The new generation Subaru Legacy (known as Liberty in Australia) has made its global debut at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show, in the United States.

With a focus on quality, refinement, environmental performance and safety, the new Legacy highlights include:

• Stylish look, reflecting Subaru's new face, incorporating the classic hexagonal grille and hawk-eye headlights
• High torque-compatible Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission mated to the 3.6-litre Boxer engine for the first time in a six-cylinder Subaru
• Significant safety gains, including the addition of reversing radar to the EyeSight driver assist system - a first for Subaru
• Active Torque Vectoring, for superior turning performance and steering response
• Even more spacious cabin, better visibility and enhanced overall safety

Shown in U.S. specification in Chicago, it is the sixth generation Legacy, having originally debuted 25 years ago, in 1989.

PRODUCT CONCEPT

THE FUSION OF DESIGN AND ENGINEERING

Since its inception, Legacy has consistently offered drivers sportiness with value, producing enjoyable, exhilarating, less stressful driving.

The product concept for new Legacy is "The fusion of design and engineering at a high level."

In addition to sharpening the basic performance essential to a Subaru sedan - ride quality, safety, packaging and more - all these elements were incorporated into the design.

Increasing overall vehicle quality and producing emotional appeal translates to a vehicle that is a pleasure to drive.

DESIGN

EXTERIOR

"Muscularity with agility" was adopted as the design theme, to create sportier and more refined styling for Legacy.

Maintaining the spacious and comfortable cabin for which Legacy is known, the styling focuses on a sculptured body, evoking a sense of safety and a strong base that grips the road with All-Wheel Drive.

The classic hexagonal grille and hawk-eye headlights are the new face of Subaru, while the dynamic character lines on the side add to Legacy's classy new look.

The nose cone design produces a more dynamic Legacy frontal appearance, while the rear combination lights have the same design motif as the front, for a consistent image.

LED tail and brake lights enhance fuel efficiency, and optimal light distribution improves night visibility.

INTERIOR

"Sporty and comfortable" was the design theme to significantly improved interior quality and comfort.

The new generation interior offers a sportier driver's area and an infotainment system for a more enjoyable in-car experience.

The cabin is configured for comfortable long distance driving, striking a balance between openness and a sense of security.

The wide dashboard has horizontal highlights producing an even wider feel.

Interior colours in the U.S. specification car are sporty black or ornate ivory.

In the black interior, silver highlights are added creating a sporty, yet spacious feel, while the ivory interior offers a bright and elegant ambience.

The head unit has a navigation system and audio with intuitive touch operation. A wide, flat centre display\* enables passengers to enjoy various media and information. Consolidating information onto one screen makes it easier to see and use too.

The harman/kardon speaker system has exclusive audio settings for excellent acoustics.

The instrument cluster gauges feature a dual-dial layout with a three-dimensional feel and integrated colour Liquid Crystal Displays, for greater presence and sporty impact. Blue-ring illumination of the gauges in range-topping models emphasizes the sporty feel.

\* Manufacturer-installed option in U.S. specification Legacy.

PACKAGING

New Legacy's cabin is more comfortable, while visibility, space and world-class safety are retained in a highly efficient package with strong, sporty styling and a bright, spacious feel.

While new Legacy maintains the same external dimensional feel, several aspects are refined, such as thinner door sash frames and revised roof frames, aiding cabin spaciousness.

Shoulder, elbow, waist and rear leg room in particular are increased for a more comfortable cabin and enhanced safety.

The A-pillar is moved forward to expand the cabin area. In addition, front quarter windows are added, with door-mounted side mirrors to reduce the front blind spot and increase forward visibility. All this enhances safety and makes the cabin feel more open.

Passenger hip points are revised to be higher, for a more natural seat positioning with better views.

Space between the driver and front passenger seat is widened to enlarge both the centre armrest and console box. Also, space when seated is expanded.

The thinner door sash frame and sun visors contribute to the airy, less-confined cabin feel too.

Rear seat passenger space is made more comfortable by expanding the distance to front seats. This is achieved by changing the front seat slide rail, expanding rear seat legroom.

TECHNICAL

CHASSIS AND BODY

The chassis, steering, suspension and brakes are totally revamped for performance above other vehicles in Legacy's class.

The pursuit of performance offers even more balance between steering stability and ride quality, achieving a higher quality ride.

Increased body rigidity and suspension mounting positions suppresses roll, achieving better ride quality without sacrificing suspension smoothness.

Suspension operating friction is reduced, while efficiency is further improved due to a basic layout that enhances stabilizer performance, combined with optimization of the front struts and rear shock absorbers.

This takes steering stability and ride quality to a new level.

STABLEX-Ride is employed for range-topping models. New valves and larger diameter front strut cylinders improve damping response at low piston speeds and permit damping suppression at high piston speeds, resulting in even more stable steering and comfortable ride.

To improve the dynamic rigidity of the rear suspension and its mounting positions on the chassis, the shape of the rear support sub-frame is completely renewed and redesigned, enhancing body rigidity. This achieves better ride quality and less vibration in the floor and seats.

The steering system employs a small, lightweight, high-powered control unit built into the electric power steering. This, along with increased motor output and finer motor controls, achieves an accurate and natural steering feel.

The steering wheel is designed using a highly rigid core metal and the steering column is lightened to ensure a solid, quality feel.

Active Torque Vectoring achieves superior turning performance and steering response.

Brakes are engineered to produce predictable feel which balances responsiveness, control and rigidity. Building the electronic parking brake (EPB) into the rear caliper makes the system quieter and more responsive.

Wheel bearing size is enlarged. This enhances rigidity while reducing weight, for increased steering stability and ride comfort. The aerodynamic wheel designs also help to improve fuel economy.

ENGINE

2.5-LITRE DOHC HORIZONTALLY-OPPOSED FOUR-CYLINDER NORMALLY ASPIRATED BOXER ENGINE

Mid-range torque is raised in the FB25 Boxer engine, meaning more control and a lighter feel in practical driving ranges. Also, significant changes revolving around the intake, exhaust and combustion systems have improved fuel economy.

While keeping the same basic structure from the previous intake manifold and tumble generator valve (TGV), TGV valve position and intake port shape are given a simpler orientation. These changes balance volumetric efficiency in higher engine speed ranges, with efficient combustion in lower engine speed ranges, improving both power and fuel efficiency.

The intake sound is tuned to produce a pleasant, congruous engine tone.

3.6-LITRE DOHC HORIZONTALLY-OPPOSED SIX-CYLINDER NORMALLY ASPIRATED BOXER ENGINE

Subaru continues its many years of honing performance from its EZ Boxer engine, improving fuel efficiency by employing the high-torque-compatible Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission.

The Engine Control Unit (ECU) has a lighter next-generation microcontroller, which allows for further environmental measures.

TRANSMISSION

LINEARTRONIC CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION

Power and environmental performance are enhanced from the previous Lineartronic model for increased fuel efficiency.

This also benefits drivability, with smooth Lineartronic shifting and a light ride that reflect driver intentions.

Friction within the transmission is reduced for improved fuel efficiency and a vibration noise reducer is added to reduce ride noise.

New step shift control retains the shift-shock-free smooth acceleration that is a characteristic of Lineartronic transmissions, while increasing vehicle and engine speed and providing a nimble ride that responds directly to driver input.

With the standard paddle shifting in six-speed manual mode, the driver can select the optimal gear quickly, without taking their hands off the wheel, even under sudden deceleration or heavy acceleration, for an enjoyable sporty driving experience.

HIGH TORQUE-COMPATIBLE LINEARTRONIC CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION

By adopting the high-torque-compatible Lineartronic with the 3.6-litre Boxer engine, both drivability and environmental performance benefit.

The torque converter, oil pump and forward-reverse mechanism are newly designed while employing a new shifting controller for enhanced drivability and reduced ride noise.

SAFETY

Building on a strong body frame base, both traditional active and passive safety performance are further advanced for improved all-round safety.

In addition to the new EyeSight, rear and side visibility support features comprising Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Lane Change Assist (LCA), and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), as well as Steering Responsive Fog (SRF) lights, that move to maintain good frontal visibility as the vehicle rounds a bend, are added to dramatically improve preventative safety and driving load-reduction.

ACTIVE SAFETY

NEW EYESIGHT

The new EyeSight driver-assist system incorporates fully revamped stereo cameras that increase the view angle and view distance by approximately 40 per cent, further improving preventative safety and driver workload-reduction features such as pre-crash braking and adaptive cruise control.

STEERING RESPONSIVE FOG (SRF) LIGHTS

SRF automatically turns on the fog lights on one side during cornering, improving visibility when cornering at night. In consideration of oncoming vehicles, this function can turn the fog lights on and off according to the steering angle and driving speed.

REAR AND SIDE VISIBILITY SUPPORT FEATURES

BLIND SPOT DETECTION (BSD)

BSD flashes LEDs to alert the driver to vehicles in the blind spots behind the C- and D-pillars to the rear. If the driver operates an indicator to change lanes while a vehicle is in a blind spot, LEDs in the door mirror flash to warn the driver.

LANE CHANGE ASSIST (LCA)

If the driver operates an indicator to change lanes while a vehicle is rapidly approaching in an adjacent lane, LEDs in the door mirror flash to warn the driver.

REAR CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT (RCTA)

RCTA emits an audible warning sound if it detects the danger of a collision due to a vehicle approaching from the left or right while reversing. If a vehicle approaches from the left or right while the driver has selected reverse gear and is reversing, the driver is alerted by LEDs flashing in the door mirror, an icon displayed in the rear-view camera monitor, and an audible warning sound from the speedometer.

PASSIVE SAFETY

980 MPa-class high-tensile steel is used effectively in more areas where body strength is required to reduce weight, while achieving world-class safety in front, side, and rear impacts.

Safety performance of seats and seatbelts is raised too.

Side airbags add an all-new two-chamber system, with the chest and waist sections split for safety.

The protection area of the curtain airbags is expanded to enhance performance in preventing passengers from being ejected from the cabin during a rollover.

Seat cushion airbags reduce tightness in the chest and waist areas, helping the seat belts to better restrain passengers in the case of front collisions.

LEGACY MAJOR SPECIFICATIONS (U.S.-ONLY)

\* Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with fully automatic electronic control

For further information, contact:

David Rowley
National Corporate Affairs Manager
Subaru Australia
Telephone: (02) 8892 9853
Mobile: 0418 237 252
Fax: (02) 8892 9121
E-mail: david.rowley@subaru.com.au