LA MOTOR SHOW: Next Subaru Liberty

Not content with staging the world debut of its new WRX, Subaru will also preview the look of its sixth-generation Liberty at next week’s Los Angeles motor show.

The Japanese brand has announced it will stage the international premiere of the Legacy Concept in LA on November 20, providing the first official indication of the redesigned Liberty mid-size sedan due on sale next year – the 25th anniversary year of Subaru’s Liberty/Legacy.

Wrapped in a sleek four-door coupe-like bodyshell, the Legacy Concept introduces yet another new exterior design language and presents a handsome front-end design that shares little with the upcoming WRX.

The aggressive frontal treatment features a large six-sided grille with three prominent chromed bars, a large lower air-dam flanked by chromed vertical air intakes and sleek new headlights with C-shaped, blue-tinged LED accents.

The side profile is dominated by a sharp, rising shoulder crease and heavily blistered wheel-arches wrapped around huge 21-inch wheels with 265/40-section tyres, while the rear-end echoes the front’s lighting treatment and adds twin outboard exhaust outlets that match the front side air intakes.

Subaru says the concept measures 4930mm long, 1940mm wide and 1500mm high, and rides on a 2880mm wheelbase, making it a whole 185mm longer and 160mm wider than the fifth-generation Liberty launched in Australia in 2009. It is also 5mm lower and 130mm longer in wheelbase.

Images of the four-seat interior, which is illuminated by a full glass roof and can be partially seen in these two exterior photos, are yet to be released.

However, Subaru says it “embodies dynamic and solid design” and features quality brown leather trim with blue accents, a large multi-function display with tablet-style functionality and full-length centre console with rear-seat controls.

Technologies include Subaru’s EyeSight driver assist system including a head-up display, plus seats that employ air-conditioning and breathable trim to “provide a comfortable environment for a long drive”.

Given the production WRX’s apparent dissimilarities with the macho concept that wowed New York show crowds in April, it remains to be seen how close next year’s showroom Liberty – which is again expected in sedan and wagon body styles – resembles the edgy Legacy concept.

A heavy camouflaged prototype of the new Liberty wagon was spotted undergoing development testing earlier this week, but gives away few exterior styling secrets.

The Liberty – known in other markets as the Legacy – has been Subaru’s staple mid-size model since 1989, but so far this year in Australia has been outsold by the Toyota Camry, Mazda6, Volkswagen Passat, Ford Mondeo, Honda Accord and Hyundai i40.

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