2015 Subaru Legacy (Liberty) officially revealed

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The all-new 2015 Subaru Legacy (Liberty in Australia) has been revealed at the Chicago Auto Show today. Boasting an all-new design, improved interior, higher fuel efficiency and the largest interior space in its class, Subaru hopes the new Legacy will once again regain market share in the mid-size sedan segment after slow sales experienced by its predecessor.

However, looking nothing like the stunning Legacy concept Subaru showed the world in Los Angeles last year, the production Legacy’s conservative styling will not help.

To its advantage, the Legacy is still the only car in its class with All-Wheel Drive as standard and it continues the brand’s safety leadership by introducing an improved EyeSight system and available rear radar system that supports new driver-assistance technologies.

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Offering a choice of 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder BOXER engines, the 2015 Subaru Legacy comes standard with Lineartronic CVT (continuously variable transmission) and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive.

The 2.5-liter BOXER engine that debuted for 2013 now receives numerous enhancements for lighter weight, improved efficiency and quieter operation. The 130 kW (175 hp) and 236 Nm (174 lb.-ft.) of power and torque it produces are spread over a broader engine speed range for more responsive performance.

The 3.6-liter BOXER engine develops 190 kW (256 hp) and 335 Nm (247 lb.-ft.) of peak torque and is paired with a high torque version of the Lineartronic CVT.

Changes made to reduce friction in the CVT contribute to higher fuel efficiency in the 2015 Legacy. All models are equipped with Incline Start Assist and the electronic Hill Holder System that holds the vehicle in place until the driver applies the throttle.

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Subaru claims an even smoother and quieter ride for the 2015 Legacy thanks to a new acoustic windshield, liquid-filled engine mounts, thicker panels in key locations (floor, toe board, rear wheel apron, inner fenders) and expanded use of foam insulation and floor damping material.

Revised spring and damper tuning and geometry and standard 17-inch wheels (18-in. on Limited) endow the 2015 Legacy with greater handling agility. Active Torque Vectoring, an enhancement of the Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) stability and traction control system also featured on the brand’s high-performance 2015 WRX and WRX STI models, can apply brake pressure to the inside front wheel to facilitate more neutral cornering. The 4-cylinder Legacy now uses the same ventilated rear disc brakes as the 6-cylinder model, in place of solid discs used previously.

Taking input from acceleration, steering angle and yaw rate sensors, the refined Active Torque Split AWD system in the new Legacy optimizes traction and steering response when accelerating through turns and curves, particularly when the road surface is slippery. The system can send additional torque to the rear wheels either pro-actively or in response to slippage at the front wheels.

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Inside, a new 6.2 Infotainment System in the 2015 Legacy provides AM/FM stereo and HD Radio®, Radio Data Broadcast System, single-disc in-dash CD player, 6.2-in. multi-function touch screen display, Subaru STARLINK connectivity with Aha™ and Pandora® smartphone integration, rear vision camera, Bluetooth® hands-free phone connectivity and audio streaming, iPod® control capability, USB port and aux. input jack. The multi-touch display offers swipe and scrolling gestures – much like tablets and smartphones.

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