Subaru Legacy: American Version

Motoring Channel Staff - 1/April/2009

New York, America – Subaru has released details and images of the new generation Legacy, know as the Liberty in Australia.

To be launched at the 2009 New York Auto Show on April 9th, the new model will be sold in America only, while Australia will get a slightly different looking model when the new Japanese-specification Liberty launches in Oz come September.

The Subaru Legacy that you see here is will be exclusively available in the United States and Canada, and will go on sale around June in those markets.

Subaru explains that the major difference between the U.S. produced Legacy and the Japanese-made vehicles that will come to Australia are that the American cars are slightly wider.

The car maker confirmed however that 'all new generation versions are wider and longer than the current car, offering significant increases in passenger and cargo area'.

The range of available engines on the next generation Legacy/Liberty will increase and is expected to mirror the choices given to the American market (see below).

New Lineartronic CVT and 6-speed manual transmissions will be on offer, along with the choice of a Porsche 911-sized 3.6-litre 6-cylinder horizontally opposed boxer engine outputting 188 kilowatts of power. 

Nick Senior, the managing director of Subaru Australia, said: "Safety, performance and style are all key ingredients in the new generation Liberty mix. Combined with the high quality engineering for which Subaru is renowned, it represents a formidable package."

The next generation Subaru Liberty, which is based on an entirely new platform, is yet to break cover. 

But rest assured we'll bring you the update as it happens.

American Legacy

Boasting a new look, a wider body and more interior room, the all-new North American market Subaru Legacy has been unveiled ahead of its public debut in New York.

The fifth generation Legacy will get a range of new technologies not seen from Subaru before, including continuously variable transmissions (CVT) that Subaru has dubbed 'Lineartronic' and an electronic park brake.

Based on an all-new platform, the new Legacy sedan 'offers roominess comparable to mainstream midsize sedans in the North American market' says Subaru.

The vehicle is 35mm longer, 90mm wider and 80mm higher than the previous model but the overhangs dimensions are shortened by 45mm. It's got a bigger trunk to fit four nine-inch golf bags and has the following exterior dimensions:

- Length: 4,735mm
- Width: 1,820mm
- Height: 1,505mm

There's also been some change to the engine line-up, but the boxer engines and symmetrical all-wheel drive systems remain.

Entry level models are packed with naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre 4-cylinder boxer engine that pumps out 125kW (170hp) and 230Nm of torque.

Next in line is the turbocharged version of this 2.5-litre engine, with an output of 195kW (265hp) and 350Nm of torque. 

Then there's the new 3.6R 6-cylinder model which replaces the previous 3.0-litre model and makes 188kW (256hp) and 335Nm of torque.

Some of the features on offer include a 10-way electric driver's seat, new three-spoke steering wheels, updated vehicle dynamics control (VDC), electronic hill holder system and an electronic parking brake.

The interiors have also been redesigned with improved dash plastics, new instrument displays and

Many of these new features will be part of the Japanese-spec models that will come to Australia later in 2009.

Related Links:
- Subaru Legacy Concept (2009)
- Subaru WRX STI 20th Anniversary (2009)
- Subaru Impreza WRX (2009)
- Subaru Impreza Sedan (2009)
- Subaru Forester Diesel (2009)
- Subaru Forester (Road Test)
- Subaru Impreza WRX STI (Road Test)
- Subaru Exiga (2008)
- Subaru Impreza WRX (Road Test)
- Subaru Forester XT (Road Test)
- Subaru Tribeca (2008)
- Subaru Impreza World Rally Car (2008)
- Subaru Liberty GT Spec.B - Tuned by STI (Road Test)