All-new Subaru Impreza proclaimed as 2017 Car of the Year Japan

The all-new Subaru Impreza was recently honored as the 2017 Car of the Year Japan (COTY). This is the 2nd time the Japanese carmaker received the award since the Legacy’s win in 2003.

Launched last October 2016 in Japan, the Impreza had a total of 420 votes from a panel of 59 judges, beating the Toyota Prius with just 49 votes.

When we started developing the Impreza over 4 years ago, never did I imagine I’d be standing here today with such a prestigious award. This must be what it feels like to win an Olympic gold. The Impreza’s new global platform has great meaning for the company moving forward and will underpin nearly all of our cars over the next decade. On behalf of all of my R&D team, I’d like to thank the jurors for their support of this car,” said Impreza chief engineer Kazuhiro Abe.

The all-new Impreza's front fascia boasts narrower headlights, a sculpted hood, and hexagonal grille. Moreover, its sides feature more prominent character lines flowing from the headlight towards the taillight giving it a more muscular look compared to its predecessor.

Being the first model to be fitted with the new Subaru Global Platform, the 2017 Impreza aims to offer “Enjoyment and Peace of Mind” for all its drivers and passengers. In addition, this compact sedan is also the first car ever produced by a Japanese brand to include a pedestrian protection airbag as standard.

The Japan COTY organization is composed of 59 jurors. Each has 25 votes with 10 going to their highest rated vehicles, while the remaining 15 votes will be spread out to their next 4 best cars. Each juror is required to vote for 5 cars out of the final top 10. Only cars officially announced or launched in Japan between November 1, 2015 to October 31, 2016, with a projected sales of 500 units are eligible to win.