Subaru World Rally Team's new Impreza WRC2003 is making its Australian motor show debut in Brisbane on Friday (February 7).

The latest evolution of the legendary All-Wheel Drive world rally car features revisions to the engine, roll-cage, body panels and aerodynamics package.

The Impreza WRC2003 is the result of a new integrated design process between Prodrive in the United Kingdom and Subaru in Japan.

Common design and manufacturing systems are used to harness the engineering skills of both organizations.

The body shell is lighter and stiffer, the design uses the air in a far more efficient way and the reduced frontal area makes the entire package more aerodynamic.

SWRT's Impreza WRC2003s, driven by Tommi Makinen and Petter Solberg, will compete in Rally Sweden this weekend (5-9 February). The rally is the second of the 14-round World Rally Championship.

Brisbane International Motor Show is being held at the city's Convention and Exhibition Centre from 7-16 February.

Impreza WRX STi debuts too
Also making its Australian motor show debut is Subaru's Model Year 2003 Impreza WRX STi.
The ultimate Impreza sports an aggressive new look that includes a larger bonnet scoop, and World Rally Championship-style body kit featuring flared sills, aerodynamic front bumper side blisters and a bold rear spoiler.

A raft of interior changes include a smaller-diameter STi-design three-spoke sports steering wheel, all-new instrument binnacle back-lit in red with a unique ignition "on" display sequence. The STi logo is clearly visible in the centre-mounted tachometer.

In keeping with the rally theme of Impreza WRX STi, there is blue carpet throughout.

Other detail highlights include chrome doorhandles.

All turbocharged Imprezas feature a keypad immobiliser alarm system as standard. Combined with DataDot technology, this makes them among the best protected cars available on the Australian market.

Intercooler efficiency has been improved by altering the shape of the air baffle plate inside the scoop and by increasing the spray pattern from the water nozzles.

Front suspension rigidity has been strengthened by adding a performance rod to the front cross member and by strengthening the mounts of the transverse linkages, resulting in better steering response.

Rear cross member reinforcement brackets have been added.

Handling has also been enhanced by minimizing geometry variations during cornering.

For better noise and vibration supression, rear cross member bushings have been modified too.

MY03 Impreza WRX STi is priced at $56,630.

Subaru Rally night

Subaru will be hosting a rally afternoon at Brisbane Motor Show on Saturday 15 February.

Subaru Rally Team Australia aces Possum Bourne, Cody Crocker and Dean Herridge will be on the Subaru stand to meet fans and talk about the 2003 Australian Rally Championship which gets underway in March.
Possum won a record breaking seventh consecutive ARC Drivers title in 2002.