Subaru has put together a modest refresh for the Subaru Legacy and Outback sedans and wagons. European buyers will enjoy the benefits starting next month, while we'll see something like it starting with the 2008 model year. On the surface, it's all about brightwork. The Legacy has a new grille with a large ribbon of chrome and on wagons, a revised set of tailights are linked horizontally across the hatch by another strip of it. On the Legacy sedan we looked at, there was even chrome trim on the side skirts -- this was a European-market Legacy, we're guessing it will turn up on our 2.5 GT as well. The Outback also gets a new, multiple-slat grille, but it isn't quite as dramatic.
Automatic-equipped Legacys and Outbacks (likely only the GTs and XTs, we suspect) will get steering wheel-mounted paddles shifters and downshift rev-matching. The center stacks inside the cars also look a little different -- there's more metallic trim on the stereo and climate knobs and buttons, but they don't necessarily look easier to use.
Finally, there are a few chassis changes. The front suspension mounts are stiffer than before, and engineers reinforced various parts of he body from the A-pillar forward. On the Outback, the front suspension geometry has also been tweaked. Net result is a smoother, better controlled ride, according to Minori Yuki, manager of Subaru's Total Vehicle Performance Integration department.
Subscribe
Recent Posts
Archives
Manufacturers
Auto Shows
More Categories
Links
Leave a comment