QUICKER, cleaner and classier, the new Subaru Legacy 3.0 represents the pinnacle of aspirations for the Japanese company.
Aimed at the quality segment of the on-road 4x4 market, the Legacy 3.0 is the most refined and sophisticated model yet from Subaru.
Unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show this week, it goes on sale in Britain in November, along with other new versions of the Legacy range powered by two and 2.5 litre four-cylinder engines.
But it is the six-cylinder, three litre, 245bhp version which is the most desirable and the new engine is to be available in saloon and tourer versions as well as the beefy Outback, which was the first car-based sports utility vehicle back in the early 1970s.
It will be competitively priced at about £25,000 for the 3.0R Saloon, another £1,000 for the Tourer and a further £1,000 for the Outback.
But it's not selling on price, rather the engineering, permanent all-wheel-drive and the comprehensive driving experience will be promoted as Subaru seeks to triple Legacy sales to 3,000 inside 12 months.
Using the tried and trusted powertrain with its perfectly balanced, horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine and permanent "thinking" AWD, Subaru has refined the raw elements and served up a sophisticated newcomer just in time for winter.
The three litre engine is 80 per cent new and designed to maximise performance and minimise consumption, helped by a new five-speed sequential automatic box with vastly improved brakes and reworked suspension that sharpens handling.
Passive safety is also enhanced with a lower bonnet to reduce pedestrian injuries, two-stage twin front airbags and optional side curtain airbags.
Even less obvious is the extensive use of lightweight materials, particularly where they are furthest away from the car's centre of gravity to optimise balance and handling. In fact, Subaru claims it makes the greatest use of lightweight materials and advanced fixing techniques just as it does in the aviation industry sector under parent Fuji Heavy Industries.
However, the down to earth Subaru Legacy 3.0 has underone real and significant restyling inside and out under an in-house team led by chief designer Fumio Wakao. He wanted to pick up the best features of Audi styling while giving the Legacy its own distinctive Subaru identity over a proven engineering platform.
Subaru employs just 12,000 people in Japan and last year built 600,000 cars but acknowledges the key to growth probably lies in expanding the dealer network.
Subaru has 95 UK dealers and ideally wants 125 outlets while ensuring customers get a personal service from them. It has consistently done very well in independent customer surveys and does not want to jeopardise this enviable achievement.
It does not want to move away from its traditional buyers, who are in small professional practices and account for about 40 per cent of sales.
It is the most sophisticated model so far from the company but remains a car engineered by enthusiasts for the delight of drivers who appreciate dynamic qualities.
On the road the 3.0R Saloon and Tourer are both extremely smooth with excellent grip and confidence-building handling, although the estate feels slightly softer on twisting mountain roads.
Neither are as roomy inside as you might expect but the Tourer benefits from a big, low floor. The higher riding, more supple Outback is arguably best in class but it generates more tyre noise on road than the other two versions.
The powertrain is pleasantly smooth unless the automatic gearchanges are made under load when they become slightly jerky.
Subaru claims the three litre models have a maximum speed close to 150mph and take about eight seconds to reach 60mph and can return about 28mpg overall.
What is likely to slow down any successful launch of the new Subaru Legacy is the absence of a diesel derivative at a time when such engines are taking almost a third of sales overall and even more in the executive sector.