2007 Subaru Legacy Spec B and STI Limited Debut
Subaru unveiled both the 2007 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT spec B and Impreza WRX STI Limited at the New York International Auto Show this past Thursday. Both of these cars are more or less evolutions of their previous incarnations and show the upscale direction that Subaru wants to move in. Unlike last year the spec B returns not as a limited run model, but as a fully fledged addition to the Legacy model line up. The STI Limited however will be a limited run model of only 800 units each, which will have a plaque demarcating their production number just as the 2006 Legacy spec Bs did.
First up we’ll take a look at the updated 2007 Legacy spec B. Subaru used the spec B to showcase their newest innovation, SI Drive, which is their term for modular ECU programming. It features three modes of operation; Intelligent, Sport and Sport Sharp (#). The intelligent mode Subaru offers as a way to increase gas mileage and make the turbo Legacy more drivable in city conditions by lessening the effects of the turbo lag. The Sport mode is the default setting for the SI drive and is essentially what the current settings for the Legacy GT are. Sport # mode Subaru says will be for a more sporty driving experience created by increasing throttle response and more aggressive shifting on automatic equipped vehicles (the spec B is manual only, but SI drive will be appearing on all turbo Legacy and Outback models).
The other major revisions to the spec B include; a revised six speed manual lifted from the STI (with slightly different gear ratios), black leather seats with Blue Alcantara inserts, a new stereo system pre-wired for XM Satellite radio, Subaru’s VDC stability control will also be implemented on the spec B, a first for a manually equipped Subaru, and finally a new color, Diamond Grey Metallic. It retains the Bilstein suspension from the 2006 spec B as well as the 18 inch wheels. Due to the new SAE ratings the spec B (and all turbo Legacies) will now be sporting an advertised 243 horsepower and 241 ft/lbs of torque.
The 2007 Impreza WRX STI Limited may look familiar to some of you that have seen the European spec D STI. By most accounts these two versions of the car are basically the same package. The Limited STI will be defined by its toned down exterior and more luxurious interior.
The new amenities will be the equivalent of the Limited package on all Subaru’s. The interior will have Black heated leather seats, a moon roof, as well as sporting dark grey interior trim to match the seats, and the new Impreza head unit which will be pre-wired for Sirius Satellite Radio. The exterior is where the most obvious changes will be made. The majority of the badging will be removed leaving only the front grille and rear trunk STI emblems. The STI Limited will also come standard with the fog lamp kit and an STI V-limited front lip spoiler. The most noticeable change to the exterior will be the removal of the large trunk mounted spoiler, as well as the roof mounted spoiler vane. In its place will be a new trunk lip spoiler such as those found on the BMW M3. The final exterior change will be new Enkei wheels to replace the BBS wheels of the standard STI. The rest of the standard amenities from the STI will carry over such as HID headlamps and the DCCD controller for the center differential and the six speed manual.
The STI Limited will be offered in two colors; 400 of them in Satin White Pearl and 400 in Urban Grey Metallic. Much like the Legacy, the new SAE ratings will reduce the STI’s output down to 293 horsepower and 290 ft/lbs of torque.
These new models can be expected to arrive this summer for the Legacy and in the fall for the STI Limited. Subaru had not announced pricing with the debut of the cars, but it can be suspected that the spec B will hover around its previous price and the STI Limited will likely be around $2000 USD more than a standard STI based on the cost of the Limited package for other Imprezas.