The first generation Subaru Legacy is a mid-size family car / wagon developed by Fuji Heavy Industries. The Legacy was an all new model, and was considered a notable departure from Subaru products in the past.
History The worldwide introduction of the Legacy sedan and wagon was achieved in 1989. Subaru had earned a reputation of building vehicles that were regarded as "quirky" while other Asian manufacturers were bringing more upscale and conventional appearing models to the market. The Legacy was different and became a solid production that changed Subaru's reputation. The Legacy appeared at the same time as the US introduction of Lexus and Infiniti and five years after Acura, and it was interpreted by some as Subaru's attempt at participating in the emerging imported luxury car market. However, Subaru did not have a V6 or V8 engine. The Legacy was more automotive aerodynamic than previously built products, with soft edges and a more coherent appearance. The sedan has a break in the beltline where it drops down from the windshield to the front door glass, and then juts up from the rear door glass to the rear window, and the beltline is interrupted as it transitions down to the rear window on the wagon. The beltline treatment was used again on the SVX when it was introduced in 1992.
The Legacy broke with many Subaru traditions, such as no longer locating the spare tire in the engine compartment, behind the engine and above the transmission, a tradition started with the 1966 Subaru 1000, a method also used in the Citroën GS. The Legacy was also the second Subaru to use wheels with five lug nuts instead of four to better cope with the increased horsepower and torque from the powertrain. The Legacy was an all-new model, and was slotted at the top in Subaru's model range, joining the Leone, the Subaru XT coupé, Subaru Justy sub-compact, and the Subaru Rex and Subaru Sambar kei cars in Japan.
The Subaru star badge used since the introduction of the 360 was modified, with a more conventional and stylized appearance, in comparison to versions used on previous vehicles.
The Legacy began with a four-door sedan or five-door wagon bodystyles with FWD and an optional full-time AWD package, and was introduced in the United States, UK, Germany, the Benelux region of Northern Europe, Argentina, Chile, Japan, Australia (where it was called Liberty because the name Legacy conflicted with Legacy Australia) and New Zealand. The car was built with many luxury and technological advancements normally found on more expensive vehicles as standard equipment, such as power windows, central locking, fuel injection, air conditioning, vehicle speed sensitive, variable effort, power assist rack-and-pinion steering, alloy wheels, 4-wheel independent suspension (MacPherson struts in front and rear) with both negative scrub and anti-dive and squat geometery, anti-sway bars front and rear, and all-wheel disc brakes. Items that were optional that didn't make the vehicle too expensive were four-channel ABS, licensed from Bosch and air suspension height control, which lowered the vehicle at speeds above , and also allowed the driver to increase the vehicles ground clearance for off-road conditions. In many markets, only four-wheel-drive models were sold, or a very limited front-wheel-drive lineup.
On vehicles equipped with power central locking, the feature is activated from the inside drivers door lock switch only, by pushing the rocker switch to lock or unlock all doors. There is no label on any of the doors that suggest the door lock function is electric. Other doors can be locked or unlocked individually by pushing the respective door lock rocker switch, but it will not lock or unlock the other doors. The outside key door lock can unlock the drivers door only by turning the key partially, or with a complete turn to the left to unlock all doors.
Japanese models
When the Legacy was first introduced February 1, 1989 in Japan, the Legacy came in the following trim levels: the DOHC 2.0-liter turbocharged "RS" with a 5-speed manual transmission only, followed by the "VZ" sedan and wagon and the "TZ" sedan and wagon with the DOHC 2.0-liter engine. A smaller SOHC 1.8-liter engine was used for the "Vi" sedan and wagon with FWD only, "Ti" sedan and wagon, the "Mi" and the entry level "Ei" sedans and wagons. The fuel efficiency for the 2.0-liter engine (non-turbo, manual transmission 4WD) is based on Japanese Government emissions tests using 10 different modes of scenario standards, and at speeds consistently maintained at , based on figures listed in the Japanese sales brochure.
All wagons available to the Japanese were the extended roof version, referred to as the "Touring Wagon", and the air suspension, called "EP-S" (electronic pneumatic-suspension), was only available on the AWD equipped VZ wagon with an automatic transmission. In 1990, the DOHC 2.0-liter turbocharged Legacy "GT" sedan/extended roof wagon was introduced, with a 4-speed computer-controlled automatic transmission only on the GT sedan and a choice of automatic or manual transmission on the wagon, as well as the slightly more affordable "RS type R" turbocharged sedan. The GT sedan/wagon, the RS, and RS type R came with 15-inch alloy wheels and 205/60R15 tires, dual piston brake calipers front and single piston rear, and a sport-tuned suspension over the standard wheel size of 14-inch steel wheels for the other models offered. Plastic wheel covers were not offered on the entry level "Ei" sedan or wagon, and the 13-inch wheel was painted silver instead of black.
The "Ti type S" sedan and wagon, introduced in 1991, were offered with items available on the more expensive VZ and TZ but with the smaller 1.8 engine. The reason for this was it allowed Japanese buyers to purchase the higher equipped models while avoiding the higher cost of Japan's annual road tax, where the 2.0 litre engine had a higher tax amount. The AWD setup, called "Active Torque Split" in Japanese language brochures, was standard on the Japanese-spec GT and RS, optional on the other trim levels with either a manual or automatic transmission. A partial 4WD system was offered on the lower trim level "Mi" and "Ei" sedans and wagons with a manual transmission only, activated by an embedded switch on top of the gear shift lever. A glass moonroof was not available until 1990 on both the GT and VZ sedan and wagon.
At the Legacy's introduction, the top level VZ sedan interior was originally available in blue, gray or a special color combination of pearl white exterior paint with dark red upholstery and brown interior plastic, with the other sedans and wagons offering interior color choices of blue or gray. The VZ wagon that was painted black came with light gray two-tone paint scheme on the lower half of the vehicle, and both front and rear bumper covers below the bumper rub strip, which was later used when the Outback was introduced with the Second Generation. Blue interior was offered on vehicles with blue exterior paint only. When model year 1990 arrived, however, the interior color choices were reduced to gray for the entire product line, with various types of upholstery selections, including a choice of velour, moquette, or tricot cloth upholstery based on the trim level. Leather was optional on the GT sedan and wagon only. A four spoke, black leather covered MOMO steering wheel also came with the Japanese-spec GT sedan/wagon and the RS sedan, and was affixed with six allen head screws to an adapter hub that incorporated the cruise control activation switch. This arrangement allowed the exchange of other aftermarket steering wheels using a six screw installation pattern to suit personal tastes. The black leather steering wheel accompanied matching black leather on the gearshift, center armrest cover, and parking brake handle. The upper half of the dashboard on the 1990 RS was available with an optional blue color, with the rest of the dashboard and interior in gray only. The RS and RS type R interior color was black with black cloth upholstery with matching door panels and extended side bolsters on the front seats, covered in an upholstery pattern insert unique to the RS and RS type R. Japanese models have been known to be exported to countries with right-hand driving requirements, such as the UK, India, Australia and New Zealand.
Type R & RA The Legacy RS Type R & RA were limited edition models. The Type R was released in February 1989 and featured harder rate springs, damper and bushings, three spoke steering MOMO "COBRA" steering wheel, Advan "GROVA" tyres and the removal of the power steering assist switch (present on the RS). Subaru stated the Type R was "a basic grade model of RS which is suitable as the material of a competition car for motor sports"
Subaru Technica International (STi) prepared four Legacy RS models with stronger drivetrains, stiffer suspensions, a deep front air dam, roll cage, and a quick-fill long-range fuel tank. In January 1989, STi took the cars to the Arizona Test Center, an oval track in the Phoenix desert and under the supervision of the FIA, the cars ran for over 18 days, accumulating 100,000 kilometers and set a speed record of 138.78 mph.
STi used its World Speed Endurance Record experience to produce its first car, the Legacy RS Type RA. Launched in November 1989, it was visually identical to the regular RS aside from decals on the front doors reading “Handcrafted tuning by STi” and rear badging. Mechanically however, the Type RA received many of the modifications on the record attempt cars.
Upgrades included forged pistons, strengthened connecting rods, hand finished intake and exhaust ports, balanced crankshaft and flywheel and an additional fan on the radiator. Suspension was retuned, and a quicker ratio power steering was added. Available only in Ceramic White, this first series of the RS Type RA was limited to only 100 units.
May 1990 saw the second series Type RA released with the addition of a close-ratio transmission added. With the 1991 facelift and update across the Legacy range, the third series Type RA received a 16-bit ECU, improved mid-range torque, and colour change to Feather White. The final series was marked by availability of Black Mica in addition to white. Total production of the Type RA was approx 700 units between.
The following was printed, in English, on the front cover of the 1989 Japanese Legacy brochure, as Subaru was proud of their new car:
International models