The Legacy in Japan again comes in two flavors: as the B4 sport sedan and touring wagon — which has been dropped from the U.S. lineup — with the more luxurious-looking Outback as the range-topper.
Although Japan's Legacy/Outback get a mildly reworked grille and fender treatment to look a little different, the overall message is the same. The Legacy/Outback lack for little on the technology front or all-wheel-drive ability. Subaru has decided to push the fifth-generation Legacy upmarket — a bit of a gamble in the current market environment — to chase higher margins and brands like Audi, BMW and Saab.
With a new stretched platform and fresh sheet metal, the new cars are bigger and plusher, and the boxer engine range now spans 2.5 to 3.6 liters. The cars get Subaru's new Lineartronic continuously variable transmission, a first for the Legacy, to boost economy and lower C02 emissions.
The B4 sedan and touring wagon in Japan offer a choice of 2.5-liter normally aspirated or turbo flat-4s, with output ranging between 168 and 281 horsepower. The Outback gets the base 2.5, plus the 3.6-liter flat-6 (256 hp) from the Tribeca SUV.
The redesigned B4 sedan is priced at the equivalent of $22,900-$33,250. Stickers for the touring wagon span $24,540-$34,900. Subaru is asking $27,812-$38,446 for the Outback.
Subaru has used Hollywood stars before to pitch its cars in Japan. For this launch the company has done it again, hiring Robert De Niro to promote the touring wagon. The Japanese ads for the B4 sedan are a knockoff from the opening credits on the Sopranos.
Inside Line says: If only we could get those commercials over here to go with the new cars. — Peter Nunn, Correspondent
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