Subaru Liberty News

Styled to make an impact in the USA, where the previous Liberty was dismissed as too small and soft, the new model is bigger and more impressive in almost every area.

With the Liberty Exiga wagon due in November, the company is aiming to position it away from people-mover territory, describing the six-seater wagon as a ‘versatile utility vehicle’ with ‘multi-seat functionality’.It is deliberately not using the term people-mover to describe the wagon because it believes the newest entrant is sportier and will be a more engaging drive than conventional people-movers.Subaru Australia boss, Nick Senior, says the 2.5-litre Liberty Exiga will leverage its link with the Liberty wagon, sharing its 2.5-litre four-cylinder boxer’ engine and all-wheel drive underpinnings. "Exiga is on same wheelbase as Liberty and will have same dynamics," he says. "We'll be able to leverage the Liberty name and save a considerable amount of money trying to establish a new nameplate into the Australian market."As a new model, Subaru is forecasting modest sales of around 100 a month. Senior says the Exiga will have very targeted equipment levels, including standard DVD player and car-like driving dynamics. Subaru has built its success on the back of its wagons, which remain a critical part of the line-up. Last year wagons accounted for about 30 per cent of all Liberty sales. "Moving forward we will continue to offer customers what they want, not what we think they want," Senior says. "Because of that we're going to introduce a four-tier strategy with our Liberty wagons and Outback."This strategy is built around having four-cylinder economy, Sports/GT models, the Exiga and the Outback. "That range enables us to speak to more customer segments than we have been able to do previously," Senior says The Exiga is expected to be available as an entry and Premium model with prices starting under $45,000.Like the Liberty Premium models, the Exiga Premium will get leather and satellite navigation. Senior says the company is taking a six-seater Exiga from Japan because the middle seat in the second row is only available with a lap-seatbelt. Like other people-movers, the third-row seats fold into the floor.In Japan the Exiga is sold as a stand-alone model.Apart from the Exiga, Subaru will also roll out a 112kW/350Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel Outback in November. 

The Japanese company's new diesel boxer engine will not make it down under for another two months, well after the arrival of the all-new Liberty this week, and it will only be fitted to the high-rider Outback. "We're going to launch the diesel in Australia in the Outback model," says the father of the new Liberty-Outback range, Takeshi Tachimori.The Japanese vice-president of Subaru was driving in the first Outback diesel to reach Australia during Repco Rally Australia last weekend and says the car is a major breakthrough for the company. But he says a massive development program in recent years on everything from the latest Impreza to the new Tribeca means there will be a staggered roll-out of the diesel engine, even though it is already fitted to the Impreza, Forester, Liberty and Outback in Europe."In just two years we updated the whole vehicle line=-p. It's such big work for us," Tachimori says. "We launched the Forester last year and this is big work for us. We cannot do everything at the same time."He says the biggest changes for the new Liberty and Outback are the cabin space and body design, which were both focussed on American needs. The previous Subaru models were seen as too small in the USA and that meant a major change. "We discussed that we must look for the global market. We shifted the target to a global direction," he says. "Japanese people said the new Forester is too big, but it's not a big car in the United States or Australia. People looking at the new Liberty and Outback say they are so big, but the change is not so big.The height is a significant increase, and also the proportion. "For this fifth generation we changed our centre of gravity, moving to a global position."Tachimori also says Subaru went against the normal development flow by designing its Liberty wagon first. "Most car companies make the sedan, and then add the cargo space. We began with the wagon as we are sharing the car body with sedan, station wagon and outback. "We wanted a strong presence, especially with the Outback model. The packaging is a mixture of a sedan and SUV."Apart from the diesel engine, the big technical change for the new Liberty and Outback is Subaru's first constantly-variable automatic transmission. It has a six-speed manual mode and was done in-house because of the complication of mating it to the company's unique boxer engines and all-wheel drive package."Our powertrain is very unique and our problem is making a good transmission. We cannot have a transmission from a supplier," Tachimori says. "Transmission is always a problem for us. We had to a have a better transmission for better fuel economy, so several years ago we decided to make a new transmission and it will be CVT."The 2.0-litre Boxer diesel engine in the Impreza is claimed to achieve fuel economy of 5.9L/100km with CO2 emissions of 155g/km which is 20g less than a Corolla.It's no slouch, either, with 112kW of power and 350Nm of torque between 1800 and 240 revs, propelling it to 100km/h in nine seconds and a top speed over 200km/h.The horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine sits flat and deep in the engine well with a variable geometry turbocharger and catalytic converter mounted underneath for a low centre of gravity. Coupled with Symmetrical all-wheel drive, this improves handling and traction.Subaru claims the flat-four layout with horizontally-opposed pistons cancels out second harmonic vibration which means there is no need for heavy balancer shafts.Apart from reduced diesel noise, it also ensures a lively throttle response. The 1998cc Boxer diesel has an 11mm longer stroke and 6mm smaller bore than the 1994cc petrol engine. Cylinder bore spacing is reduced so the engine block is 61.3mm shorter at 353.5mm. It uses a common-rail fuel-injection system with fuel pressurised at 180MPa.The variable nozzle turbocharger ensures the correct boost at all engine speeds and placing it beneath the engine contributes to the Imprezas low centre of gravity, where it also connects directly to the catalytic converters, boosting environmental performance. 

A new 2.0-litre turbo-diesel available in Europe will arrive in November in the Outback first. However, Subaru Australia plans to gauge buyer reaction before looking at other models like the Liberty and Forester.In the meantime the local operations are pushing ahead with the launch of the new four and six-cylinder Liberty and Outback models. The fifth-generation Subaru Liberty is bigger, safer and has made gains in the areas of fuel economy and lowering emissions. The larger, significantly quieter cabin offers more comfort and better cabin and luggage space.Subaru Australia managing director, Nick Senior, says the fifth-generation Liberty improves in all areas. “It offers outstanding ride and handling, and every variant in the range offers better fuel efficiency and lower emissions,” he says. “Interior space is improved too in every key dimension.”Senior says safety has been improved in critical areas, with addition of the driver's knee airbag to complement the dual front side and curtain airbags. He said the energy-absorbing engine cradle and framed door windows aided cabin strength. ”That's in addition to standard electronic stability control and ABS brakes, plus a raft of other detailed safety features shows that Subaru isn't resting on its laurels, despite being a leader in this field.”Senior says Subaru has aimed to add equipment but keep prices down. “Every Liberty is keenly priced. The fact that none have increased and some have actually decreased, while specification is enhanced in so many key areas, makes these vehicles an attractive proposition,” he says.ChangesThe Liberty has a number of firsts for the model — a Lineartronic continuously variable transmission and a 3.6-litre horizontally opposed boxer engine, the Liberty's largest engine yet, as well as the addition of a Sports models to the 2.5i range and a six-speed manual gearbox.Fuel consumption has improved across the range, with an 11 per cent gain in automatic Liberty GT models and 9.7 per cent in automatic 2.5i models, in the combined cycle. Emissions have also been lowered. The automatic Liberty GT's CO2 emissions have been reduced by 31 g/km to 228 in the combined cycle.Pricing and variantsPrices for some variants have decreased by up to 7.8 per cent while others cost the same as the superseded variants. Entry-level Liberty 2.5i starts from $33,990, with the CVT auto adding $2500 to the price.The range-topping Liberty GT Premium is $52,990, $4500 less than the superseded GT spec.B, while the new Liberty 3.6R Premium is the same price as the superseded Liberty 3.0R Premium.Features and equipmentFuji Heavy Industries, which owns Subaru, has looked to Europe for inspiration for its new range. Among the features are seven airbags — including driver’s knee airbag - electronic stability control, dual zone air conditioning, Hill start assist, multi-function trip computer, cruise control, six-stacker in-dash CD stereo and 17-inch alloys (2.5i).The 2.5i Premium adds sunroof, leather, CVT automatic, electric driver's seat and rear air vents. The 2.5i Sports opens the standard package with the Lineartronic CVT , 18-inch alloys, Bilstein suspension, sports grille and bumper, alloy pedals and Xenon headlights with washers.Premium models add dusk sensing headlights, rain sensing wipers, McIntosh stereo systems, reversing camera, SI-Drive, satellite navigation, keyless access and push-button start.Apart from being bigger and roomier, the Liberty range is also stronger and safer, achieving a five-star ANCAP crash rating thanks to the addition of a front engine `cradle' and extensive use of high-tensile steel.The Lineartronic CVT on the entry-level and 2.5i Sports Liberty contributes to impressive fuel economy and requires no transmission fluid replacement, unless being driven in severe conditions continuallyAll automatics are available with steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters.Pricing Liberty 2.5i manual sedan $33,990Liberty 2.5i Lineartronic CVT sedan $36,490Liberty 2.5i manual wagon $35,990Liberty 2.5i Lineartronic CVT wagon $38,490Liberty 2.5i Sports Lineartronic CVT sedan $39,490Liberty 2.5i Sports Lineartronic CVT Premium sedan $43,490Liberty 2.5i Sports Premium Lineartronic CVT SatNav sedan $46,990Liberty 2.5i Sports Lineartronic CVT wagon $41,490Liberty 2.5i Sports Lineartronic CVT Premium wagon $45,490Liberty 2.5i Sports Premium Lineartronic CVT SatNav wagon $48,990Liberty 2.5i Premium Lineartronic CVT sedan $39,990Liberty 2.5i Premium Lineartronic CVT SatNav sedan $42,490Liberty 2.5i Premium Lineartronic CVT wagon $41,990Liberty 2.5i Premium Lineartronic CVT SatNav wagon $44,490Liberty 2.5 GT Premium manual SatNav sedan $52,990Liberty 2.5 GT Premium auto SatNav sedan $54,990Liberty 2.5 GT Premium manual SatNav wagon $54,990Liberty 2.5 GT Premium auto SatNav wagon $56,990Liberty 3.6R Premium auto SatNav sedan $51,990 

The Japanese versions will go on sale there mid-year, while the Liberty will be launched on the Australian market in September.The fifth-generation of the popular Liberty – known as the Subaru Legacy in overseas markets – is built on a new platform and will arrive with a raft of tech improvements, including the choices of a 3.6-litre six-cylinder horizontally opposed boxer engine , and a six-speed manual or continuously-variable transmissions.The two other engines are both 2.5-litre four-cylinder boxers, one of which gets a boost from turbocharging.Australia will get a six-speed manual diesel Outback in November, with the engine that has already gone on sale in the current model Outback in Europe developing 108kW at 3600rpm and 350Nm from 1800rpm. Fuel economy is said to come in under sub-7.0 litres/100km.Both 2.5-litre four cylinder and 3.0-litre six cylinder boxer engines are expected to carry over and diesel buyers will be pleased with the arrival of Subaru's first 2.0-litre turbo-diesel.The Liberty is wider and longer than the current model –the American version is even wider again – and should offer a large increase in both passenger and cargo area.Safety gets a big kick-up in the new models, with equipment on offer including an engine cradle that folds to isolate the block from the cabin in a crash, knee airbags, and a reversing camera with factory-fitted satnav. There are also rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights and push-button start options.Of course, both nameplates get Subaru’s all-wheel drive system, and the dynamic chassis concept from the new Impreza and Forester.Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior says the new Liberty has all the right ingredients to make a strong play in the market.“Safety, performance and style are all key ingredients in the new generation Liberty mix. Combined with the high quality engineering for which Subaru is renowned, it represents a formidable package.”“Liberty and Outback will build strongly on the respected records of the current cars, at the same time maintaining the fun driving that’s at the heart of every Subaru.”Pricing will be revealed at the Liberty’s Australian launch in September.

Looking like a cross between a Lexus and a Holden Epica, the newcomer, known as the Legacy in North America, makes its debut at next week's New York International Auto Show.Australia will have a different version of the car, based on the Japanese domestic specification model.The big difference between the US-built Legacy and the Japanese-made cars that will come to Australia, is size.The American cars are slightly wider again to suit local tastes.However, even the Australian Liberty will be slightly wider and longer than the existing model with more luggage room.This translates to more rear legroom, which has been one of the main complaints about the current car.The Liberty goes on sale here in September.It will be available with several new technical innovations, including ‘Lineartronic’ continuously variable transmission and six-speed manual gearboxes on some variants, plus the choice of a 3.6-litre six-cylinder horizontally opposed boxer engine on the range-topper.The car is built on an entirely new platform.Subaru Australia managing director, Nick Senior, says safety, performance and style are all key ingredients in the new-generation Liberty mix."Combined with the high-quality engineering for which Subaru is renowned, it represents a formidable package," he says. 

News cruisers are parked-up and beaming pictures before 6am as the temperature hovers around minus 10 and snow flurries drift through the pre-dawn blackness.By 9am there are union workers carrying placards in support of the Big Three outside Cobo Hall in downtown motown, as the great and the good from the world's motor industry arrive for the first major event of 2009.The buzz is down from recent years, with less security and fewer journalists jetting in for the action, but still there are major unveilings, technology, important speeches and so much more over the first two days.The North American International Motor Show is more than just glitz and glamour for General Motors, Ford and Chrysler in 2009 - this is the day when they have to deliver for the first time on the promises in Washington which have earned a government-backed rescue package.That means GM opens the action with a rolling cavalcade of 17 models which promise exactly what the government wants - hybrids, electric cars and regular production models which do better than 10 litres/100km in fuel economy.The headliner once again is the Chevrolet Volt, except this time it is wrapped in Cadillac bodywork and called the Converj - with the added bonus of a plug-in connection to its onboard battery system.Lexus is next and does its number around the brand's first dedicated hybrid, the HS250h, which was originally only planned for America but will now go to more than 80 countries.Then Ford becomes the second of the Big Three to present its position for 2010 and beyond, with an all-new Taurus family car - perhaps a pointer to something on the Falcon front - and the promise of an all-new electric car with a 160-kilometre range by 2011.Company chairman Bill Ford takes the stand to deliver on the company's promises to Washington, even though it was the only local not to take a multi-billion dollar loan."Ford is heading in the direction America and our customers want us to go, which is a green, high-tech and global future. I think that is where society would like to see the entire industry go, and Ford is going to lead that charge," Ford says.Then Chrysler, which many American analysts believe cannot survive the global economic meltdown, gets its turn and does a top job with the great looking new 200C family car and a range of electrics which shows it has not given up hope.It's best looker is the Dodge Circuit, which is most like a battery-powered Lotus sports car."The Dodge Circuit EV offers an extremely fun-to-drive, expressive sports car without fuel consumption and with virtually no impact on the environment,” says the vice-president of design at Dodge, Ralph Gilles.By now, after just two hours of the first press preview day, the pattern for Detroit '09 is set.The home team is going big on the cars it needs to make - even if Americans are still buying BIG with the drop in pump petrol prices - but there is more sizzle than steak because they have started way behind the Japanese and Europeans.And Cobo Hall looks sparse. There are fewer brands, fewer cars and none of the bold-and-brassy unveilings - Chrysler has always led the world in motor show stunts - which have been a signature of the Detroit show.“All I know is we took about 50 per cent out of the cost of our stand,” says the car boss at General Motors, Bob Lutz.“We took away a lot of the structures, such as salad bowl-shaped Saturn stands, and towers with holographic displays.”But he still applies some positive spin as everyone talks up the chances for the Big Three, even in the face of a selloff of the Hummer and Saab divisions at GM.“The fact that we don’t have any of that stuff gives our stand a much more businesslike and cleaner appearance. I think they cluttered up the stand. I imagine it’s going to be much the same around the show," Lutz says.As usual, the 80-plus former fighter pilot is right.BMW joins the hybrid rush at Detroit with news of its petrol-electric X6, thankfully with the all-new Z4 sportster to provide some glamour, as Volkswagen provides the best looking car of the show with its Concept BlueSport.The gorgeous VW is most like a Mazda MX-5, but promises Prius-buster fuel economy in the 4.3 litres/100km range and, without any promise of production, it clearly could have a future.“The Concept BlueSport is evolving into a car that that is a lot of fun to drive and at the same time makes an unmistakeable statement in terms of sustainability," says Volkswagen.“The Concept BlueSport is evolving into a car that that is a lot of fun to drive and at the same time makes an unmistakeable statement in terms of sustainability.”The next big mover in Cobo Hall is Kia, which shows a funky pick-up built on its baby Soul. The Soul'ster is never going to be an Aussie workhorse but will hit the Gen-Y button for America, and California in particular.As the first day in Detroit winds into darkness and more frigid weather, Subaru kicks the action with a preview of its new Liberty - called the Legacy in the USA - Jaguar runs out its high-performance R version of the landmark XF and Volvo shows the most adventurous concept car in its history, pointing to the next S60."The sporty design gives visual promise of an enthusiastic drive and I can assure you here and now that the all-new S60 will live up to that promise," says Volvo boss, Stephen Odell.Ford goes again to start day two at Cobo, with its Lincoln-Mercury models, then its back to Maserati and then GM pushes the home game hard with an announcement that the batteries for its Volt will be built in the USA. It's a boost for local jobs, more hard news on the Volt, and just what Washington will want before the Big Three report back on their survival plans at the end of March.And then there is a shock - at least for the Americans - as Chinese cars make the mainstream in Detroit for the first time and little-known BYD confirms it will be selling the world's first production plug-in electric car by 2010.The last big event of Detroit '09 is the one everyone already knows about - the new Toyota Prius.The list of 'firsts' is impressive as the car is unveiled, from its drag co-efficient to more luxury and a more-efficient battery system. But Honda has already undercut the third-generation Prius on price with its Insight, which is headlining for the brand in Detroit, and there is no sign of a cutting-edge lithium-ion battery pack.But the Prius has solar-powered air-conditioning to cool the car when it is parked, is bigger and quieter inside, and is certain to become the world's best selling hybrid. The car comes with more than 1000 new patents on technology and a claim of 3.9 litres/100km economy."Prius is more than a hybrid, it’s a solution. No longer is it a second car or a passing fad. In many households, it has become the primary family car," says Bob Carter of Toyota USA.There is other stuff to see in Detroit, and some things are obviously missing _ the Mercedes E-Class was an invitation-only event and Rolls-Royce is holding its all-new RR4 for the Geneva Motor Show in March - but the overall verdict on 2009 is surprisingly positive.Cars are still big news, look good and make promises of a better and more enjoyable life on the road.But the big question remains. Did the Big Three do enough, and show enough in Detroit, to convince the American government that they deserve the support it will take to get them through the biggest crisis in the history of the automobile? 

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.

Fuji Heavy Industries has released a teaser shot of the Legacy concept car - Liberty in Australia - destined for next month's Detroit Motor Show. The good news comes as Subaru announced this week it's withdrawal from the World Rally Championship. The Japanese firm moved quickly to off-set the disappointing announcement by pointing out that it has ambitious plans for the new Liberty and Outback. Subaru expects to launch the new Liberty late next year. Both the Liberty and Outback will grown in size, particularly rear legroom. Like the Impreza and Forester, the Outback will be further distanced from its Liberty sibling. Detailed specifications are expected to be revealed at Detroit but the Liberty is tipped to get an upgraded chassis and a further development of its trademark symmetrical all-wheel drive system. Subaru is also believed to have upgraded its six-cylinder boxer engine, now 3.6-litres, and it is tipped to come with a new tiptronic six speed gearbox. Both 2.5-litre four cylinder and 3.0-litre six cylinder boxer engines are expected to carry over and diesel buyers will be pleased with the arrival of Subaru's first 2.0-litre turbo-diesel. The diesel engine has already gone on sale in the current model Outback in Europe with six-speed manual gearbox. It develops 108kW at 3600 revs and 350Nm from 1800 revs. Fuel economy is sub-7.0 litres/100km. The Liberty concept will debut almost 20 years to the day of the launch of the original Liberty.  

Australia is missing out again on the best of the best in the Subaru garage.The stove-hot Legacy STi S402 will not be taking on Liberty badges or an Australian price, despite its popularity.The S402 arrives as the countdown begins to the next new Liberty, timed for the middle of next year.It is the work of chief engineer Hideharu Tatsumi, who has produced the best-handling Liberty yet.Tatsumi has recently moved from Subaru to STi after tuning every Liberty and Impreza as Subaru's chief test driver for the past 20 years. He is quick to admit certain budget restraints — on the design side — meant he could not play around with the sheet metal.“But even with those restrictions, we have a car that looks the business and delivers on the road,” he says.The unique mesh grille in the S402 is complemented by flared front fenders that were specially widened to take larger BBS rims and wider 235x40R18 Bridgestone Potenza RE050A rubber.He wanted to redesign the front bumper section to give the car an even sportier look, but a price about $600,000 for the special mould stopped that plan.“When you divide our limited run of only 402 units into $600,000, well, that adds an extra $1500 to each car. The bean counters would have none of that,” he laments.Other cosmetic touch-ups include a fake side air vent, a rear lip spoiler and special S402 emblems. But what was saved on the body upgrades was spent on the hardware.The car uses a 2.5-litre boxer unit with a twin-scroll turbo from STi, a tweaked engine control computer with increased boost and a sports muffler. Power and torque are up only slightly, but the objective was instant go and — by tweaking the gearing — maximum torque arrives from only 1800 revs with a strong pull all the way to 6000 revs.It's now possible to take second-gear corners in third, with huge response and plenty of grip.If a word could describe the S402's throttle, steering and braking responses, instant would have to be it. There's less play and greater rigidity in the throttle pedal than the current Liberty, and no understeer.Tatsumi has tweaked the steering rack from 15:1 to 13:1 for quicker turn in, and added STi-tuned dampers and springs. But it's the addition of three flexible performance bars — one across the front strut towers, one under the engine across the front suspension mounts and one across the trunk — that generates the S402's precision.It's a pity about the swanky soft leather seats, which unfortunately don't have the side support you need when pushing through fast bends.We don't have to forgive anything about the brakes, though. They are phenomenal, thanks to a monoblock six-piston Brembo package.First impressions lead to conclude this car is made to punish.The car is not coming to Australia until at least 2012, when the next STi Liberty is ready for the road.