Press Release
Milestone achieved 16 years and four months
Cumulative worldwide production of the Subaru Liberty (1) (known as Legacy in markets outside Australia) reached three million units on March 14.
This milestone was achieved 16 years and four months after the company started production in its Gunma Yajima Plant in November 1988.
Developed as a successor to the Subaru Leone, the first-generation Legacy was introduced in Japan in February 1989. Since its birth, the Legacy has been designed and built to ensure driving pleasure. The first-generation Legacy established a new FIA-certified, world speed record in the continuous 100,000-kilometre drive with an average speed of 223.345 km/h (2), a record that still stands today, proof of the model's high performance and reliability.
The Station Wagon GT, which included a high-performance engine, was introduced in Japan in 1993 and quickly gained popularity in the growing market for recreational vehicles. It played a pioneering role in Japan's emerging market for station wagons.
In September 1989, production of the Legacy began in the U.S. at Subaru Isuzu Automotive Inc. (now known as Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., SIA). Based on the Legacy wagon and created around the concept of a crossover sport-utility vehicle, the Outback model was introduced in the U.S. in 1995, boosting Subaru sales and elevating the Legacy to the status of a major model that has become strategically important for FHI.
Today, the fourth-generation Legacy continues to enjoy popularity and high acclaim from car enthusiasts. The Legacy has further improved driving performance and achieved unprecedented levels of weight reduction, while still ensuring crashworthiness in its safety performance. The current Legacy model was awarded the Car of the Year in Japan for 2003-2004. Worldwide sales in 2004 amounted to 201,645 units.
Note:
1) Including Outback model.
2) In 1989, from January 2 through 21, the Legacy set a new 100,000-kilometre world speed record at the Arizona Test Centre located on the outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona. The distance was covered in 447 hours, 44 minutes, and 9.887 seconds, with an average speed of 223.345 km/h; the result was certified by the Fédération Internationale de L'Automobile (FIA).
Chronology of the Legacy
