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Subaru has augmented its popular Outback lineup with a flagship model that showcases technology, convenience and more power.

A six-cylinder engine and a vehicle stability system are key elements that set the Outback H6-3.0 VDC apart from the already nicely appointed Outback Limited. The $31,895 starting price is about $5,000 more, as well.

The development of the 3.0-liter engine gives Subaru a powerplant worthy of a car that challenges other cars in the near-luxury segment. Like the 165-horsepower, four-cylinder in the Outback, this engine is also a horizontally opposed “boxer” engine that sits flat over the front wheels. Porsche engines are similarly configured. The flat layout of this engine not only saves space, but it has a low center of gravity that translates into a handling and traction advantage. And, because the banks of cylinders are on opposite sides of the crankshaft, vibrations are automatically canceled.

The six-cylinder engine has 212 horsepower, and the extra power, along with the inherent smoothness, makes this car quite enjoyable. Because this engine produces 80 percent of its torque at a meager 2,000 rpm, it steps out with considerable vigor. Torque is the twisting force that actually rotates the wheels, and when the bulk of it is produced at low rpm, it makes a car feel exceptionally responsive. The six-cylinder also has a level of refinement not found in the four-cylinder, and that contributes to the upscale feeling of the vehicle as a whole.

All Subarus sold in this country are equipped with all-wheel drive, and the system used in the H.6-3.0 VDC employs a combination of traction control, vehicle dynamics control (VDC) and the distribution of power, in varying ratios depending on available traction, to all four wheels. These systems are technologically sophisticated and totally integrated. In ideal conditions, the system sends 45 percent of the drive to the front wheels and 55 percent to the rear. If the wheels spin, front/rear power distribution is adjusted by the center differential.

The VDC can tell if the vehicle is going where the driver intends by monitoring things such as steering-wheel angle and individual wheel speeds. If it detects understeer (an unwillingness to turn into a corner), or oversteer (fishtailing), a split-second application of the brake on a single wheel gets the car back on its intended path. In really slippery conditions, the traction control system joins in by gradually reducing the power of the engine. Four-wheel anti-lock brakes are standard, as well.

The consequence of all this technical mumbo jumbo is a vehicle that has exceptional traction and directional stability in all kinds of weather, which is one of the things that has made Subaru immensely popular in mountainous and wintry states. This level of vehicle control, however, is just as useful during a quick downpour in Kansas as it is in a snowstorm in Colorado.

Because of its all-weather traction capability, the Outback may be like a four-wheeled hiking boot, but that doesn’t mean the H6-3.0 VDC is Spartan. Quite the contrary. While its bigger engine and advanced technology are the primary advantages, driver and passenger comfort have been factored into the equation. Automatic climate control is included, along with a McIntosh Audiophile stereo system, eight-way power driver’s seat, a rear-seat center armrest and a wood-and-leather steering wheel.

Is the world ready for a luxury Subaru? Since H6-3.0 VDC employs a strategy much like the Audi A4 Quattro, VW Passat 4Motion and Volvo Cross Country, I would say there is room for another player in this emerging segment.

Price
The base price of the H6-3.0 VDC wagon is $31,895. Add destination and the sticker price of the test car was $32,390.

Warranty
Three years or 36,000 miles.

Point: At last, a six-cylinder has been developed for the Outback. It is smoother, more powerful and more responsive t the four-cylinder. It comes as part of an upscale package that includes a vehicle dynamics control system, leather upholstery, wood trim and upgraded stereo.

Counterpoint: This upscale Subaru is not cheap, and whether it can be successful in the over-$30,000 price segment remains to be seen.

SPECIFICATIONS:
Engine: 3.0-liter, 212-hp 6-cyl.
Transmission: automatic All-wheel drive
Wheelbase: 104.3 inches
Curb weight: 3,575 lbs.
Base price: $31,895
As driven: $32,390
Mpg rating: 20 city, 27 hwy.
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