Using the key to unlock the door after using the remote keyless entry to lock the doors will cause the alarm to sound, if equipped with a security system. The doors must be unlocked with the remote to avoid the security system from being set off.

In Japan, the GT-B was introduced June 1996 with the front and rear struts supplied by Bilstein, with the upgrade also available on the RS. The “B” designation stood for Bilstein. The GT and GT-B can also be distinguished by upgraded projector beam headlight lenses and foglights. Turbocharged versions continued to be available in markets that used right hand drive configurations.

The DOHC 2.0 liter turbocharged 217 bhp (162 kW; 220 PS) EJ20G engine was introduced in the Japan-spec Legacy RS in 1989 and later used in the Impreza WRX when it was introduced to Japan in 1993. International versions of the Legacy turbo were offered the DOHC 2.0 liter engine with a water-cooled intercooler starting with 1991, with a manual transmission only. The USA-spec EJ22T SOHC 2.2 liter 163 bhp (122 kW; 165 PS) turbo was not offered the water-cooled intercooler when it was introduced to them in 1991. The USA turbocharged engine was available with either a manual or automatic transmission.

Northern Europe, Japan and Australia. The car was built with many luxury and technological advancements normally found on more expensive vehicles as standard equipment, such as power windows, central locking, fuel injection, air conditioning, speed sensitive power assist rack-and-pinion steering, alloy wheels, 4-wheel independent suspension with both negative scrub and anti-dive and squat geometery, anti-sway bars front and rear, and 4-wheel disc brakes. Items that were optional that didn’t make the vehicle too expensive were 4-channel ABS, licensed from Bosch and air suspension height control, which lowered the vehicle at speeds above 50 mph (80.5 km/h), and also allowed the driver to increase the vehicles ground clearance for off-road conditions.

In the North American market, the Legacy competes with the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Mitsubishi Galant, Mazda 6, and the Nissan Altima. German automaker Volkswagen offers AWD as an option on the Volkswagen Group A5 PQ46 platform, however it is an extra cost option on upper trim level cars. The Ford CD3 platform can also be equipped with AWD for the USA market, but it too is an extra cost option only on the uplevel V6 models.

Worldwide distribution started in 1990. In Australia, the Legacy bears the name Liberty out of respect for Legacy Australia, an organization which aids veterans and their families during and after wars. According to a press release from Subaru listed by Autoblog, as of November 2008, 3.6 million Legacies have been built since its 1989 introduction.

The standard equipped symmetrical all-wheel drive system is currently unique to the Legacy in this class size of vehicle.

The Legacy was first made available for purchase in Japan starting February 1 1989, after a formal introduction January 23 1989 in Japan, with an introductory price of ¥2,550,000 for the RS (approx. USD $18,800 at ‘89 yen exchange rate).Subaru had earned a reputation of building vehicles that were regarded as “quirky” and other Asian manufacturers were bringing more upscale and conventional appearing models to the market. The Legacy appeared at the same time as the USA introduction of Lexus and Infiniti and a couple years after Acura, and was the largest sedan and wagon Subaru offered for sale. However, Subaru didn’t have a large displacement V6 or V8.

Worldwide distribution started in 1990. In Australia, the Legacy bears the name Liberty out of respect for Legacy Australia, an organization which aids veterans and their families during and after wars. According to a press release from Subaru listed by Autoblog, as of November 2008, 3.6 million Legacies have been built since its 1989 introduction.

The Sport Wagon was also offered with the WRX turbocharged engine, and was called the Gravel Express.

The Impreza received an external facelift for the 1997 model year, followed by an interior redesign in 1998 - using the new redesigned dashboard from the Forester.

The European 1999-2000 turbo model received further upgrades in the form of more parts from the STi range. The front brakes became Subaru branded 4-pot calipers with 294 mm discs, the wheels having become 16-inch (410 mm) lightweight alloys from 1998 - previously 15-inch (380 mm), vented rear discs, the Sti 4 high level wing was fitted to the saloon, Sti style front bucket seats and firmer suspension. The phase 2 engine now fitted developed 160 kW (218 PS; 215 bhp), an increase of 5 kW (7 PS; 7 bhp) over the previous model.

These models were upgraded from the WRX in many categories, including blueprinted performance-tuned engines, transmissions, and suspensions. The STi versions of the Impreza were immensely successful in rallies and popular among street racers. The first STi models featured higher power ratings than the WRX, while later versions of both WRX and STi were rated at 280 PS (206 kW; 276 bhp) due to the Japanese manufacturers’ informal agreements around power ratings. Its top speed was electronically limited at 180 km/h (112.5 mph) and it had a 0–100 km/h time of 4.9 seconds in the UK Impreza Turbo 218 PS (160 kW; 215 bhp) version. 2006 WRX STI claimed 0 to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds.[3] RA (Race Altered) versions of the WRX and STi were also available in the Japanese market. Targeted for race and rally, the RA versions were generally lighter in weight; featuring reduced soundproofing, manual windows, no air conditioning, and added racing features such as more robust engines, driver controlled center differentials, and shorter gearing.

LX models were front-wheel drive, and powered by a 1.6-litre engine; these were four-door only. GL trim levels were either front-wheel drive (Subaru badged these 2WD) or all-wheel-drive (badged AWD); cars launched in 1993 had a choice of 1.6 and 1.8 flat-4 engines, the 1.6 being available with 2WD, the 1.8 an AWD version only. From 1996, the 1.6 and 1.8 versions were dropped (in the European market), and replaced by a 2.0-litre engine. Sport versions had alloy wheels, and a 2.0-litre engine only. These were “warm hatch” versions which were similar to the WRX, albeit less adorned.

In 1994, Subaru introduced Subaru Tecnica International (STi) versions of the Impreza in the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) and European Domestic Market (EDM). These models were upgraded from the WRX in many categories, including blueprinted performance-tuned engines, transmissions, and suspensions.

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