The all-new Subaru Impreza has been named 2016–2017 Japan Car of the Year, beating the Toyota Prius and Audi A4 which took the second and third place respectively. This is the second time Subaru has been awarded the honour, following the Legacy’s win in 2003.
“It is a great honour that the Impreza has been recognized with this distinctive award,” said Yasuyuki Yoshinaga, president and CEO of FHI. “I would like to thank our customers, suppliers and shareholders for their continued support for Subaru and I am grateful to all those who contributed to this achievement. We will continue to enhance our efforts to offer an ‘enjoyment and peace of mind’ driving experience to all customers.”
Unveiled at the New York Auto Show earlier this year, the all-new Subaru Impreza is based on the Subaru Global Platform and aims to offer the utmost “Enjoyment and Peace of Mind” driving experience to all drivers and passengers, with an array of new technologies that greatly enhance all-around safety as well as dynamic and static quality feel. It is powered by a FB20 2.0-litre 4-cylinder Boxer engine that now features direct injection, pushing the horsepower up from 148 to 152.
In about a month after it was launched in Japan on October 13, the all-new Impreza outsold its monthly sales target of 2,500 units by more than fourfold, with 11,050 orders. Demand from customers switching from other brands has been especially notable, representing 51% of all orders and indicating that the all-new Impreza is attracting an ever-wider range of customers in Japan.
