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Pictures of Subarus new Impreza WRX have been leaked in an American car magazine almost two weeks ahead of its world debut at Aprils New York motor show.
The photos have been electronically scanned from Motor Trend magazine and circulated on the internet, in the process breaking Subarus strict global embargo of Thursday, April 5.
Subaru spokesman David Rowley refused to comment on the validity of the pictures.
The new-generation car wont be unveiled officially until Thursday [5th April], New York time, he said.
Motor Trend magazines official pictures confirm speculation that the Japanese car makers highly popular Impreza small car is making a radical styling departure from its traditional roots.
Subarus third-generation WRX takes the companys design language in a new direction after the company admitted it was abandoning the controversial fuselage corporate face used on the current WRX and Tribeca four-wheel-drive.
Subaru is understood to be dropping the sedan version of the WRX, and will go after popular European hot hatches such as Audis S3 and Volkswagens Golf GTI.
The Impreza WRX will also compete with hot Japanese hatches like the Mazda 3 MPS and Honda Civic Type-R.
The WRX leads the charge for an all-new Impreza range which will go head to head with the Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3 and Ford Focus.
These more affordable models will feature the WRX's all-wheel drive system, but not the turbocharged engine or bonnet scoop, or indeed its rally-inspired suspension tune.
The new WRX, which arrives locally in the third quarter of 2007, takes its visual inspiration from Subarus 2005 Tokyo motor show concept, called the B5-THP most notably the blending of the grille and headlights.
It replaces the second-generation model launched in Australia in 2000, complete with controversially styled round headlights - quickly dubbed 'bug-eye' lights by fans and critics. The model was facelifted just two years later in an effort to answer these criticisms.
The new model will no doubt strengthen the WRX's reputation for affordable performance, building on the current model's 169kW, 2.5-litre turbocharged engine and six-second 0-100km/h performance.
Price should stay close to the current car's $39,990 but may climb marginally to compensate for increased safety and specification.
