model:
Length 4465 mm x width 1695 mm x height 1440 mm.
Wheel base: 2525 mm.
Machine weight: 1230 kg.
Drive: on the front wheels
Engine: 1.5-liter, 4-cylinder with horizontal-optical location of the cylinders, DOHC, developed power 81KW (110 hp) at 6400 rpm, the largest torque 144 nm (14.7 kg/m) at 3200 rpm.
Transmission: 4-speed automatic gearbox
Machine price: 1 million 533 thousand yen.
 
There are no changes, but progress is obvious.
The main surprise that lies in wait for anyone who meets the Subaru Impreza 1.5R car is the absence of visible, or, better to say, striking changes. I mean changes in external design. As for the internal content of the machine, here, thank God, there were no innovations. After all, you know how often what we habitually call small modernization: a cosmetic operation is done on the front of the machine, and that’s it! And to update the chassis, or the engine does not reach this. To the honor of the Subaru engineering group, even for low modernization, they try to confuse the appearance of any technical new item.
The updated model Subaru Impreza 1.5R was not an exception in this regard. In fact, the emergence of a new type of car passed unnoticed against the backdrop of a large -scale advertising company, which was awarded a new Subaru Stella micro -lighting model. And even that is true, the appearance of the Impreza 1.5R machine has almost not changed. And so that, on the occasion of low modernization, it was decided to prepare two fresh body painting options - gray metal and reddish - mother -of -pearl? Changing color design cannot at all compensate for the absence of novelty in appearance. And even if you compare it with the WRX model, which borrowed a lot from the sports car of the world rally championship, then here the comparison will not be in favor of Impreza 1.5R.
Meanwhile, I go to the car, open the massive door, sit in the driver's seat, and here I am again visited by an unpleasant thought: there are no visible changes not only from the outside, but, in all likelihood, from the inside!? However, how well the side calipers of the back are held by my body. So, - I continue to understand, - the dashboard is made very simply, three round dials, the speedometer of which the largest, performs the function of the unifying center. On the left, a wide central console of the front panel presses me, playing the role of a kind of visual limiter of the driver's space. I suddenly begin to feel in some isolation from the rest of the cabin, but this isolation is pleasant to me. In fact, look at what principle they are currently striving to equip the car’s interior, how much effort is the designers to make it as convenient as possible - in general, whatever, but not the same that would allow the driver to fence off from the surrounding objects and completely immersed himself in In driving. It seems that it should be so, and most importantly, you begin to believe that it cannot be otherwise. And suddenly you find yourself in a salon where the driver means the driver, and everything around him, and not for the sake of a sitting uncle. And his chair is located in such a way that he could simply lead the car for his pleasure and is not obliged to simultaneously act as both the interlocutor and a member of the company (not to break away from the team!) And someone else! And, no matter how strange it seems strange, this isolation made the most favorable impression on me.
Horizontal - opposition engine at a similar price.
I turned the key in the ignition lock, and the new development engine with the opposite location of the cylinders that its creators are so proud of, came to life. I must tell you, I have some engineering training behind me, and therefore the term opposition engine is not an empty phrase for me. So, what is the difference between this type of internal combustion engine? The fact that its cylinders are located strictly symmetrically, pistons move in opposite directions and therefore balance each other. From this, the vibration, which is inherent in any motor, is minimized here, and therefore its smoothness is simply unusual. Everything seems to be true. And yet, in the world there are only two companies that are engaged in mass production of such wonderful power units. This is Porsche and Subaru.
All this flashed in my head at one moment, and meanwhile, I noticed an elegant Akiba lighter in someone's hand (well, of course, to give out something thoughtful, you must first smoke!). Then I hear how my comrades who accompanied me on the trip were disappointedly extended: yes, everything was left, and then what is the novelty then?. However, I am already used to this habit, first of all, to subject everything and all doubt, so I decided to take it calmly. Okay, I thought, let them demonstrate disappointment, do not pay attention!.
After that, I forced myself to rebuild sharply and switched my attention to the road. Time had already been overflowing in noon, the car was walking along the highway in the vicinity of Odaib, and I decided that it was time to crush the gas pedal properly. Yeah, - I thought with satisfaction, - here you have experts! In fact, it was not so before!. No, I do not want to say anything bad, the car had previously demonstrated good acceptance. However, a new engine with a gas distribution mechanism of the DOHC type with a working volume of 1.5 liters not only throws the car forward, it demonstrates smoothness in increasing the speed of the crankshaft, and the intensity of increasing speeds the higher, the more you cling to the accelerator pedal. And along with an increase in revolutions, the power developed by the engine increases smoothly. Such a smoothness, I assure you, was not there before. Clear when the engine reaches its peak of 110 hp. and torque at 14.7 kg/m, of course, it is impossible, but this is not necessary, since the automatic 4-speed gearbox copes with the work itself, switching to increased gear exactly when necessary. So I never felt any failures or jerks during acceleration.
As you know, the Rainbow Bridge bridge is like an arrow, so you can give yourself will and accelerate it, as it should. However, I had a clearly set task to determine how long the engine can provide an uninterrupted increase in speed. It turned out that up to critical turns. Turning the steering wheel from side to side, I tried to determine for myself how well the car obeys the steering wheel. With satisfaction, I can report that the feeling of controllability of this car is no worse than in the very sports (and most expensive) modification of Legacy. The speed grown significantly until the moment when the engine revolutions reached 7000 rpm, and all this proceeded at a good pace. At the very end of the bridge there is a spiral congress, where I had to sharply press the brake. As soon as the leg crushed the brake pedal slightly, I had the feeling that the pedal was almost directly related to the brakes, the opposition to my pressure was so indicative. I just felt it with my foot. And that's what I thought. It somehow happened that lately there are fewer and fewer cars, which you can still feel that the previous car, not stuffed with electronic control systems is a car! As for the price. Judge for yourself: the engine with the opposition-horsemontal location of the cylinders plus all-wheel drive, or, if desired, the front wheel drive. All this, you see, looks pretty attractive. And for all this pleasure they ask even less than 2 million yen! We can say they give at a similar price.
Acting a gas pedal is not needed.
You know, ”the representative of the engineering and technical department of Subaru Toychide Sunaguti, who leads the development of new Subaru brand engines, began his performance, we have long agreed that we are developing high -speed engines for the Legacy family. If you need to re -equip the Impreza lineup, or when it is necessary to supplement this series with an additional model, we proceed from the fact that the motor should issue a fairly decent torque when the car moves at low or medium speed. That is, figuratively speaking, for Subaru motorists of the LEGACY cars, these are capricious creatures, while Impreza cars are adults, thorough representatives of the Subaru automobile family, who will not go out just for fun. If you continue this thought, it turns out that the engine of new development, which began to equip the Impreza 1.5R machine, should give the machine even greater thoroughness, so or what? See that the piston’s working stroke has become larger, in addition, the engine is equipped with AVCS system, which provides for automatic change in the gas distribution phases - everything is as it should be to spend less fuel and impress a very balanced Subaru motor row. Here, apparently, it is appropriate to recall that the latest Legacy models are equipped with a control system, which is called Subaru Intelligent Drive or simply Si-Drive, which provides for a special regime I (Intelligent, or simply, balanced). Having turned on this mode, the driver independently limits the appetites of the engine, and, in terms of desire to steer a machine in an active manner.

Before that, it was? You get behind the wheel and begin to put pressure on the accelerator, while feeling that the slightest change in the pedal leads to a rather sharp acceleration. This time, you need to notice you, everything went differently with me: the pedal is already pressed, the speed grows, but not impulsive, but gradually with some stretching in time. And what does the already mentioned Mr. Sunaguti say about this? The fact is, ”he explained,“ that the throttle management is now following a different scheme. Previously, any gas pedal immediately led to the opening of the throttle valve. And now, by clicking on the accelerator, the driver, as it were, indicates the control system what kind of power growth rate he needs. The power of power itself, however, still passes smoothly, without a jerk. In other words, the connection between the pedal and the throttle valve is indirect. By the way, the basis of the SI-Drive system is precisely such an indirect control principle. And then Mr. Sunaguti revealed a little secret to everyone who present. He he noted, in particular, that to some extent, the accelerator had to be made less active, including because the steering wheel is often in the hands of not only men, but also women. And a woman often does not measure the effort attached to the gas pedal, and her intentions. In addition, these high heels! Now, the process of speed increasing will proceed more measuredly and will not require an accelerator too careful.
 
But be that as it may, ”our instructor said in conclusion,“ our opposition engine continues to remain quite frisky, until the moment when the revolutions reached a critical mark. Therefore, despite all the indirect management schemes, the main thing is to learn how to manage it!. In his voice, so calm throughout the press conference, notes of pride appeared at these words.
But, I think that this pride has the right to exist. After all, it is precisely such researchers - innovators as Mr. Sunaguti and others like him and made it possible to emerge such a machine debugged in all respects. So many technological innovations are concentrated in it that if its designers were more sophisticated in advertising their achievements, they would have spoke all only about these achievements.
But, be that as it may, one can say firmly: lovers of the car genre Subaru should be satisfied. Still, a model intended for a mass buyer, the cost of which does not reach 2 million yen, - and you look at how perfect it turned out! And at the same time, her appearance on sale is so modest! This modesty, of course, makes the honor of the creators of this car, but, in general, should be regarded as a completely unacceptable phenomenon. In the end, buyers have the right to know who is who.
 
   
 
 

A source: CarView.co.jp