Is the Legacy GT Returning?

Is anyone out there tired of SUVs and crossovers yet? If you are running an automobile company, you should surely hope not, as the SUV and CUV have been making up a large portion of your sales for quite a few years now, and it's easy to understand why. Look at Subaru of America. Their top three sellers are the Outback, the Forester, and the Crosstrek. They offer everything from spacious interiors, more-than-capable ground clearance, excellent gas mileage, and an All-Wheel Drive System that is arguably the standard at which all other manufacturers strive for theirs to meet.

But seriously, are there still drivers out there that long for the powerful, nimble, exhilarating mid-sized sedan that makes you make excuses just to drive it? Yes, we are incredibly fortunate to have the WRX and WRX STi. I, for one, hope they never go away. But I'm not talking about the hi performance sub-compacts that can easily serve as your weekend track car. I'm talking about the larger sedan used for daily chores, but separates itself by having the look of a Gran Turismo, with the power to back it up.

Enter the Legacy GT.

1994 Legacy GT Wagon(left)

Often known within the Subaru community as the WRX's "mature" older sibling. The absolute perfect choice for those loving performance sedans, but have moved on from the boy-racer image. The "GT" moniker actually appeared first on a Legacy model here in the US way back in 1994, and...it was only offered as a wagon. It came equipped with special ground effects, larger, mesh-style alloy wheels, and a "step" roof that offered more interior room.

For the next 10 years, the GT had a few different iterations, but in 2005, the 2.5 liter turbocharged Legacy GT sedan and wagon made its debut in the US, and its reputation as the "grown up" WRX was born. While it was offered in wagon form, and the wagons were awesome, the Legacy GT was a sport sedan. Great power, great suspension, great brakes, great interior...it had it all. It was a G-T sedan.

When the Legacy model changed in 2010, the GT was still offered, but now only in a 6 speed, which alienated a large portion of buyers. Sales declined for the next 3 years, and when the model year 2013 Legacys rolled around, the GT was left behind, never to return.

When the new 2015 Legacy was introduced, not only did Subaru of America not offer a turbo version, they eliminated the manual transmission option all together, all for the sake of improved fuel mileage...the CAFE number. The CAFE is the Corporate Average Fuel Economy that the government put on all auto manufacturers. It's basically the average fuel mileage of all the vehicles put out by a given manufacturer. To make a long story short, if a manufacturer doesn't meet it's numbers, it may have to pay a penalty, to the tune of $55 per car for every 1 mpg over the CAFE number. In 2006, Mercedes-Benz drew a $30.3 million penalty for violating fuel economy standards by 2.2 MPG. No joke.

The CAFE number was also behind the demise of the beloved Forester XT. The turbocharged Forester that was way quicker than it had a right to be, and the owners loved it. When the new 7/8 passenger Ascent was introduced, it came with the powerful FA24-DIT turbocharged engine, which is fantastic. However, the Ascent is a big vehicle, thus, fuel mileage will naturally be a bit less than , say, an Impreza. So, Subaru of America needed to get it's CAFE numbers back in check. Where could they pick up a few mpg's? The WRX and WRX STi both have powerful engines that may not get insanely conservative fuel mileage(although my wife's 2015 WRX's fuel mileage overly impressive, even 4 years later), however, messing with either of those cars may have resulted in a riot in Camden, NJ, so they were off the list. The Forester XT made up only a small portion of actual Forester sales, and by eliminating that model, they could pick up a few valuable mpgs back that the Ascent needed. Perfect!

Subaru Forester XT

The new heart of the new GT? 

 It's been fun, Forester XT!

What does this have to do with the Legacy GT? Well, currently SOA offers the 3.6 6 cylinder for it's top-of-the line Legacy and Outback, which gets 20/28mpg. Not horrible, but not stupendous. However, the 2.4 turbo in the new Ascent gets 21/27 mpg. But...and this is a big "but", the Ascent weighs almost 1000 pounds more than a Legacy and STILL gets that kind of mileage with the 2.4 engine AND makes more power to boot. You see where we are going with this? Now you are asking yourself, "Why doesn't Subaru just ditch the 6 cylinder and put the 2.4 turbo in the Legacy and Outback for it's top trim level, thus, achieve better fuel mileage across the board and keep its CAFE number happy, since the Legacy weighs 1000 pounds less? It's gas mileage should be outstanding!"

Bingo.

Thank you, CAFE!

Our guess is the new Legacy sedan, set to be unveiled at the Chicago Auto show on February 7th, will indeed be offered with a version of the Ascent 2.4 turbocharged engine and will usher in a new, exciting era for the Legacy in one fell swoop. Will they name it the "GT"? I don't know, but for the first time in almost a decade, Subaru of America has a chance to make the Legacy exciting again. For those who get excited by cars that make you make an excuse just to drive it. 

Carscoops rendition of the new 2020 Subaru Legacy.

A turbocharged Subaru Legacy Sedan back in the line-up? Yes, please.