New Subaru Impreza to be hatchback only

• First pictures of Subaru's new Impreza
• UK will only get hatchback version
• Impreza will have new 2.0-litre diesel from 2009

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• More pictures

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Subaru's next Impreza will be launched at the New York motor show on Friday - and it's being built in a striking new hatchback form.

Until now, the Impreza has only appeared in saloon and estate forms in this country. When the new Impreza hits the UK in the autumn, though, it will be sold only in the new five-door hatchback form.

That's not all that's new, though - from 2009, the car will feature the horizontally opposed 2.0-litre diesel engine first shown at the Geneva Motor Show last month. Otherwise, the engine range continues with the same petrol engines as the current car.

Another unexpected surprise is the omission of the 230bhp WRX model - Subaru wants to concentrate on higher-selling, less-expensive, lower-powered cars. However, a 300bhp STi performance model will be available next year.