Recent Subaru concepts, some of which were shown at the Detroit Show, featured a new-look front end and the Japanese firm has confirmed that the design will adorn all its future models.
Recent Subaru concepts, some of which were shown at the Detroit Show, featured a new-look front end and the Japanese firm has confirmed that the design will adorn all its future models.
Last year, Subaru caused a sensation with its B11S concept coupé at the Geneva Show. It had four coach-style doors instead of two and definite (former Alfa Romeo stylist) Andreas Zapatinas style cues and an inverted shield in the grille.
The new grille also appeared on the two-seat B9SC roadster and the R1e city car shown at the Tokyo Show late last year and more recently in Detroit. And it’s here to stay, says Fred Adcock, executive vice president of Subaru of America.
The new-generation Legacy and Outback, which went on sale last year, don’t have the new look but the revised front end will appear on a production car in 2005 – the next generation Impreza and also a seven-seat vehicle, reports say.
“It will be on every single Subaru vehicle that we make, so you will easily recognize a Subaru product,” said Fred Adcock, executive vice president of Subaru of America.
Zapatinas, who designed the Alfa Romeo 147 and Fiat Barchetta while he worked for the Italian company, joined Subaru in the third quarter of 2002 and is responsible for the new, unique design cue.
“Our cars must be recognised,” Zapatinas said. “They can have common values but their own charisma.”
Adcock said Subaru wasn’t likely to alienate existing owners with a new design because all vehicles would still be all-wheel drive with a Boxer engine. “The core values are still in place,” he said.
