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IN August Subaru made itself known to enthusiasts and casual motorists alike with a prominent return, new Edsa Greenhills-based headquarters and full factory backing. Recently, the brand shone brighter as Typhoon Paeng exited the country and gave way for the entry of its latest stars—the 2007 Outback 3.0R and Legacy 2.0R.
Using Subaru’s unique symmetrical all-wheel-drive properties (such as a low center of gravity, stability and a compact boxer engine) as a launch point, the Outback combines the creature comforts of an executive car with a sport-utility vehicle’s (SUV) road ability—and then some. The P2.249-million 3.0R variant features Subaru’s new SI-DRIVE (Subaru Intelligent DRIVE), which allows for easy conversion to any of three levels of engine performance—Intelligent, Sport and Sport Sharp—at the flick of a switch.
Tuning the Outback’s DOHC 3.0L H-6 boxer engine from the driver’s seat can be done via a toggle knob on the center console and the steering wheel. Accessing the “Intelligent” setting provides the smoothest driving in all situations, with mild throttle response and ease of handling. The “Sport” setting ensures complete and smooth performance, making it ideal for highway driving. The last setting (“Sport Sharp”) can be accessed on the steering wheel’s lower right part, and is ideal for aggressive driving requiring every digit of the Outback 3.0R’s 162 hp and 297 nm of torque.
Four notable features that make the Subaru driving experience much better—bi-xenon headlamps, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, paddle shifting and eight-way power-assisted front seats. The dual-zone automatic air conditioning features independent left and right temperature control, along with a rear ventilation system (standard on the 3.0R).
The eight-way power-assisted driver’s seat has two memory settings that can be restored at the touch of a button. The tilting and telescopic steering wheel has paddle shifters (accessed only in “Manual” mode), along with satellite buttons flanking the steering wheel for audio control ease.
The Legacy continues to assert itself as Subaru’s core vehicle, with Impreza-like agility cloaked in an executive sedan chassis. Available as a P1.49-million sports executive sedan or a P1.59-million executive wagon, both flavors feature an exterior that is sharper and bolder with performance that is close to total driver enjoyment and an interior that takes the Subaru “sports-executive” character to higher levels.
The Legacy’s symmetrical all-wheel drive allows the vehicle to perform in any weather condition and in any type of road. It has a unique layout, wherein the drive train is in a direct line with the compact and low-vibration boxer engine, creating a low center of gravity and equal lateral-longitudinal balance.
The sporty character of the Legacy is consistently embodied, even in naturally aspirated 2.0R form powered by a DOHC two-liter boxer engine. On the other hand, the 3.0R variant totes a six-cylinder engine, along with a Sportshift E-5AT five-speed automatic transmission that allows the driver to change gears manually via the paddle shifters. A third variant, the 3.0R spec.B, comes with 18-inch wheels, Bilstein shock absorbers and a choice between the Sportshift E-5AT version or a six-speed manual tranny originally developed for the 2006 Impreza WRX STI (Subaru Technica International, Subaru’s high-performance division).
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