THE slow emergence of personal contract motoring in favour of the provision of a company car as a employee perk is leading to dividends for Subaru and its expanding Impreza range. As the manufacturer unveiled its 276bhp Impreza P1 two-door saloon, which is aimed at fighting back against 'grey' imports, Harvey France, Subaru's national fleet sales manager, revealed the Impreza was winning ground in the company car park.

Year-on-year until the end of September sales of all models are up about 12% to 9,357 units with the 12-month total forecast to reach 11,500. France said the increasing popularity of personal contract motoring, although not at its predicted pace, was leading to fleets calling on Subaru. The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association's 1999 Industry Review shows between 1996 and 1998 the number of vehicles sourced in this way has only risen from 4,271 to 7,661 and by only 240 units last year.

But France said: 'We are now talking to the larger fleets because they are widening their choice lists to the point where drivers can have anything except soft tops or two-door models.'