2000 Subaru Legacy GT Makes North American Debut
At New York International Auto Show

CHERRY HILL, NJ - Subaru of America, Inc., (SOA), introduced the all-new 2000 Legacy GT sedan and wagon at the New York International Auto Show. Even before its introduction in the U.S., the all-new Subaru Legacy has won awards in both Japan and Australia for its innovation in design and safety technology.

This third-generation of the popular Legacy line was designed to build on the attributes of the previous two generations, while working toward making the car both more distinctive looking and fun to drive. The challenge for the engineering team was to build the ultimate Legacy -- a car with driving performance, safety, and security. And, in wagon trim, the performance of a sedan coupled with the utility of a wagon.

The design team worked to convey a feeling of strength and beauty in the appearance and function of each component of the car, while adhering to the prevailing rule of design at Subaru that dictates form must always follow function. The 2000 Legacy GT is the best example of how Subaru engineering has designed to this tough standard while creating a work of art.

The new grill and headlights help distinguish the Legacy GT from a typical sedan. The design melds together in a free-flowing form that carries into the hood, giving the entire forward attack of the vehicle an aggressive and strong, yet elegant, appearance. But at Subaru there is always more to what initially meets the eye.

The large headlights were designed to illuminate more area of the road than the previous Legacy headlight system. And the grill masks an innovative fresh air intake system that helps the 2.5-liter SOHC boxer engine develop more useable torque in the everyday driving range. The flow of the hood aids in directing air up over the car in a fashion that lowers Cd (Coefficient drag) and reduces wind noise. It has also been sculpted to ensure the driver has a good sense of where the front corners of the car are in relationship to its surroundings.

The aggressive wedge shape of the Legacy GT sedan and wagon gives the appearance of both performance and strength. The wedge-shaped profile of the car aids in a low Cd and wind noise, but it also contains a structural reinforcement system normally found in high performance rally and racing cars. The dual benefit of the multi-ring reinforcement design is structural rigidity for spirited driving performance and crash worthiness from all angles.

Inside the Legacy GT the form follows function rule prevails with an interior sculpted from over thirty years of building cars for people who like to drive. Sitting in the driver's seat, one notices the attention to detail in the cockpit that creates a positive energy. The instrument cluster and controls are mounted in an "L" shaped panel that blends into the console. The large, easy-to-read gauges are made even easier to see with a slightly offset steering wheel and self-illuminating needles, and accessing the controls is accomplished without even the slightest reach.

The seats are another example of Subaru engineering. They provide excellent lateral and thigh support and offer a six-way power driver's seat and available leather seating surfaces. But the seats do more. They are part of the side impact system, and along with available front side impact air bags, they are part of the improvements to the 2000 Legacy passive safety systems. New for 2000, all occupants have headrests and three-point mounted seatbelts. Front seat occupants further benefit from the addition of a pretensioner and load limiter added to their belts.

Like all Subaru vehicles sold in the U.S., the 2000 Legacy GT has standard full-time all-wheel drive. In 2000, the Legacy GT limited has its performance and traction further enhanced through the addition of a limited-slip rear-differential. A newly designed multilink rear suspension system aids in increasing cornering forces while also increasing useable cargo space. Located entirely under the floor pan, the multilink rear suspension has excellent vertical travel and higher resistance to side loads than the previous Legacy rear suspension design.

The 2000 Legacy GT is indeed the ultimate Legacy. It takes the best attributes of the original Legacy, combines them with the refinements of the second-generation Legacy, and packages them into a platform and body design that benefits from the latest in engineering technology and design. Its sculptured look is both beautiful and functional while remaining true to the core values that make a Subaru...a Subaru.