German Car Zone

I don't really like the vertical themed center dashboard design, it makes the dashboard appear to look higher than it is, and it looks too MPV-ish.

I am 100% sure this interior will be of top quality, however there are too much silver plastics, and they tend to get scratched easily.

Well here we go, the JDM spec Legacy Wagon. It is still horrible, especially with that awkward side window shape, and those tail lights.

Thanks my Monster friend...

I really like it. I know, I'm an insufferable Subaru bigot.
Well, I've got to have some flaws eh?

Sadly, the new Legacy's biggest downfall will be the lack of a single engine in the range that combines good punch with acceptable frugality. I shan't have that (already) outmoded turbodiesel boxer because it's a flaccid wet fart above 3600 rpm, the 2.5 GT is big power which brings commensurately big fuel bills with limited touring range and the 3.6 H6 needs better specific outputs to be properly attractive.

Subaru needs a DI, light pressure, 2.0 litre turbo circa 130 kW / 300 Nm like there's no tomorrow to make the new Legacy a viable allrounder.

The sad truth for me and other real Sube fans, I'm afraid...

Probably will be great to drive, but it's too damn ugly. I don't like it. Sorry.

Definitely a step-back imho!

And also big time inspired by his region-fellow!

I have to say Subaru isn't trying hard enough in the engine development part of the new car, I don't know much about the diesel but I will take your word for it. Both 2.5GT and the 3.0 likes a drink, and I think the 3.6 H6 will be even worse. The outputs for the 3.6 is indeed disappointing, I am sure they can squeeze more than 190kW and 333 Nm from that engine right? I hope they really improve the torque range of that engine as well.

There isn't much info about the gearbox, the 4 speed auto has to go, and the 5 speed needs to be further developed. They did say a CVT gearbox will be available for all models but I am not a fan of those.


Here are some more photos, the black B4 looks almost acceptable but Martin, can you actually love that red Outback?





Just no... really no.... how can they turn this

into this

Hey Monster, thanks for loverrrly pics of that black B4. I quite like it - looks mean and aggressive - and fortunately this will be the KA Spec look that Oz and SA will be getting as opposed to the woefully dull USDM models.

Outback? Still looks a little fugly to me - it's that awful grill that's irking me. Why, Subaru, oh why do you ditch styling features that work for your cars - the old Outback grill was elegant and distinctive - and continually introduce new ones that just end up alienating more existing customers? I'll have to see Outback in the flesh to make a final judgement. Oh, and I hate D-pillars that taper towards the base of the pillar from the roof - but, in truth, we can't blame Subaru as this feature is very contemporary and used on Merc, Audi and Opel wagons now.

For whatever reason (I can't work out why), Subaru's NA Boxer engines have always fallen short on specific outputs per litre. The exception was the engine in your car which, upon its release was the most powerful NA 3.0 litre engine in a mainstream car. Even then, its 297 Nm still fell short of the 100 Nm per litre benchmark.

The 3.6 litre engine is essentially the same as in your car but with a shortened con-rod to increase swept volume by 100 cc's per cylinder. The idea is that the engine makes better power and torque using less fuel and being no bigger than the original (but much, much more characterful) engine. Of course, you're right, specific outputs are piffling relative to what Porsche can achieve with their flat sixes.

Some more pics:

Legacy Touring Wagon, top spec.



Don't care too much for the colour. Ugh.

The dark headlight surrounds, which wasn't on the USDM, helps to minimize the visual size of those big and featureless headlights, and it gives the car, especially on the black B4, a slightly menacing look.

They have completely lost it on the Outback. The old one's styling was subtle but distinctive enough to differentiate itself from the rest of the range, while this new one just looks like a normal wagon with a fugly grill. The old car gets its own bonnet design, the new one doesn't seem to have it.

I hate how they got rid of the wrap around glass surface and replace it with this horrible contrived shape around the D-pillar.

For me anyway the lack of torque is annoying when I need to overtake from cruising speed, every time I do, I have to rev it to beyond 4000rpm where the valve timing changes and actual power kicks in. Sure it is fun but fuel economy hurts. I also notice the engine is putting in a lot of fuel at low rpm but high engine load because there isn't much torque at the bottom end.

I really want to try out the 3.6 and see how it performs. What would be really useful is for Subaru to release dyno charts of the engine running on part load conditions because that is what the engine is at for most of the time when we drive.

I was going to mention Porsche before, but then Porsche has a much larger engineering budget than Subaru. The air intake system alone on the Porsche engine is way more refined and I suspect the engine management system is also more sophisticated. That isn't an excuse for Subaru though, they should up their game.

I can't think of any other manufacturer that can so consistently make such bland looking cars (Impreza is the exception) one generation after another.

And I think they are the last remaining manufacturer thta hasn't learned that too much fake-aluminium-plastic makes your interiors look really cheap.