subaru legacy

All-New 2009 Subaru LEGACY CONCEPT Debuts at the 2009 North American International Auto Show

- Concept car hints at future Legacy design language -

- Features Symmetrical AWD and 3.6-liter Boxer engine -

DETROIT, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire/ — Subaru of America, Inc. revealed the 2009 Subaru LEGACY CONCEPT today at the 2009 North American International Auto Show. The new LEGACY CONCEPT is a hint at the future of Legacy design. The design showcases the sport sedan heritage of the Subaru Legacy, but in more modern and purposeful package.

Marking the 20th anniversary of the Subaru Legacy, the LEGACY CONCEPT has been developed to showcase the Legacy’s sporting capabilities and features Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system mated to a Horizontally-Opposed Boxer engine. The design concept is based on a larger 108.3 in. wheelbase designed to maximize interior space and provide comfortable accommodations for four adults.

The theme of concept design is “Presence”, represented by the aggressive front facia and solid yet expressive body. Four powerful and defined wheel arches emphasize the dynamism of Symmetrical AWD. Sharp design lines carve out a substantial mass as they flow from the hood, across the roof to the trunk, while the sharp body lines project a sense of strength. Wedge-shaped Side Rear Vision Cameras are featured and provide a sense of flow from the momentum of the A-pillar lines. A character line runs from just before the A-pillar and sweeps up to the tail just above the taillamps.

In many higher trim levels have some standard features which have been given as options in lower trims models. A voice-activated navigation system is optional in the Limited models and features a USB/iPod input, streaming Bluetooth audio as well as a back-up camera.


With its slab-like front and large headlight, the new completely revamped 2010 Subaru Legacy is not something out of place on an SUV crossover, but the previous Legacy shapes have been ranged from innocuous to downright sleek, and it seems somewhat more controversial and one can expect that the new skin of the Legacy will be quite warming for the consumers. But it still has a lot to inspire with its heavily featured under hood features.

As we can expect from it the vehicles in the 2010 Legacy line are coming standard with all-wheel drive that is a feature which makes Subaru a real fixture in the snowbelt of the United States. We are also expecting some well expanded dimensions in the Legacy that couldn’t be seen in the previous model because of its somewhat tight cabin. Getting its inspiration from Mazda 6 and the Honda Accord, the 2010 Subaru Legacy has the dimensions of 3.3” height, 3.5” width and 3.2” wheelbase. If it is compared with the previous Legacy, it seems to get considerable gains in many parts, but despite this gain it grows just 1.4” in overall size and gets nearly 50 pounds more in weight.

The diverse powertrain array is another hallmark of the Legacy, and the new Legacy seems to carry the same tradition with its 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer that many of you would find quite sufficient. However those who want more in speed must be pleased to know about two other optional engines.

Besides its distinctive powertrains, large cabin and standard all-wheel drive, the 2010 Subaru Legacy also features a really inspiring interior with a complete array of electronic gadgetry that most of buyers can’t resist.

When it comes to styling, options and Trim Levels, this five-passenger midsize sedan is being offered in 2.5i, 2.5i Premium and 2.5i Limited and many other trim levels.
There are 16” steel wheels, a height adjustable driver seat, air-conditioning, a tilt-telescoping steering wheel and integrated audio control  electronic parking brakes and a four-speaker stereo with CD player are coming as standard in the base 2.5i. Similarly, the 2.5GT Premium has a four-cylinder turbocharged engine, 18” alloy wheels, larger brakes and a hood scoop with the All Weather package.

DAMD is a tuning company specialized in Japanese cars, so all the Honda’s, Nissan, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Toyota and other cars from that region were prepared by them. But now was the time for some Subaru. So the BlackXMetal range has just been extended with an already very sporty car under the hood. The newSubaru Legacy Tourer. The designers at DAMD have created an exterior package in order to balance this high performance with stunning good looks A new front bumper was feeted with more aggressive spoilers and a large silver grill now took place were sometimes Subaru’s badge was. The grill complements the line from the bonnet but it resembles with the look of the Germans cars with that. But they have a good reason for because the new grill also improves cooling and aerodynamic efficiency. DAMD give some attention for the rear and sides also. Side skirts and new rear diffuser were mounted to complete the overall modification done to the car. The kit is available in 2 variants with the prices starting at 163,800 yen including taxes and up to 180,800 yen for the carbon kit .The car shown also has the optional chrome grill inserted with the mesh in the grill made from aluminium that was priced for is another 29,400 yen. The interior has been fitted with double-stitched Bourgundy red leather for the demonstration car. The Subaru Legacy Tourer was feeted with a set of Racing Sparco NS-06 Cheetah wheels in Silver, and tires Bridgestone Playz PZ-1 (front and rear: 225/35R-19).

subaru forester

If you were hoping to see an all-new wrapper announce the arrival of this reworked engine, Subaru has news for you. It ain’t happening. The third-generation Forester debuted in 2008, and the vehicle’s face and roomy proportions are still quite fresh. To that end, there’s little to distinguish the 2011 model from its 2010 counterpart. Up front, the grille and swept headlights work together to create a cohesive look that draws your eye down the side of the vehicle. Details like large insets for fog lights, flared fenders and boxy side-view mirrors help give the Forester more of an SUV flavor than other compact high-riders out there, and while we miss some of the wagon aspects of older Foresters, we have to say this look is plenty becoming, especially when lined up against some of the other designs in the Subaru stable.

Inside, the story is much the same. Hordes of hard, yet well-grained plastics still abound, and while the decorative swath of silver trim helps to brighten the cabin, the cockpit is still a little dark for our tastes. The driver is treated to a well-sorted steering wheel with controls for cruise, hands-free calling and the stereo within reach, and the set of somewhat plain gauges are easy to read day or night. Things become a little muddled in the center stack, however. Our tester came with the optional TomTom navigation system, and its fitment looks aftermarket at best.

While most everything is well situated and logically laid out indoors, we did have to scratch our heads a bit over the placement of the switches for the heated seats. Located under the arm rest and on the driver’s side of the cupholder, passengers have no chance of finding the controls without instruction. While it makes for hilarious bun-warming practical jokes from the driver, a more centrally-situated location would be more user-friendly.

Of course, all of that could easily be said about the 2010 model. The real difference here lurks under the hood. Despite the deceptively similar numbers compared to last year’s model, the 2011 Forester uses an engine that’s considerably more advanced than its predecessor. The old engine’s belt-driven, single-overhead cam design has been replaced with a chain-driven dual-overhead cam setup for better efficiency. The change helped net the engine an extra one mpg in the city on the EPA’s cycle. Additionally, the four-cylinder uses a marginally larger bore and longer stroke, tweaking displacement from 2,457cc to 2,498cc and helping to deliver an extra four pound-feet of torque 300 rpm sooner than the old 2.5-liter engine.

Unfortunately, the new engine is still bolted to the same four-speed automatic transmission that Moses brought down from Mount Fuji. As a result, the new 2.5-liter feels very similar to the old one in terms of acceleration. The slight bump in torque is barely apparent low in the rev band, and the engine still runs out of breath on the deep end of the tachometer. Still, that’s not to say that the four-cylinder is identical to its predecessor. The engine is significantly quieter and a galaxy smoother than the last generation boxer four-cylinder. Whereas the 2010 Forester was saddled with the company’s characteristically tractor-esque rumble from under the rounded hood, the 2011 hums along with a fraction of the racket. To us, the improvement would have been worth building five factories to accomplish.

Otherwise, miraculously little has changed from last year’s model to 2011. The Forester still provides hilariously excellent driving dynamics given its lofty ride height thanks to a pile of DNA borrowed from the lovable WRX. Compared to metal like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV-4, the Forester is a grin-maker through any series of twists. Just make sure the groceries are tied down in the rear.

During our week with the Forester, we saw an average of 23.4 mpg in mild-to-aggressive combined driving, landing just a glimmer north of the EPA’s 21 mpg city and 27 mpg highway rating. While the Forester 2.5X Premium carries an MSRP of $23,495, our tester came equipped with the $1,095 option package that throws in the TomTom navigation system, heated front seats and windshield wiper de-icer. The archaic four-speed automatic transmission adds another $1,000 to the recipe, and a $725 destination charge brought our final figure to $26,315.

We’ve had a soft-spot for the Forester since the first generation debuted in 1998, and while we would have liked the third-generation boxer engine bring to bring a little more to the table, the quieter, smoother mill makes for a more pleasant driving experience altogether. For us, the five-speed manual transmission is the logical solution to the old four-speed automatic, at least until Subaru can come up with an automatic gearbox to keep pace with its new engine architecture. With its surprising poise, copious cargo room and ample passenger space, the Forester still makes an excellent alternative to hordes of Novocain CUVs out there.

If you are a huge fan of Subaru's SUV, the Forester, and live in North America, you will be glad to hear that Subaru is giving a little power upgrade to its 2011 Forester :

All-new engine for Forester 2.5X models (turbocharged 2.5XT retains current engine); new bore/stroke dimensions with slightly longer stroke; displacement slightly larger (2,498 cc vs. 2,457 cc); chain driven double overhead cam vs. belt driven single overhead cam before; 170 horsepower is same as before, at slightly lower rpm; torque is up to 174 lb.-ft. at 4,100 rpm (vs. 170 @ 4,400 rpm); fuel economy is improved: 2011 manual and automatic transmissions -- 21 mpg city / 27 mpg highway vs. 2010 20/27 for manual and 20/26 for automatic.

New 2.5X Touring positioned above Limited: features HID headlights (low beam) with automatic height adjustment; display audio system with backup camera; dual zone automatic climate control; silver finish roof rails; electroluminescent gauges, and side mirrors with integrated turn signals.

2.5XT models now include 2.5XT Premium and 2.5XT Touring, the latter replacing 2.5XT Limited as top Forester model.

2.5XT Premium gets new 10-way power driver’s seat.

Bluetooth® standard on all but base model.

Backup camera standard on 2.5X Touring and 2.5XT Touring as part of new audio system.

New standard audio system for 2.5X Premium and 2.5XT Premium: AM/FM stereo with single-disc CD player and six speakers; 3.5mm auxiliary input jack; Bluetooth® hands free calling and audio streaming; iPod control capability; USB port and Sirius Satellite Radio capability.

New optional TomTom Navigation System for 2.5X Premium includes removable 4.3-inch touch-screen portable navigation device; AM/FM stereo with single-disc CD/DVD player and six speakers; 3.5mm auxiliary input jack; Bluetooth hands free calling; iPod control capability and USB port. Also, a backup camera is available as an accessory with this system.

New audio system with rear camera for 2.5X Limited and Touring and 2.5XT Touring models: AM/FM stereo with single-disc CD/DVD player and six speakers; 4.3-inch display screen, Radio Broadcast Data System; 3.5mm auxiliary input jack; Bluetooth hands free calling and audio streaming; iPod control capability; USB port and Sirius Satellite Radio capability. (The backup camera is standard on 2.5X Touring and 2.5XT Touring and available as an accessory for 2.5X Limited.)