Legacy adds upgrade kit to flagship
Aonce popular recipe is at work with Subaru of New Zealand cooking up a local enhancement package for its flagship Legacy model.
In the spirit of Kiwi-developed limited run models, the Legacy 3.6RS with STI Performance Kit is a $5000 upgrade for the sixcylinder Legacy model.
STI Performance terminology differentiates the car from hardcore STI models. It’s not an upgrade that decks out the Legacy with a hi-rise bootlid wing, wraps the front occupants in aggressively bolstered seats or trades ride quality for a rally-focused suspension tune like the WRX STI.
The newly available package takes a dive into the Subaru Tecnica International parts catalogue with the objective of polishing a refined sedan into something a bit less formal and more sports flavoured.
Appearance, performance and chassis tuning are encompassed by the 12 individual components of the STI Performance Kit. Up front there’s a black mesh grille and a front lip spoiler. Dark finish 19-inch dark STI alloy wheels are shod with wider 245/40 R19 tyres in place of 225/50 R18 rubber on the standard 3.6RS.
The bootlid carries an STI Performance badge and with exterior components all being black there’s no need for colourmatching to the paintwork.
The front suspension gets reinforced by a STI flexible tower bar and that change is balanced by an STI rear sway bar while springs and dampers aren’t touched. The braking performance is enhanced by cross drilled rotors front and rear.
The 3.6-litre boxer engine breathes more freely through a carbon fibre air intake and sports rear mufflers. Subaru claims 10 per cent output gains over the 191kW and 350Nm of the standard Legacy 3.6RS — which suggests 210kW and 385Nm of torque although no numbers are published.
The final details of the kit are a red STI starter button and an STI shift knob and under the bonnet there’s an STI oil filler cap.
It’s an understated upgrade. For example there’s no noticeable volume increase from the engine apart from a little more induction growl around 3000rpm to accompany the freerevving boxer-six power delivery.
The ride quality hasn’t been greatly stiffened. There’s a little more lateral body control and also more rubber on the road that combine to tighten the overall handling of an all-wheel-drive car that already possessed an assured stance on the road. In fact, you get some measure for the character of this car by noting the changes that haven’t been made. Along with leaving the springs, shocks and ride height alone, Subaru has made no change to the seats or the steering wheel.
THERE’S A LITTLE MORE LATERAL BODY CONTROL AND ALSO MORE RUBBER ON THE ROAD THAT COMBINE TO TIGHTEN THE OVERALL HANDLING OF AN ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE CAR THAT ALREADY POSSESSED AN ASSURED STANCE ON THE ROAD.
I got some perfect Subaru driving weather to sample the STIkitted Legacy. There was enough sunshine for photography and a couple of intense rain squalls swept through while driving on some interesting roads that reinforced Subaru’s sure-footed all-wheel-drive dynamics and slippery road grip advantages.
The kit is a little underwhelming is one aspect and there’s certainly scope for a touch more STI identification in the cabin. That red starter button is out of sight when you are sitting behind the wheel which leaves the shift knob as the sole visible change. An STI badge to replace the Subaru logo on the steering wheel and perhaps an STI emblem embossed on the front seats with some unique stitching would be an eye-catching touch.
All of the STI Performance components are additional to the strong specification of the stock Legacy 3.6RS priced at $54,990. The standard equipment highlights include the EyeSight safety system, Harmon Kardon audio, power sunroof, dual zone air conditioning, leather seat trim, sunroof, heated front seats and kerb view camera system.
Subaru has come up with a refined enhancement for a car that shines a brighter light on the driving appeal that isn’t immediately evident when clothed in the semi-formal sedan styling of the standard car.
The character of the Legacy 3.6RS isn’t drastically changed or its refinement compromised by the STI mods. It becomes a topspec four-door that stands out just a little more and drives with polished — rather than sharpened — responses. A new Legacy 3.6RS with STI Performance Kit is listed at $59,990. Owners of a MY18 Legacy 3.6RS can purchase the kit retrospectively for $8000.
At a time when most of the Euro brands are enjoying success with their performance sub-brands and Hyundai is in the early stages of establishing its N range, it’s encouraging to see Subaru finding a role for its long-respected trio of initials beyond the WRX STI.