Leaked: WRX exposed!

SUBARU enthusiasts have gone crazy in recent days over leaked photos of an all-new Subaru Impreza WRX that have been published in top-selling US magazine "Motor Trend".

The photos are apparently authentic and show a controversial departure from previous WRX styling, with obvious hints of the BMW 1 series and the Mazda3 in the design.

And word from the US is that there will be no sedan version – the iconic shape for the first two generations of WRX – just the hatchback you see here.

This suggests that the WRX will be pitched directly at the ‘hot hatch’ market long dominated by the VW Golf GTi and recently joined by the Honda Civic Type-R, Mazda3 MPS, Ford Focus XR5 and Opel/Holden Astra VXR.

All will be officially revealed on Thursday 5 April (early Good Friday local time) when the Impreza is officially revealed at the New York auto show.

Despite widespread speculation to the contrary, Subaru will retain both the Impreza and WRX names for the new generation.

Built on the same basic Subaru family four-wheel drive platform that supports the Liberty, Forester and Tribeca, the new Impreza WRX will continue to be powered by a 2.5-litre turbocharged flat-four engine producing more power than the current car’s 169kW.

However, the focus for enthusiasts on internet chatrooms this week has not been on performance, but looks, with most being highly critical of the styling.

It must seem like a case of d&eacute j&agrave vu for Subaru, which endured a general public and media mauling when previous ‘bug-eye’ model was launched in 2000.

The backlash was so savage that the company fast-tracked a massive facelift that was introduced only two years later.

The third-generation WRX is slated for Australian release in September.