Subaru start a new Legacy

New year, new car is the sentiment across the industry as the carmakers release news of their updated product ranges for 2010. Subaru joins them, with the launch of its fifth generation Legacy to mark the new year.

The new Legacy has an enhanced presence, Subaru tell us, with bold new look to its grille and headlamps.

A significantly increased length, longer wheelbase and wider track enabled designers to sculpt a New Legacy with a much bolder stance and greatly heightened on-road presence that also hints at Subaru’s core technology – Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD) – which remains at the heart of this newcomer.

Prominently-projecting wheel arches express the power running through the AWD system. The lower body is designed with minimum character lines to emphasize strength and stability. By contrast, there are strong flowing lines above the belt-line and chrome-plated mouldings around the side glass-house edges. These not only enhance the cabin presence, but also combine to create a premium look.
Overall, the exterior of New Legacy boasts a three-dimensional solidity that expresses a new type of sportiness.

More space, more comfort plus easy functionality

Naturally, the cabin design of the New Legacy reflects the dynamic subtleties of the exterior. The design team’s key mantra was “Active and Quality Feeling” and while exploiting the enhanced cabin space available within the new bodyshell, it paid particular attention to detail to ensure easy-to-use functionality, for the driver and passengers and maximum comfort for extended journeys. Double-seals on all doors and windows enhance refinement by reducing the intrusion of wind noise.

The all-new, larger front seats offer excellent comfort and support, with 10-way power adjustment on the driver’s seat (including lumbar support), and four-way manual adjustment on the passenger seat. The front seats feature 20 per cent softer cushions and 10 per cent softer backrests.

The driver’s seat benefits from more adjustability, with a 10 mm increase in fore/aft slide range, 20 mm more height movement, a 2 degree increase in cushion tilt and now a 20 mm lumbar adjustment. Rear seats passengers are also offered enhanced comfort.

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Facing the driver, a new instrument cluster features four dials outlined in aluminium rings, and the new three-spoke steering wheel is leather-wrapped, with integrated audio and cruise controls, and a wider range of adjustment – 40 mm for both reach and rake.

Comfort and Convenience

Building on the premium ambience created by the new exterior and interior styling, plus the enhanced and generous cabin space, the New Legacy is comprehensively equipped to ensure maximum comfort for all occupants.

The Legacy, both Saloon and Tourer, feature dual-zone, fully automatic air-conditioning with an anti-dust filter and heating ducts to the rear passenger footwells. A premium audio system, with a radio/CD player, six speakers (including two tweeters) and steering wheel-mounted remote controls, is standard. For the New Legacy, radio reception has been significantly improved by the fitting of two high performance antennas within the rear window glass.

The audio systems are MP3 compatible and a Bluetooth* hands-free system is fitted as standard. Voice activation from the hands-free microphone allows users to make phone calls and operate the audio appliances.

Facing the New Legacy driver, the new instrument panel integrates clarity, functionality and a visual richness in keeping with the premium character of the new model. Four dials are ringed in aluminium and feature an additional liquid crystal display panel in the centre. The dials and the display are illuminated constantly, even in daytime, to improve visibility. The dials appear white with the ignition off and turn light blue with the ignition on. When the ignition is switched on, the gauge needles sweep to the maximum position and then quickly return to zero – heightening the excitement and anticipation of the journey to come. A glow indicator, sediment warning light and diesel particulate filter warning light are also added.

The new Multi-Information Display (MID) is positioned on the centre stack’s upper surface so that it can be viewed from all seats. The MID shows ambient temperature, fuel consumption information (instantaneous fuel efficiency, average fuel efficiency, driving range to empty), passenger seatbelt warning lights and a digital clock.

Major controls in the New Legacy are laid out to minimise both the intrusion into the driver’s line of sight and the time the driver’s hands are away from the steering wheel. Minor controls and switches are positioned to optimise ease-of-use.

Equipment available as standard on the New Legacy includes: automatic operation of headlamps and windscreen wipers, front and rear electric windows (with auto up/down function on the driver’s door and keyless access.

Transmission and Drivetrain

Standard transmission for New Legacy is a new manual six-speed unit. This compact transmission is the same length as the previous five-speed unit and weighs just five kg more.

Improvements featured in the new transmission include a cable-type linkage and a carbon synchronizer for the first and second ratios, constantly-engaged synchromesh for reverse gear, to improve the shift feel and optimised lubrication paths for reduced friction losses. The broader ratio coverage provide by the six-speed unit delivers better fuel economy, plus improved drivability and quietness at higher speeds.

Author: Faye Sunderland, January 4th, 2010
Filed under: Subaru | No Comments »