2009 Subaru Legacy Concept Review
Legacy Concept Photos
For those who think that the North American International Auto Show in Detroit was a total sleeper, with some of the biggest players in the auto industry deciding not even to show up, it still was home to some significant introductions.
Subaru, a smaller player compared to the Big Three that normally dominate the show, and still did for the most part, introduced its new Legacy Concept, a car that, despite its progressive design, is expected to preview the next-generation Legacy.
The look is modern, highlighted by a strong and conventional (thank goodness) grille, which Subaru is still referring to as a “central wing” motif, flanked by uniquely shaped “dual vertical-row” LED headlights. Bold fender flares give it a solid stance, and overall the car looks sporty, but with a masculine and somewhat aggressive demeanor. Its only delicate feature is a set of “wedge-like” side rear vision cameras, a popular teaser that many automakers utilize to differentiate their concepts from their production models…. i.e. they’re likely not to make production. The “Ultimate Silver” paint really sets off the angles, looking so deep and rich that it didn’t even have time to dry before the event, truly one of the best colors…. er shades at the show.
It’s easy to see that this particular concept was designed to show off the Legacy’s sporting pretensions, and while probably not as racy as the Japanese company’s WRX STI flagship, it arrives without any surprises under the hood. A 3.6-liter horizontally-opposed boxer engine connects through an automatic transmission to Subaru’s acclaimed symmetrical all-wheel drive, while a slightly longer 108.3-inch wheelbase should result in better high-speed control and a more comfortable ride, not to mention more space in the back seating area. The car is longer overall too, substantially wider and taller than the current Legacy sedan.
The dark tinted windows make it difficult to peer inside, although during the launch the doors were opened and its interior shown to satisfy curiosity. Like a number of sport-oriented four-doors, the new Legacy Concept sports four individual seats. The first car I ever knew to do this was BMW’s M5, years back, and I always thought it was ruddy well impractical, but in this case it certainly gives the car four-door coupe appeal, with a divider in back that’s hardly as simplistic as the tiny slab of gray plastic BMW used. The pearl white leather seats and armrest and black metallic leather on the door panels looks rich and pulls Subaru’s aeronautical past into present-time, imbuing a corporate jet atmosphere that looks as luxuriously appointed yet as technologically advanced as the richest super sedans in autodom.
Subaru refers to the Legacy Concept’s interior as the “High Definition” design theme, but I think this has more to do with its myriad blue-tone touch-screens and cameras, that along with its application of silver-tone accents gives the car an out-of-this-world ambience. The center stack integrates a large touch-panel display that reportedly concentrates a variety of functions to simplify use, although if anything like this were actually produced we’d be surprised if it became simpler than the usual cluster of buttons and dials. I particularly like the shape of the steering wheel and shift lever, pulling in a little rally DNA and once again emphasizing the car’s sporting theme.
A bevy of monitors supply in-car entertainment, one in the center console and two others fixed into the rear of each front seat headrest. The rearview “mirror” has to be the coolest I’ve ever seen. It’s not a mirror at all, of course, but hooks up to the aforementioned side rear vision cameras.
So what do you think? Is Subaru onto something here? Of course, in your mind’s eye you’ll need to replace the concept’s brilliant but hardly cost effective interior with something more practical, i.e. something with fewer gadgets, lower quality furnishings and five seats, for sure. And take off some of the racy body cladding while possibly toning down the wheel arch flares for the street version too, at least in base and comfort-oriented models, but I think we’re looking at the new Legacy under all that go-fast gadgetry, and it’s a fine looking machine. My favorite cue is how the sharply creased fender ridges meld into the headlights, which also feature this crease vertically, most noticeable from the front three-quarter angle. It’s a very creative and original design element, but it’s not overtly radical like some of Subaru’s previous attempts at setting themselves apart from their rivals.
Overall, Subaru has something truly unique here, turning the currently attractive if not somewhat conservative Legacy into a more daring, personal statement. A car like this could help improve the brand’s overall status, moving it up and out of the mainstream and into entry-level luxury territory, if its interior is finished with premium materials and its sporty styling is followed through with seriously strong performance. The timing is right. With 20 years of Legacy under its belt, it’s time to take the car to the next level. Here’s hoping that they’ll raise their game and come up with a production car as enticing as this concept. If they do, Acura and Infiniti will sell fewer cars next year.