Subaru Impreza WRX STi

07/09/2008 16:50. IT'S goodbye to the old and hello to the new for fans of the fastest Subaru Impreza.

But whether it will be a happy meeting is a debatable one. That's because the all-new five-door hatchback is a world away from the traditional saloon shape loved by Scooby fans since the original Impreza Turbo blew away all comers when it was launched in 1994. // Muswell Hill Journal

05/09/2008 21:21. The latest and fastest Impreza in 2008 is now the STi - but even with 298bhp and blistered wheelarches the newcomer lacks the in-your-face appeal of the previous generation car. And the STi's rear spoiler - always something to mark out the men from the boys - is this time only noticeable by its considerably smaller dimensions, hampered of course by having to be placed on the top edge of the rear hatch.

The Japanese firm says it's moved the whole of the new Impreza range up a class thanks to better build, higher quality plastics and a stylish interior.

But although the dashboard is curvier and far more elegant than previous generations, materials used in its construction still feel disappointing cheap compared to those found in the likes of the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus - two cars... // Islington Gazette