Detroit 2009: Subaru Legacy Concept

Selling 3.6 million units since it's global launch in 1989, the Legacy has proved to be perhaps Subaru's most important model. Sitting at the top of the range, it provides a good look at the way the brand is headed.  Subaru says as much in the press release, stating " The new LEGACY CONCEPT is a hint at the future of Legacy design".

Hmm, so that's the new direction for Subaru? I'm not sure I like it. The look is a departure, and it previews a more assertive design then the handsome innoffensiveness of the current Legacy. Something doesn't look quite right with the design, however.  The front end looks weighty in comparison to the rest of the vehicle, and there is an akwardness to where the mid-section flows in with the front end. The flattened, rigid line above the doors running across most of the vehicle lowers the door area visually, which stands as a contrast to the larger frontal area. The picture below illustrates what I mean:

The interior design of the Legacy Concept is handsome and once you look  past the obligatory show car pieces, the overall design very similar to what we'll be seeing in the production model. The center stack area stands as a contrast with the current generation with it's upright design offering ample space for a large navigation screen. I particulary like that 3-spoke steering wheel with the big center hub!

 The Legacy Concept looks to continue on with the same  Subaru attributes that have made it successful in the past, like the horizontally-opposed 3.6L Boxer Engine and symmetrical AWD system. It'd be nice if some of the innovation like that slick touchscreen UI in the center stack carried over, but I highly doubt that will be the case. The design on concept cars is almost always toned down going into production so overall, while the design isn't too impressive in concept form, I expect this car to be one of the rare cases where the design is improved once it makes it's way to the production model.