2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STI   The Alfa Romeo inspired brake lights are different An artists impression of the 2006 Impreza WRC car. Note the grilles lower positioning

Since its inception in the early 1990s, Subaru's turbocharged 4-cylinder WRX has been a car that so many young lads have dreamt about, and many older boys drive about, all of whom are stirred by the vehicle's incredible performance, peachy pricepoint and even the trademark bonnet scoop.

The worship of such a vehicle is often accompanied by so much passion that whenever a new model is launched, the ardent fans go stir crazy.

Some would shout "It's a masterpiece" while others mock "Not even a mother could love a face like that".

Indeed, the Subaru Impreza and in particular the WRX have been through some trying times as various designers try to improve upon the car's now mythic status in the automotive world.

And here we have the first couple of images of what is expected to be the 2006 model Subaru WRX, which will go on sale in Japan in late 2005, followed by Europe and the Americas in 2006.

Believed to be the lovechild of Subaru's new Grecian chief of design, ex Alfa Romeo design guru Andreas Zapatinas, the front end incorporates a much more aggressive look that more closely resembles the Subaru Liberty/Legacy, particularly when you look at the headlight cluster.

The new grille, however, will be the biggest talking point.

Love it or loathe it, it's certainly brash and bold, borrowing styling cues from concept cars such as the B11S coupe.

Split into three segments, it forgoes the traditional single piece grille, giving it a busy, somewhat Euro-influenced look.

At the rear a number of changes have been made also. The STI models (pictured) will ship with twin exhaust pipes, which give the rear end a wider, butcher look, and new brake light clusters also make the grade -- and who knew that Zapatinas was an ex-Alfa Romeo designer?

Looking very similar to the stop lamps seen on the '04 model Alfa Romeo 156, for mine they don't really work with the rear end.

Something squarer or at least chunkier would probably have pleased these oculars a little more and would have integrated better into what is a fairly chunky little car. But like the bug eyed '02 WRX, perhaps in time they will become innocuous.

Other than the front and rear ends, the car is proportionally similar and largely unchanged. But between now and the car's launch in the Nihon in late 2005, a lot can happen.

As far as the punchy horizontally opposed 4-cylinder turbo engine goes, not much is known about changes at this early stage. The rumour mill is spinning out of control and numbers such as 300kW are being bandied about. While possible in the STI models, the standard Australian-spec WRX is likely to benefit from a moderate power hike from 168kW or about 230hp, to about 175kW (238hp).