Subaru Legacy : Top 9 cars rating in side-, front- and rear-impact tests by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. (CNN)

Subaru Legacy

The Subaru Legacy is a mid-size car introduced by the Japanese manufacturer Subaru in February 1989 as a larger, more upscale companion to the Subaru Leone/Loyale. It came with a 2.0 L engine and was available with all-wheel drive, which later became standard worldwide. In Australia, where it is sold as the Subaru Liberty (due to Australia's Legacy organisation rejecting the use of their name), it was Wheels magazine's Car of the Year for 1994 and again for 1998. Upon the Turbo's introduction to the Australian market it was claimed to be the fastest accelerating car for under $100,000 on the Australian car market. The new BL/BH chassis Legacy was the Car of the Year Japan for 2003-2004.

In North America, the Legacy was introduced in 1990, with a 2.2 L engine driving front and all-wheel drive powertrains as options. Both sedan and wagon models were available. In 1991, a turbocharged sedan model became available, though its engine differed somewhat from that of other market offerings. A turbocharged wagon debuted in 1992 as a special edition. All turbo models in North America ceased production with the introduction of the second generation Legacy, starting in 1995. The North American Outback model, with the help of clever marketing, halted declining sales and was instrumental in attracting investment interest from General Motors. GT models, first offered as a wagon trim package in 1994, became a full-blown upgrade in 1996, using the new DOHC 2.5 L engine. GT models continue to the present model, with Limited editions available, offering leather trim and a sunroof. The North American market launch of the 2005 model brought back the turbocharged Legacy to the region, much to the delight of the model's fans.

In the Pacific Northwest, the Rocky Mountain region and New England, the Legacy has gained considerable popularity as an icon of the outdoor lifestyle. The Legacy (and the Outback especially) typifies the outdoor lifestyle market in the US; this is an image of Subaru that differs greatly from that which the rest of the world has of it. The rise of the performance-oriented Impreza has done much to change the brand image in recent years, emphasizing performance and safety as well as utility.

In Japan, the Legacy has a reputation for being an affordable, quick, and nimble car. Subaru is trying to follow the success of the Impreza worldwide with the Legacy, offering turbocharged models in Japan and the Americas. The latest Legacy model has never had a turbocharged version released in Europe due to emission problems.

On April 23, 1998, a Subaru Legacy set a new world speed record for mass-produced turbocharged station wagons (1600 cc–2000 cc class), clocking 270.532 km/h over one kilometer on Highway 10 in La Junta, Colorado. [1] This record was previously set by a Generation II Subaru Legacy in 1993 at 249.981 km/h.

The original Legacy speed record was set between January 2nd and 21st, 1989, with a Japanese-spec RS sedan at the Arizona Test Center outside of Phoenix, Arizona. It broke the 100,000 km FIA World Land Endurance Record by maintaining an average speed of 138.780 mph (223.345 km/h) for 447 hours, 44 minutes and 9.887 seconds, or 18 1/2 days. Pit stops were made every two hours with a driver change and refueling, while tire changes were made at 96 hour intervals, or every 13,400 miles driven.

On March 14, 2005, Subaru sold its three-millionth Legacy worldwide.

Subaru Legacy Legacy chronology

November 1988 Production of the Legacy starts at the Gunma Yajima Plant
January 1989 The Legacy sets a new FIA-certified 100,000-kilometer world speed record with an average speed of 223.345 km/h.
February 1989 Introduction in Japan
April 1989 Introduction in U.S.
September 1989 Introduction in Europe
September 1989 Production starts at SIA
October 1989 200 PS turbocharged GT launched in Japan
April 1990 Legacy enters the World Rally Championship (WRC)
August 1993 Legacy wins New Zealand Rally in WRC
September 1993 The second-generation Legacy ( Station Wagon) sets an FIA-certified world speed record for 1 km in the mass-produced, unmodified station wagon division at the Bonneville Speedway near Salt Lake City, Utah, with an average speed of 249.981 km/h.
October 1993 The second-generation Legacy debuts in Japan
October 1994 250T version with a 2.5 L flat-4 added in Japan
June 1995 Production of the Outback starts at SIA
July 1995 Engine assembly begins at SIA
June 1996 GT-B introduced in Japan, with a 280 PS engine and Bilstein twin-tube shock absorber (inverted-type)
January 1997 Cumulative production in Japan reaches the 1-million mark
April 1998 The third-generation Legacy (Station Wagon) sets a new FIA-certified world speed record for 1 km with an average speed of 270.532 km/h.
June 1998 All-new, third-generation Legacy introduced in Japan
December 1998 B4 Sedan debuts in Japan
December 1998 Awarded RJC New Car of the Year for 1998-99 in Japan
February 2000 B4 Blitzen version introduced in Japan
May 2000 Lancaster 6 with a 3.0 L flat-6 engine introduced in Japan
June 2002 SIA celebrates the 1-million-unit milestone in its production of Subaru vehicles.
January 2003 SIA is made a wholly owned subsidiary of FHI
May 2003 The fourth-generation Legacy launched in Japan
November 2003 Awarded the Car of the Year for 2003-2004 in Japan
December 2003 Sales surpasses the 1-million mark in Japan
March 2005 Production surpasses the 3-million mark worldwide

Subaru Legacy World market release schedule

Models have typically been released into Japan and selected World markets such as New Zealand and Chile in advance of the Continental European and North American markets, perhaps because all three are right-hand drive markets.
Generation I: 1989–1992
Generation II: 1993–1997
Generation III: 1998–2003
Generation IV: 2003–present
The first generation Legacy was also sold in Japan by Isuzu as the Aska CX, from 1990 to 1994.

Subaru Legacy North American market release schedule

North America usually releases its models two years after Japan does, due to the fact that all Legacies for the North American market have been built at Subaru of Indiana located in Lafayette, Indiana since around 2005.
Generation I: 1990–1994
Generation II: 1995–1999
Generation III: 2000–2004
Generation IV: 2005–present

Subaru Legacy Chassis codes

Generation I: BC - Sedan, BF - Touring Wagon (High Roof) BJ - Wagon (low roof)
Generation II: BD - Sedan, BG - Wagon
Generation III: BE - Sedan, BH - Wagon
Generation IV: BL - Sedan, BP - Wagon
(other similar chassis codes exist for VIN numbers in the North American market. These chassis codes are almost universally recognized for the models they represent worldwide.)

Subaru Legacy Engines

The EJ-series engine was introduced first in the Legacy. It offers many important improvements over the previous engines, such as five main bearings instead of three. All Legacy engines are horizontally-opposed flat engines with at least one overhead cam per side. The great thing about the EJ series is its versatility - any EJ style engine will fit any subaru made between 1990 and 2006.
1.6 L & 1.8 L world-market four-cylinder engines exist. Some are likely to be carbureted, or feature a single central fuel injector.
2.0 L & 2.2 L fours were available in normally aspirated, fuel injected form in most markets. This is the most commonly used legacy engine. The 2.0L quad cam 16v version produces 123kW of power.
2.0 L turbocharged and intercooled fours have been a staple of the Legacy in world markets. Single and twin turbo models existed only in world markets, never available in North America. Twin turbos were used until 2003 when a single twin-scroll titanium turbocharger sourced from IHI and Mitsubishi- for automatic transmission models (and very similar to that used in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII onwards) was adopted by Subaru.
2.2 L turbocharged four-cylinder engines were available in the North American Legacy between 1991 and 1994. This was a unique version not equipped with an intercooler while featuring a single overhead camshaft. It has many resemblances to the RA-version engines in world markets.
2.5 L, DOHC, normally aspirated and fuel injected four-cylinder engines were available in the US market beginning in 1996. A revised version, with a single overhead camshaft, was available in North American models beginning in 2000. Some hybrid versions have been known to exist in Outback models during the 1998–99 years. World markets received versions of this engine with variable valve timing as early as 2001.
2.5 L, DOHC, turbocharged and intercooled four-cylinder engines are available in North American market GT models, beginning in 2005. This engine shares many parts with other versions of the Impreza WRX STi, Forester XT and Baja Turbo, as well as the Outback XT which are available only in the North American market.
3.0 L, DOHC, normally-aspirated flat-6s became available in the Japanese market in 2000 and the North American market in 2001. This was a complete redesign, and shares only peripheral parts with earlier flat- or boxer-six engines. This engine is optionally available in the North American market Outback. An updated 3.0 L six, known as the EZ30R, features variable valve timing called AVCS. This version entered the North American market with the introduction of the 2005 Outback.

Subaru Legacy Performance models

Subaru has produced high performance versions of the Legacy with a Bilstein suspension and tuned turbocharged engines equivalent to the homologized rally version WRX STI (generating 205 kW on manufacturer's figures for the 2.0 L equivalent engine with manual transmission). Recent 3.0 L engines move close to the 2.0 L turbo output and share the Bilstein suspension. 2.0 L-engined turbocharged models with the Bilstein suspension were named either the GT-B (for wagons), or Spec B, or RSK-B4 (for sedans). The new 2003 model moved many models to simply B4 or even GT in some countries. The Spec B badge still exists in the UK, where the 3.0R stands as the premier MY06 model.
In North America, early sporty models were known simply as the Sport Sedan and Touring Wagon. Later models were given the GT and GT Limited nomenclature. The 2006 Legacy model brought forth a limited run of 500 Spec B models. This model features an improved suspension, navigation, larger wheels, and other driving and aerodynamic improvements over the GT model.
The new 2007 Legacy Spec B will be mass produced, unlike the limited production of 500 units from the '06 model within the US.

Subaru Legacy Motorsports

World Rally Championship

The Legacy was campaigned by Subaru in the World Rally Championship, with the help of Prodrive, beginning in 1990. It wasn't considered a truly competitive model at first, but showed promise under the command of Markku Alen, who in 1991 managed a third-place finish at the Swedish Rally. 1992 debuted the combination of experienced Group B, Pikes Peak International Hillclimb, and WRC driver Ari Vatanen, paired with the up-and-coming Scotish driver Colin McRae for Subaru's WRC effort. Two second place finishes, one by each driver, strengthened the commitment of Subaru to the World Rally Championship, the Legacy, and their drivers.
1993 became a breakout year for Subaru as Colin McRae and Ari Vatanen pushed the Legacy to a third place finish at the Swedish Rally and a one-two placing after the first leg of the Acropolis Rally. Prodrive boss David Richards was eager to prove the potential of the new Impreza WRC car, but was charged with gaining a victory in the Legacy before the Impreza could debut. At Round 8, Subaru finally struck gold when McRae managed to hold back Francois Delecour in his Ford Escort WRC for the win. This would be the last WRC event for the Legacy, as the Impreza debuted at the following event, where it placed second in the hands of Vatanen.
Richard Burns was successful in numerous events with the car during 1992 before joining the World Rally team to drive the Impreza in 1993. Alister McRae, Per Eklund, Possum Bourne and Hannu Mikkola also competed in the Legacy during its WRC participation.

Subaru Legacy Rallying

The Legacy remains an ever-present competitor in rallies around the world. SCCA ProRally and Rally America participation from many teams has been impressive. The Legacy and the Impreza have many interchangeable parts which makes for a very competent and reliable entry.

Subaru Legacy Miscellaneous

The exterior of the second-generation Legacy was designed by Olivier Boulay, who was hired by Subaru on a short-term basis. He would go on to participate in the design of the Maybach 57 and 62 and influence several Mitsubishi projects.
The Legacy has many different trim levels in the Japanese market, with an assortment of different names (i.e. Brighton, Lancaster, VZ to name a couple). Perhaps the most dubious one of all would be the 1993 Subaru Touring Bruce, named due to Bruce Willis lending himself to a home market advertising campaign.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org