New Subaru Legacy at Frankfurt

The new Subaru Legacy will get its European debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month

The new Subaru Legacy will get its European début at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month

Subaru are to launch the all new Subaru Legacy Saloon, Subaru Legacy Estate (sports Tourer) and Subaru Legacy Outback at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month.

Update 10/09/09: Subaru has now released model and price detail for the 2010 Legacy Tourer in the UK.

The current Legacy and Outlander should sell in droves – they really are very good. Well built, decent looking and more than half-decent to drive, they’re almost a secret. But maybe the new versions of the Legacy – which are already on sale in the US and Japan – will swing more buyers Subaru’s way.

The new Legacy is bigger, roomier and better equipped than the old model, with a stretched wheelbase and a much more upmarket feel. The engines are a couple of petrols – 2.0 litre and 2.5 litre – and a turbo-diesel boxer engine of 2.0 litres that delivers 150bhp, but unlike most diesel engines it does need to be revved to perform.

The off-roading Legacy Outback also grows in size, and gets more ground clearance and a chunkier, more butch appearance. It is also possible that the UK version of the Legacy Outback will be offered with Subaru’s 3.6 litre petrol boxer engine, which would be a big bonus.

When Subaru released the new Legacy in Japan earlier this year, it doubled its sales estimates in the first month. With a launch at Frankfurt in September and on sale in October, I’m sure Subaru are hoping the same thing will happen here.

If car buyers have any sense, it will.