Subaru Legacy Concept at 2009 Detroit Auto Show
- Looks like: The Legacy got taller but not prettier
- Defining characteristics: Vertical headlights and an all-new profile for the brand
- Ridiculous features: Matte silver paint job
- Chance of being mass-produced: This is what the next generation of Legacys and Outbacks will look like
Subaru’s Legacy Concept is certainly a new look for a company known for polarizing designs. Remember the Tribeca’s grille? The Legacy concept is no different, but its polarizing feature is its tall, round roofline. It’s functional for sure, and should provide lots of headroom, but most automotive designs have shifted to severely sloping rooflines, leaving the Legacy Concept looking somewhat out of date.
What’s good is that the concept rides on a longer wheelbase than the old model, and the company says legroom in the front and rear has been greatly enlarged. There are no specs on legroom — this is still a concept — but one gripe about the current Legacy and Outback is their cramped rear quarters. Competition like the Honda Accord and Mazda6 have also grown by leaps and bounds in the rear space department.
The paint on the concept is a matte silver that will never make it to production, but the 3.6-liter six-cylinder and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive are Subaru standards that will most likely make a production model.
Subaru hasn’t said when a new Legacy will debut, but it could easily turn this design into a production vehicle in short order from the looks of it on the show floor. More images below, including live shots from Detroit.
