Subaru Liberty 2015 News

Subaru is readying the 2015 Liberty (known as the Legacy in other markets) for an unveiling at Chicago motor show tomorrow, but has been beaten to the punch by images appearing online, giving us a look inside and out.First posted on a US site, the images show more conventional styling than the Legacy Concept that was unveiled last year, but a sleeker coupe-like roof line than the current model.The interior shots show a streamlined approach to dashboard layout, handsome saddle-stitched leather upholstery and metal and wood-finish accents.Subaru has already announced the car will get the latest version of its Eyesight safety system, with stereo colour cameras that have expanded the monitored area and improved recognition of obstacles and pedestrian traffic.The Liberty is likely to continue with the current engines: a 127kW/235Nm 2.5-litre as the opener with six-speed manual and CVT auto transmission choices, and a 195kW/350Nm turbocharged 2.5-litre with the chance of a six-speed auto replacing the current five-speed for the upper spec. The cars will of course carry on with Subaru's signature all-wheel drive system.Expect to see the Liberty arrive here early next year, followed by the wagon version that will be unveiled at a future motor show later in 2014.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

The Subaru Liberty is marking its 25th anniversary for the Legacy nameplate under which it sells overseas, and to chime in with the birthday the carmaker is unveiling the next version at Chicago motor show on February 6.Subaru has released a teaser image that gives a look at the profile, but fans will already have an idea of what to expect, after seeing the Legacy concept that debuted at the Los Angeles show in November. The Japanese brand has already said the 2015 Liberty will get sharper styling and more features, including the latest iteration of Subaru's Eyesight safety system, with colour stereo cameras with a larger range and better ability to recognise obstacles and pedestrians.No further details have been released, but it's likely the current naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder will continue in the lower-level models, mated in Australia only to a six-speed continuously variable auto transmission - and it's unlikely the outputs will change from the exiting car's 127kW of power and 235Nm of torque.And the turbocharged 2.5-litre for the upper levels is also expected to return, with both six-speed manual and possibly a six-speed auto replacing the outgoing five-speed, plus a hoped-for increase on the current 195kW and 350Nm.All variants will feature Subaru's all-wheel drive. A wagon body is also in the wings, although we may not see that until a future motor show later in 2014.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

The new styling is previewed on the Legacy Concept at the LA motor show and, even though it will be wound back from the brutish show car, everything points to a new direction for the Liberty in 2015. The next Liberty is expected to be bigger, with significantly better cabin quality and styling more like the Forester and Outback SUVs than the elegance of earlier Libertys. Subaru boss Nick Senior is not surprised Subaru chose the LA motor show, and not the Tokyo show that also opens this week, to preview the Liberty alongside the new WRX. "If you can crack it in California you can crack it anywhere," Senior says. "From a Subaru point of view, the US market is incredibly important (and is) recovering strongly. The company has hit our highest sales record of over 400,000 cars this year. California is the biggest regional market and arbiter of taste and style." Subaru has pushed the boundaries with the frontal treatment on the concept car, but it's the cabin - inspired by a smartphone - that is the biggest advance. It also has a coupe-style roofline, the current design trend for all sedans, but there are only four seats. Senior says not to read too much into the Legacy Concept, despite the importance of the coming Liberty replacement. The LA concept also celebrates the 25th anniversary of the car in 2014, even though the new model will not arrive for more than year.   _______________________________________  

While Subaru is taking the wraps of a concept pointing to the next Liberty wagon styling at Tokyo motor show next week, around the other side of the world it will coincide with the silk being whipped off the sedan version in Los Angeles.Subaru has released images showing the sleeker look for the next Legacy sedan -- known as the Liberty here -- ahead of the four-seater concept car's its official debut at LA show next week, and marking the car's 25th anniversary. And while we can expect the styling to be toned down before it his the production line, the show car has sleeker cues that suggest the Liberty may be shedding some of its staid approach.And a new look could reinvigorate sales, which have lagged for the current model launched in 2009, which this year has sold 2,208, down about 40 per cent on the 3,678 that had rolled out the door this time last year.The LA show sedan, which marks 25 years of the Liberty, gets a sexier four-door coupe approach with some hints of aggression in the low-slung body with its short overhangs, hexagonal grille flanked by 'hawk-eye' headlights, muscular wheel arches, plus prominent vertical front intake ducts and rear diffuser -- neither of which is likely to survive to production.There are no details of what's under the bonnet, but we already know the Levorg wagon concept bound for Tokyo is powered by a new turbocharged and direct-injected 1.6-litre four-cylinder 'boxer' engine, so the performance focus of the sedan styling hints we could see the LA concept carrying a higher tune of that powerplant, plus Subaru's signature all-wheel drive.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

Subaru has revealed teaser images of the Levorg concept it will unveil at Tokyo motor show in November -- and likely go on to build as the wagon version of the new Subaru Liberty.

Subaru has announced a host of cosmetic, handling and efficient technology changes to its Liberty line-up for 2013. Entry-level pricing has been sharpened by $2000 with the Liberty 2.5i sedan which loses leather and is now priced from $32,990. Power and torque improves on normally aspirated 2.5 litre variants, while fuel efficiency is also refined by up to 4.8 per cent, thanks to the new generation FB horizontally-opposed boxer engine, linked to the latest Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). Subaru's award-winning EyeSight driver assist system is also introduced on additional Liberty variants, including the 2.5i Premium, despite a pricing reduction of $1500.  Liberty's revised all-wheel drive system improves precision in torque distribution between front and back wheels, benefiting handling and stability. The technical refinements, including suspension and handling, were tested on Australian roads. In addition to the new engine, automatic transmission and alloy wheel patterns, Liberty 2.5i with leather trim now adds factory-fitted satellite navigation and a new colour information display. Liberty sales are up 12 per cent year-to-date.  

The addition -- coming as part of the Exiga’s mid-life revision – puts another possie in the middle of the second row, taking the original six-seater up a notch.The passenger in the new spot gets a proper three-point lap-sash seatbelt – the absence of which was the reason Subaru did not offer the seven-seat option when the Exiga first arrived three years ago.There are now also three sets of child-seat anchor points in the middle row. Other changes to the Liberty Exiga include a new door mirror design on all models and new 17-in alloy wheels for the Premium spec versions.The price remains at current levels, starting from $37,990 for the 123kW/229NM 2.5-litre Liberty Exiga 2.5i and from $42,490 for the Premium spec that adds features such as leather, foglights and window tinting.“Liberty Exiga will now appeal to even more families that need the option of a seventh seat, in addition to the significant cargo volume it offers for load carrying, with the seats down in a variety of combinations,” Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior says. 

IT was two degrees in the Blue Mountains when Kate and Gerren Hawkins broke down in their "old Holden" a few years ago. That's when they decided they wanted a new and more reliable car. "We always liked Subaru and didn't consider any other car," says Kate, 29, a sales manager. So they bought a 2008 Liberty 2.5i Luxury Wagon to fit Gerren's musical equipment. "It was important to fit all his music gear and the seats fold down flat," she says. "It doesn't matter what you put in there, it always fits, so we hardly ever pay for delivery of things; we just pick it up ourselves. I also like Subaru's style. They have quite a sporty look without being a sports car and are quite rugged." Safety was also very important. Kate says they were aware that Subaru has a five-star safety rating and all-wheel drive for all its vehicles. "I used to snowboard a lot when I as younger and I know a car handles icy conditions better with all-wheel drive," she says. Now they have moved north to Queensland and traded snow for sand with planned trips to Stradbroke Island. They've also traded the Liberty for a new tangerine-coloured Subaru XV 2.0i-S with CVT which is due to arrive in the next few weeks. "Our trade-in price was just under what my payout figure was for the hire purchase which is pretty good given the state of the economy at the moment and how low second-hand car prices are," she says. "I thought we would get a second-hand car this time but there wasn't much difference in price so we went for the new one. We may as well get brand new and have all the warranties. Subarus don't seem to drop thousands of dollars in value the moment you drive out of the dealership." Kate says she was attracted to the new XV by a host of features such as "extra airbags and the look of the dashboard". "We bought the S model because it has the touch-screen satnav, digital radio, USB with iPod connectivity, Bluetooth stereo adjustments on the steering wheel and dual aircon which is really important for us as I'm always whinging it's too cold and my husband is always whinging that it's too hot so it will be handy when we do car trips together." Kate will mainly drive the car to work Monday to Friday with occasional weekend trips away to the beach, so fuel economy was important. "We are downsizing from a 2.5-litre engine to a two-litre engine with stop-start which we hope will make a difference," she says. "Even if it's saving just a little bit of petrol, it's also handy to get the extra mileage from the tank. "I hate filling up the tank. It's always a hassle. I'd rather drive around for two weeks than have to fill up every four days, even if it ends up costing much the same. You pull over when you have to, not when you want to."