Subaru soups up the '07 line with a new Legacy GT Spec. B special edition and a turbo-charged Impreza WRX STI Limited descended from the Subaru WRC Rally car. A stylish mid-size crossover SUV called B9 Tribeca scores more features and refinements as Subaru's best-selling Outback returns with the character of a crossover utility vehicle (CUV). All vehicles carry an all-wheel-drive (AWD) system that operates quite simply, as power from the engine moves directly through an electronically controlled transfer case to whichever wheels support traction, with scant loss of energy or reduction in fuel efficiency in the process. |
Subaru B9 Tribeca |
Subaru's crossover wagon blends traits of a high-rider SUV and pavement-hugging sports sedan. Tribeca has a wagon's format with four passenger doors and rear liftgate for cargo. But like a sports sedan, it rides on a car's platform. For motivation, Tribeca totes Subaru's horizontally-opposed six-cylinder engine which displaces 3.0 liters and features i-AVCS (active valve control system) variable valve timing to optimize engine efficiency. It hops with 245 hp through a five-speed automatic with Subaru's SportShift mode for manual sequential shifting. A new Special Edition adds a mesh grille, chrome wheels and XM satellite radio service. |
Subaru Legacy |
Mid-size Legacy -- four-door sedans and five-door station wagons -- shows variations. Entry comes with Legacy 2.5 i sedan and wagon, but there's the plush 2.5 i Limited sedan and wagon. Each draws from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer engine with i-AVCS system boosting output to 175 hp. Legacy 2.5 GT Limited sedan and wagon get a five-speed adaptive automatic, as all GT models pack a 2.5-liter four with turbo-charging and inter-cooling. New Legacy GT Spec. B special edition has a heavy-duty six-speed manual gearbox and the turbo-charged 2.5-liter four rated to 243 hp |
Subaru Outback |
Subaru developed the first crossover wagon with the five-door Outback, which works like a tall station wagon or dropped-down SUV. Outback offers three powertrains. Base engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer pumping 175 hp through a five-speed manual transmission. It fits in Outback 2.5i and the uplevel 2.5i Limited. A turbo-charged boxer four-pack worth 250 hp goes to Outback 2.5 XT Limited. Top models -- Outback 3.0 R, the 3.0 R L. L. Bean and flagship Outback 3.0 R VDC Limited -- tote Subaru's boxer six-cylinder that makes 250 hp through a five-speed SportShift automatic. |
Subaru Forester |
The chassis of a sporty coupe -- Subaru's Impreza -- underpins agile Forester the SUV. It offers turbo-charged and naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter boxer four-cylinder engines. Trims cap at the deluxe Forester 2.5 XS L. L. Bean edition with a MOMO steering wheel added plus premium features. Entry issue Forester 2.5 X gets a Premium Package plus power moonroof, while Forester 2.5 XT Limited is the turbo model with leather upholstery and a power moonroof. Subaru's 2.5-liter boxer four makes 173 hp with i-AVCS controls, but applying a turbo-charger and inter-cooler pushes points up to 230 hp. |
Subaru Impreza |
Subaru's compact cars -- a four-door sedan and five-door wagon -- ride on a chopped chassis derived from Legacy. Trims include Impreza's 2.5 i and the Outback Sport Special Edition with a spoiler on the back gate and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob in the cockpit plus premium audio gear with six-disc CD changer and a sub-woofer. All Imprezas use Subaru's 2.5-liter boxer four-cylinder engine with i-AVCS controls to boost horsepower with a standard five-speed manual or optional four-speed electronic automatic shifter |
Subaru WRX |
Subaru commemorates its trophy-collecting rally cars by producing sedan and wagon variations of Impreza WRX, a small package with wide track and independent suspension plus turbo-charging of a horizontally-opposed engine tied to a close-ratio manual transmission and AWD traction. New WRX STI Limited gets a run of 800 units with 400 in Satin White Pearl and 400 in Urban Gray Metallic. Designed by Subaru Tecnica International (STI), the high-performance and motorsports subsidiary, WRX STI Limited totes a dual-plane rear spoiler, Brembo brake calipers and a six-disc CD changer. The 2.5-liter boxer four engine with turbo-charger nets 293 hp. |