The 2015 Subaru Legacy gives up its manual

Bye-bye manual gearbox, hello CVT.

Debuting at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show, Subaru's 2015 Legacy has seen some big styling changes both inside and out as well as in Subaru's depressing choice to ditch the manual gearbox. The new car definitely looks good, but I'm getting the drift that Subaru is moving towards form and away from function with this one.

For the new year, you get to choose from the same two previous models—the basic 2.5i and the brawnier 3.6R. Under the hood, you get a 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer engine, and there's a 3.6-liter six-cylinder boxer in the 3.6R. The four-cylinder gets a bump of 2 hp, up to 175, but the sixer's output remains the same as last year at 256 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque.

There's some real performance potential in both engines, but sadly, Subaru has chucked the manual gearbox for the 2.5i and has also tossed the five-speed automatic 'box on the 3.6R. Both trim levels will come standard with Subaru's Lineartronic CVT for 2015, which isn't exactly brilliant. It does come with a manual mode and paddle shifters behind the newly reshaped steering wheel, but we all know it's just not the same. Naturally, the CVT sends the power to all four wheels, and the new Legacy will come with the same high-tech torque vectoring system you'll find on the 2015 WRX and STI.

New head and taillights at both ends, some edgier body panels, and an interior revamp have put some new life into the Legacy's styling. The new infotainment system will read your text messages to you, navigate wherever you want to go, and you even get a rearview camera. Overall, it looks and sounds promising, but I can't help but worry that the Legacy is slowly drifting towards boring territory.

Source:
By Ben Lucareli February 6, 2014 / Photos by Subaru
http://www.roadandtrack.com/chicagoautoshow/2015-subaru-legacy-reveal#ixzz2sYqmYyzh