Driving Legacy is as easy as 1-2-3; High-powered Subaru's latest innovation is 'three engines in one'.Byline: By Edward Stephens MOTORING EDITOR THE innovations of car companies never cease to surprise me. Just when you think you have seen it all along comes a car with a feature that makes it different from anything else you have driven in the past. The latest car with a difference to come my way was the new, revised Subaru Legacy which boasts "three engines in one". The concept is centred around Subaru's SI-Drive (Subaru Intelligent Drive) system which comes standard on all 3.0-litre models. In effect it means the driver can select one of three different engine response programmes at any time - even on the move. Leave it in Intelligent Mode and this six cylinder Boxer engine conserves power and gives you the ultimate fuel consumption available. That doesn't, however, mean it becomes sluggish. You get the performance of a 2.0-litre rather than 3.0-litre model. It's an ideal selection for long distance cruising or for heavy traffic around the city. The automatic gearbox changes up earlier than normal to boost fuel consumption and you have to stamp hard on the accelerator to get the normal kick down affect when you need extra power. At the other extreme if you turn the knob on the centre console to Sport Sharp Mode you get the ultimate accelerator response and even a light touch on the pedal pedal /ped·al/ (ped´'l) pertaining to the foot or feet. ped·al adj. Of or relating to a foot or footlike part. will ensure the car drops at least one gear to keep you on optimum revs for performance motoring. In contrast to Intelligent Mode the auto box hangs on to the gears until the red line to make sure you get the most from the engine. In between these two modes is Sport Mode, which is the best for everyday motoring, giving reasonable fuel consumption - in the mid-twenties - as well as good acceleration. It's an easy system to operate but I'm not convinced that the average motorist would make full use of it after the first few weeks of driving the car. What they probably would make more use of is the facility to change gear manually via the gearshift or the two narrow paddles behind the steering wheel which look a little bit like bull's horns sticking out Adj. 1. sticking out - extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary; "the jutting limb of a tree"; "massive projected buttresses"; "his protruding ribs"; "a pile of boards sticking over the end of his truck" either side of the column. But while their look is somewhat more pronounced than most paddles there is no denying their smoothness of operation. On paper the 3.0R spec B is a really lively performer but my test car never felt as quick as the official performance figures. Also on the negative side the amount of road noise is higher than I would have expected, but in contrast the engine on tickover is so quiet you often question whether it is still running. The handling and ride are impressive and so is the road holding, thanks in part to the full time all-wheel-drive system on the Legacy. The new Look Legacy is a smart, spacious saloon with a number of impressive styling cues which make it stand out. The grille grille, in architecture, a system of bars, usually of decorative metalwork, forming an openwork barrier or enclosure. In its usual materials of wrought iron or bronze, it has been favored for decorative treatment in all periods. is new as are the wings but it is still the "eyes" of the car - the hawkeye headlamps - which give it that distinctive look. On the 3.0R spec B the whole appearance is set off by new style 10-spoke, 18-inch alloy wheels with a smoked high lustre lustre In mineralogy, the appearance of a mineral surface in terms of its light-reflecting qualities. Lustre depends on a mineral's refractivity (see refraction), transparency, and structure. finish. The interior is well designed and functional and boasts full leather upholstery upholstery, general term for household fittings, hangings, curtains, cushions, and covers. It refers to stuffed, padded, and spring-cushioned furniture, such as chairs and sofas, or to the usually decorative materials and fabrics that cover them. . Like a lot of today's cars the Legacy has an on-board On board usually means to be traveling on some vehicle. For example, Baby On Board. Compare with overboard. Metaphorically, the term on-board is often used to refer to some piece of technology that is integrated in a moving vehicle, for example: You can also programme the screen to feature three dials - looking like an extension of the existing dials on the dashboard (1) See Mac Dashboard. (2) A software-based control panel for one or more applications, network devices or industrial machines. Dashboards display simulated gauges and dials that look somewhat like an automobile dashboard. - giving you information on instant fuel consumption, average fuel consumption and acceleration. The Legacy is very well equipped and comes with features like climate control, an electric sunroof, cruise control, Thatcham Category One alarm/immobiliser, keylesss entry and side airbags. In fact there really is nothing that anyone buying this car would need to add. Fast Facts SUBARU LEGACY 3.0R spec B Price: pounds 28,495 Mechanical: 245 bhp, 3,000 cc, 6cyl diesel engine driving all wheels via 6spd automatic/tiptronic gearbox. Max speed: 147 mph 0-62mph: 7.9 secs Combined mpg: 28.8 Insurance group: 16 CO2 emissions: 231g/km Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 3yrs paint; 12yrs anti-rust CAPTION(S): NEW CONCEPT... the driver of the Subaru Legacy can select one of three different engine response programmes at any time - even on the move. |
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