Subaru Liberty concept has impact

Carsguide

13 January 2009

The concept is a brutal move on from the elegance of the current Liberty. Photo Gallery

One of the rare Japanese stars at the Detroit Motor Show is the upcoming Subaru Liberty.

It was only shown as a concept car, and will get some major taming before it reaches showrooms, but is a clear move on from today's car.

The concept is a brutal move on from the elegance of the current Liberty, as Subaru looks for more impact. It is clearly higher in the roofline, with pumped-out flares around all four wheels, and a nose which sets a new style direction for Subaru.

The Legacy Concept - there is now worry in the USA about the Legacy organisation - is fitted with a 3.6-litre flat six engine although the production car will have the usual mix of four and six-cylinder powerplants.

Among the changes for production will be the addition of real rear- view mirrors and a cabin which has five seats and not just four.

Subaru Australia expects to have the new Liberty in Australia in third quarter of this year, with the high-rider Outback wagon coming close behind.

The 2009 Detroit Motor Show

Comments on this story

Displaying 10 of 14 comments

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I am so disappointed in the new Liberty. I am having a hard time parting with my 1999 Liberty but it is time so I've been waiting for the new model and I hate it! It has nothing on the previous model which is a really nice looking car.

Megan Thompson of Aberdeen Posted at 13 April 2009 11:53am

I'm amazed at how many people are surprised at this. Subaru have been butchering the looks of their cars for years.

Kato of Canberra Posted at 23 January 2009 12:06pm

I thought it was me - then I looked at the other comments and had to agree that it's taken a step backward, what a shame I had so much faith in Subaru to come up with a modern style but that thought just went out the window.

Denise D'Alton Posted at 19 January 2009 9:39am

If this was the new Impreza, I would say well done! It would have surely propelled sales to previous levels experienced before the bug-eyed variant in 2000 or 2001. But the Liberty / Legacy was always meant to be the mature model in the Subaru range so it looks like Subaru have taken the concept several design steps too far.

JH of Brisbane Posted at 15 January 2009 7:21pm

Extraordinary. They've taken the only pleasant-looking Subaru and rendered it as visually deplorable as the rest of the line-up.

Holden Caulfield Posted at 15 January 2009 3:06pm

Really looks like the next generation camry soon to be released. Maybe Toyota's stake in Subaru will mean they will soon use the same platform for cars with different badges and produce the cars from the same factories like Citroen and Peugot. to cut cost.

Dustin Posted at 14 January 2009 8:11pm

That is a ugly car! Subaru have shown they employ anyone who failed design school.

GD of NTL Posted at 14 January 2009 7:47pm

Korean, Korean, Korean, Korean, Looks like every other Korean car, UGLY AND PLASTIC! Come to think of it Subaru has been going downhill since about 2000 when they changed the awesome looking old style WRX with that bug eyed softy WRX. Subaru is now no longer an appealing brand.

wendy of aus Posted at 14 January 2009 6:53pm

So the current WRX sedan looks like a Hyundai from the back EWWWW! and this legacy/liberty looks like a bad hyundai accent with a dodgy bodykit stuck to it. It's horrible. What happened subaru? you used to be cool. If subaru want to make attractive concept cars they should pay attention to Holden's concepts, like Coupe60, Sandman, Torana and Efigy, all brilliant.

ko gasper of melbourne Posted at 14 January 2009 6:21pm

Apologies for the incorrect spelling of generation in my previous post.

Howard Posted at 14 January 2009 5:56pm

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