NEWS: Subaru Legacy Tourer 2012 Upgrades

Subaru has announced a series of technical revisions and equipment upgrades for the already monster spec, fabulous Legacy Tourer, as tested in our Subaru special: http://issuu.com/roadonlinemagazine/docs/road_23_subaruspecial/1. The fast and frugal horizontally-opposed, flat four Boxer diesel engine has now got a revised turbocharger, new exhaust camshaft timing and lighter con rods, to cut fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions (all diesel models fall below 160 g/km CO₂ to deliver tax savings). The six-speed manual gearbox has been uprated with wider gear teeth, new synchromesh, lower friction bearings and low-viscosity transmission oil. And the suspension is retuned, with uprated bushes for the front anti-roll bar stabiliser, new rear suspension arms (saving two kilo unsprung mass) and new pillow-ball bushes in the rear wishbones to reduce friction and provide a smoother ride. The result is an improvement (compared to the previous Boxer diesel Legacy) in fuel economy of over seven per cent, to 49.6mpg (combined), while CO₂ emissions are cut by up to 7.5 per cent, to 149 g/km. Importantly, the latter drops the car’s VED band down to level F, saving customers £35 per year. Subaru say: "The improvements in economy and emissions haven’t undermined the diesel-powered Legacy Tourer’s performance. Generating 147PSs at 3,600 rpm and 350Nm between 1,600 and 2,400 rpm, the diesel unit powers the car from zero to 62 mph in 9.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 120 mph." There are now five versions of the Legacy Tourer, with a diesel or petrol engine and three trim levels – depending on model. New Legacy Tourer prices start at £26,865 (OTR) and cover a £4,510 range. And each model is so comprehensively equipped that the only factory-fitted option will be special paint finishes, priced at £500, whilst the high-res rear-view safety camera is now standard across the five-model range and all new Legacys to benefit from Subaru’s ETCo aftercare package. Exterior changes now include smaller, aerodynamically smoother door mirrors and the availability of a fresh new colour – Ice Silver Metallic. Whilst inside, the 2012 Legacy sports a single-CD unit featuring a large LCD display screen together with USB and iPod connectivity and steering wheel-mounted controls. And on diesel models (with manual transmission) the instrument cluster now has a ‘shift-up’ indicator to encourage an economical driving style. Best of all, SE and SE NavPlus models now feature a ‘Sports Package’ which comprises a sports front bumper and front grille, dark tinted headlamps, larger 18-inch alloy wheels and special Bilstein dampers – yay! SE NavPlus models also feature a new DVD navigation system as standard, with a high-resolution eight-inch display for optimum clarity.
2012 Subaru Legacy Tourer range

Model	£Price (OTR)	CO2 g/km	VED band	Insurance group	£P11D value
Diesel
2.0D S	26,865	149	F	20E	26,680
2.0D SE	29,070	156	G	21E	28,850
2.0D SE NavPlus	31,370	156	G	21E	31,150
Petrol
2.5i SE*	29,075	196	J	19E	28,575
2.5i SE Navplus*	31,375	196	J	20E	30,875

*with Lineartronic transmission as standard