Subaru’s first preview of the next-generation Legacy, 2010’s Hybrid Tourer Concept, was an uncluttered vision of Subaru’s future as a junior-Audi, entry-premium Sedan. With this latest look, called the Advanced Tourer Concept, the new Legacy is starting to look a lot more like, well, a Subaru. Sure, the open-mouth, hexagonal grille is a new look for the brand that even the new Impreza doesn’t yet sport, but the strange, pontoon-like wheel arches bring just enough awkwardness to the party to let you know that this is a Subie. After all, if it’s slightly awkward, lacking a cohesive family design, different from anything on the road and yet somehow slightly derivative, chances are it’s a new Subaru.
Of course, the final product could well look quite a bit different than this… remember the last Impreza Concept? But here’s what may make it to production: a turbocharged 1.6 liter boxer engine mated to an electric motor and CVT, which Subaru says can replace the performance of its long-running, 2.5 liter, naturally-aspirated engine.
Looks too good to be a Subaru. I like it. I wish the cool concept car room-like interiors would make it to production.
I think I’ll wait for this. The current Outback is fugly and handles like a marshmellow.
Going electric might offer some new ways to implement AWD.
This interior won’t be making it to production.
Either the seats are 13 inches wide or the car is 8 feet wide, and the magnetic levitation of the seats above the floor will never get past the bean counters.
Of course the production version is going to look different than the concept version. Those pesky Euro pedestrian crash standards, and other safety and cost production factors often dictate the final design outcome of any brand of vehicle.
Subaru gets called out on their inherent inability to produce a nice looking car because they have 3, er 4 models (I almost forgot about the Tribeca!) to which to judge from and their design language has always been freakish at best.
Talking about Subaru design language is sort of like talking about cleaning up politics.
Wow, it’s the Subaru Taurus! er Audi er…
I was going to say it looks like a KIA…
I hope that this signals a return of the GT wagon for the US market. I won’t hold out hope for a manual, but any GT wagon is better than what’s offered currently.
Now just slap on an ass-ton of plastic cladding, some roof-rails and raise it 5″-6″ while keeping 17″ wheels on it and you’ll have what it will look like when it makes it to the US.
Squared-off Jaguar XF…
So much for compactness. Too many “fat” or bloated cars anymore! Feels like the cocoon your in is driving you. :(
Front is a dead ringer for an Audi.
Yet another car with audi-inspired front end. They seem to be everywhere nowadays. Ford Taurus, and now this. I agree they were cool but can’t they come up with something original? Where’d Subaru get their designers nowadays, China? Subaru used to be quirky and different. I guess they lost faith in their current design team after coming up with such design as the “flying vagina” Tribeca and Camry-like current legacy, and desperate to inject some coolness into their products. The designer too, were disheartened after so many design failures, and simply say “Boss, just show us what car you think is a good design, and we’ll just copy it!”
I don’t see an exact Audi front end, but it does lok inspired by Audi as well as the afformentioned Jaguar and maybe even a little Ford?