Legacy concept presages next Liberty
Subaru to exhibit a mid-size concept at NAIAS next monthA teaser photo of Subaru's Legacy Concept has been released by the Japanese manufacturer ahead of its US unveiling. Looking a little like the previous generation Mazda6 from the front -- or even the Chevy Malibu for that matter -- the concept car features the de rigeur techno lighting complement of LEDs and projector beams. We're dubious about the former reaching production, but given Audi's lead (so to speak), it's a possibility.
Other than the frontal styling, which strongly suggests that the treatment introduced with the current generation Impreza will not carry across to the larger car, the image tells little about the substance of the new model.
There is a possibility that the production version of the concept car will introduce diesel power to Subaru passenger cars in Australia... Not SUVs, mind, that's the province of the Outback, which, it's understood, will be the first Subaru model to reach the local market with an oiler when it goes on sale -- probably during the fourth quarter of 2009 (more here).
Subaru plans to reveal the Legacy concept -- Legacy is the international name for the car we know as the Liberty -- at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next month.
The way Subaru describes the concept car, it's being revealed in Detroit to 'showcase' a future design direction for the Liberty. But with barely eight or nine months before the production car's local release, the showcasing will be limited to detail aspects that can be changed at such a late stage -- the aforementioned headlight clusters being one such element.
Subaru has confirmed that the Legacy Concept will be powered by a 3.6-litre boxer engine, which sounds like the flat six from the Tribeca. That forebodes a move upmarket for the mid-size car.
2009 is a red letter year for the Legacy/Liberty, marking 20 years of production for the car that singlehandedly changed Subaru's brand image around the world -- and introduced the marque to the WRC arena years ahead of the all-conquering Impreza WRX.
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