Subaru Legacy Lancaster BG, 1 generation 08.1995 - 05.1998

Legacy Grand Wagon was created in order to meet the demands of the American market - the market of a country in which the concept of outdoor activities is on everyone's lips. The fact is that Americans have always been lovers and adherents of this type of recreation, therefore, station wagons with the capabilities of jeeps are truly valuable cars for them. During the existence of the Subaru Leone, this predecessor to the Legacy was in great demand in the US market, where it was even dubbed "the farmer's car" for its strength, cheapness and availability of permanent all-wheel drive. But those days are gone, and the era of more comfortable and solid four-wheel drive cars has come. Already with the advent of new models and generations of Subaru, and again with an eye on the North American market, in 1994, based on the Legacy station wagon, belonging to the middle class, the Legacy Grand Wagon was created. In the USA, where the novelty opens the beginning of sales in the same year, the car is called Outback. The front bumper of the Legacy Grand Wagon is designed in the SUV style, giving this car an original look. It offers a very comfortable passenger compartment, and its cargo essence is expressed by the presence of a huge trunk, folding seats, cargo hooks, a hood in the trunk, a protective net. Considering the presence of powerful roof rails, something will easily fit on the roof. Thus, a sports and utility vehicle is obtained that combines the advantages of an SUV and a passenger car. For domestic sales, only one modification was foreseen. Available: front fog lights hidden under a protective grille; 15-inch cast, front and rear spoilers, rear wiper; climate control system, tilt steering column, leather steering wheel, CD player; available options - electric sunroof, navigation. In 1997 in Japan, after updating the model, the name was also changed - to Legacy Lancaster. The car is offered in three trim levels, in the maximum - leather, heated seats, etc.

The Legacy Grand Wagon is equipped with a 2.5-liter horizontally arranged flat-four engine. This engine in modifications until June 1996 developed a power of 160 hp, later the power was raised to 175 hp. The engine is equipped with an automatic or manual (since 1997) transmission. All modifications of this station wagon are equipped with AWD all-wheel drive transmission. Vehicles with manual transmission have permanent all-wheel drive with 50/50 torque distribution and self-locking differentials to redistribute power between the axles and from one rear wheel to the other (when installed with a rear limited slip differential). Cars with automatic transmission are equipped with electronically controlled AWD, where 90% of the torque is transmitted to the front axle and 10% to the rear, while the electronics monitor the power transfer along the axles as efficiently as possible, and when reverse or first gear is engaged, the torque is transmitted symmetrically. The Legacy Lancaster is 65 mm higher than the Legacy Wagon, and the ground clearance is increased to 200 mm. Indeed, when developing this machine, the main task was to improve characteristics such as cross-country ability in bad road conditions. On this car you can move much more freely on country and forest roads than on a regular station wagon. And even in the market, Lancaster was positioned as an economical alternative to SUVs. Of course, this "almost crossover" will also require a lot of space in the city. The wheelbase is 2630 mm, the minimum turning radius is 5.6 meters. So this car is ideal for travelers or for those who live outside the city. The Legacy Grand Wagon safety systems include as standard: anti-lock braking system, a child seat fixation mechanism, and door stiffeners. The driver's airbag and the front passenger airbag are initially options for the basic configuration. Since 1995, the driver's pillow is standard. More massive bumpers provide the basis for added safety combined with a stiffer body structure. And, of course, the all-wheel drive system will provide better driving stability.

The Legacy Lancaster has many nuances that set it apart from its Legacy Wagon prototype. Of course, there are actually proprietary features in the form of a boxer engine and all-wheel drive Subaru. Not all cars of the first generation can boast of excellent physical safety, but in general, the buyer has plenty to choose from, and the prices are not too high.