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2015 Subaru Legacy Production Model Looks Shittier Than Expected
I was a damn fool to believe that the 2015 Subaru Legacy production model was going to be anything worthwhile. A photo of the sedan just leaked ahead of its debut at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show this week, and despite giving Subaru the benefit of the doubt, they have disappointed me once again.
I previously reported that the conceptual design of the Legacy could have a major influence on the production model after I saw the teaser photo of the Legacy production model, but it turns out that I couldn’t have been any more wrong. Subaru just did an excellent job of concealing how plain and shitty the actual model is.
The athletic and appealing design of the concept is nowhere to be found on the production model. That coupe-like design has completely disappeared and instead we’ve been given a design that simply looks like a mash-up of several other designs—mainly uninspired and boring ones. In fact, the front end seems to have drawn some inspiration from the 2015 Subaru WRX, which is a design that most, including myself, have chastised.
There are definitely elements from the Legacy concept model that can be seen on the production model, but they’re much subtler than I hoped they would be. That includes the grille, which is definitely more prominent than it has been on past models, but is still inferior to the eye-catching grille found on the conceptual design.
We’re still unsure about what will be found under the hood of the production model, but you can be sure that we will have all that information for you when we pay this bland-looking piece of shit a visit at the Chicago Auto Show on Thursday.
What do you think of the Legacy’s all-new look? Check out some more photos of the sedan that looks nothing like a coupe below, then be sure to hop down to the comment section and join the debate.
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Featured
Ford Continues to Please Minivan-Skeptic Soccer Moms
If the words Aerostar, Windstar and Freestar mean anything to you, you know that Ford is responsible for some of the best minivans ever made. Beginning with the first model Aerostar in 1986, Ford’s snub-nosed minivan set the standard of what would be created by automotive manufacturers in this class for decades.
The Aerostar was also the first minivan in the United States to feature upgraded, luxury packages. With an XLT package, and Eddie Bauer trim levels, the Ford Aerostar allowed drivers to bring passengers, cargo and more in style. For the first time, drivers could take advantage of the versatile and reliable minivan platform, without sacrificing comfort and convenience.
Does Ford Still Make a Minivan?
The Aerostar continued in the mid-90s as the Ford Windstar. The Windstar was a complete reinvention, shifting the drivetrain from RWD to FWD, and bringing the flagship minivan more in line with current minivan design. The Windstar became the Freestar in the early 2000s, lasting until the 2007 model year, with the final Ford “Star line” minivan rolling off the assembly line in December of 2006.
While we don’t know for sure what was behind Ford’s decision to discontinue their family-marketed minivan, we can take a guess. For starters, Ford has extended their reputation for reliable cars and trucks into the crossover market. With options covering a wide range of size and seating configurations (everything from the subcompact Ford Ecosport to the boxy family hauler Ford Flex), crossovers have become the new favorite for family vehicles.
Ford’s versatile crossover line has a vehicle that can meet almost any need. Do you have a small family? Go with the popular 2018 Ford Escape. Big family with lots of stuff to haul? The 2018 Ford Expedition has your back.
Although crossovers and SUVs provide some distinct advantages (presence of AWD, higher ground clearance, and uni-body construction), the market for minivans hasn’t completely died, and neither has Ford’s commitment to providing drivers with a competent and compelling option.
Good News: Ford Still Makes a Passenger Minivan
Although Ford’s marketing has shifted toward promoting their incredible range of crossovers and SUVs as family choices, they still offer a more traditional minivan in the Ford Transit Connect Passenger Wagon. Utilizing the same body construction as the Ford Transit cargo van, the Transit Connect Passenger Wagon features up to 7 seats, and plenty of standard safety and comfort technology.
Lower ride height (easier in and out), sliding doors and greater visibility are among the reasons people still prefer vans for transporting their families. Additionally, the more contoured shape of most crossovers (not looking at you, Ford Flex) means that vans provide better cargo room! Family of four traveling cross-state with three suitcases? A Ford Explorer should be a great option.
Family of six, with a dog and 10 bags going cross-country, however, and the Ford Transit Connect Passenger Wagon starts to look a lot more up to the job.
Ford has a sterling reputation across the spectrum of vehicles they manufacture. Although the Transit Connect Passenger Wagon isn’t among their more well-known, it’s among the most competent and best value options in the minivan class.
Featured
I Wasn’t Always a Dale Jr Fan – But Now I Get It
It was the crowning moment of the career of Nascar’s most popular driver. The 2004 Daytona 500. The chosen son, Dale Earnhardt Jr, had won the race that his father tragically died competing in only three years earlier.
Reports of the day say that everyone in the crowd was on their feet, cheering. Grown men were in tears. It was quite the moment, they say.
Well, I can tell you that there was at least one person that wasn’t cheering. That’s because I was that lone defector. (more…)
Featured
The Essence Of 90’s Chevy Truck Commercials
If you ever watched television for more than an hour at any time during the 90’s, you probably remember Chevy’s “Like a Rock” commercials. They aired on just about every channel, so they were pretty hard to miss—and pretty hard to forget as well. Even two decades later the sound of Bob Seger belting out those now-famous words is still shockingly memorable. (more…)
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Kyle
Feb 28, 2014 at 3:32 pm
I see a lot of 2013 Chevy Malibu in those photos – inside and out.