Subaru Legacy
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The Subaru Legacy, known as the Liberty in Australia, is the modern Subaru flagship model.
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History
Introduced in 1989 as a larger companion to the Leone, the Legacy was designed to compete with the other mid-sized Japanese sedans such as the Accord, Camry, etc.
The Legacy was the first Subaru to use the new EJ-series horizontally-opposed four-cylinder gasoline engines. Displacements of 1800, 2000 and 2200cc were to be found in the Japanese, European and North American markets. A turbocharged version of the 2000cc engine with 220ps was available outside of North America, with a 2200cc 160BHP version debuting in the Sport Sedan trim for the 1991 model year.
Chassis Specifications
The Legacy has been available in two primary chassis configurations since its introduction: a four-door sedan and five-door wagon. During the first and second generation there were high-roofline versions of the wagon model available in all markets. The most common example of these in North America would be the 94 GT and 96-99 Outback models.
The Legacy was available with either a four-speed, electronically-controlled automatic transmission or a five-speed manual transmission. Only the first-generation Sport Sedan and Touring Wagon models and the second-generation GT and Outback models had hydraulic clutches, while all other models were cable-actuated.
All-wheel drive was optional in the Legacy until the 1997 model year, when Subaru decided to progressively produce all of their North American market vehicles with the same drive system. Automatic transmission models use a 90/10 percentage power split in low gears and switch alternately to a 50/50 split in higher gears while the manual transmission models are a static 50/50 split with variations in actual power due to traction conditions.
Limited-slip differentials are available in all of the MY2000 and following GT and Outback models. The 1991 Sport Sedan was fitted with a limited-slip as standard equipment and subsequent turbocharged models may have had it as an option.
Subaru's VDC was introduced in North America first with the 2001 Outback. It was coupled to the newly unveiled EZ30 six-cylinder flat-six engine and a McIntosh stereo system.
Engines
- EJ18 - BHP/TQ - World Market engine.
- EJ20 - BHP/TQ - World Market engine. DOHC heads with sixteen valves. Normally-aspirated and turbocharged models available in all years and in many power levels.
- EJ22E - 2212cc - BHP/TQ - North American market base engine from 1990-1999. SOHC heads with sixteen valves. Updated version increased power output.
- EJ22K - 160BHP/181TQ - North American market only. SOHC heads with sixteen valves. Closed-deck block with piston squirters. IHI VF10/11 turbocharger. Not intercooled.
- EJ25 - 165BHP/TQ - North American Market. DOHC heads with sixteen valves. Fully open-deck block.
- EJ251/2/3 - 165BHP/TQ - North American Market. SOHC with sixteen valves. Partially closed-deck. Revised design of the EJ25 with cylinder support. Larger valves and simpler head design improved power delivery over the earlier model and improved head gasket reliability.
- EZ30 - 212BHP/210TQ - North American and World markets. SOHC heads with sixteen valves. Timing Chain. Single-port exhaust. Introduced in North America first in the 2001 Outback, this was a completely new design for Subaru.
- EZ30R - 250BHP/TQ - North American and World markets. SOHC heads with sixteen valves and AVCS. Timing Chain. Per-cylinder exhaust ports. A heavily updated version of the previous engine with revised head design incorporating variable tuning and electronic throttle control.
Chassis Codes
(sedan) (wagon)
- BC --- BF/BJ (BF denotes the high-roofline wagon models)
- BD --- BG/BK (BK denotes the high-roofline wagon models)
- BD --- BH
- BL --- BP
Model Release Schedule
- North America
- BC/BF/BJ - 1989 - 1994
- BD/BG/BK - 1995 - 1999
- BE/BH ---- 2000 - 2004
- BL/BP ---- 2005 - present
- World Markets
- BC/BF/BJ - 1989 - 1992
- BD/BG/BK - 1993 - 1997
- BE/BH ---- 1998 - 2003
- BL/BP ---- 2004 - present
WRC
The Legacy was used by Subaru and Prodrive's WRC before being replaced by the Impreza in 1993.
The Legacy was campaigned by Subaru during the early 90s and is the first Subaru model to win a WRC event, during the 1993 Rally New Zealand, driven by Colin McRae with co-driver Derek Ringer in the Legacy RS. This was the final event for the Legacy as Subaru's primary platform.
