POWER OF THE BUTTON; Subaru brings Sport mode to the masses.(News)

Byline: ANDREW LUU

Why should people who can afford Porsches and M-badged BMWs be the only ones to enjoy advanced performance technology? We're talking here about those trick sport modes that sharpen throttle response and kick the engine up a notch with the touch of a button.

Subaru has broken the high-end monopoly on this technology by offering its own interpretation of a sport button. Called Subaru Intelligent Drive or SI-Drive, the system is featured on the 2007 2.5-liter turbocharged Legacy. Unlike those systems that offer just two choices, on/off, SI-Drive has three modes: Intelligent, Sport and Sport Sharp.

Push the BMW iDrive-style knob to toggle Intelligent mode and the electronic control unit tells the engine and electronic throttle to adopt a relaxed attitude. I-mode reduces torque by around 20 percent, limiting it to 228 lb-ft, and dials back the throttle response. Ideal for urban driving and bumper-to-bumper traffic, I-mode can also increase overall fuel economy by up to 10 percent, says Subaru.

Twist the SI-Drive knob to the left for Sport mode and performance resembles what you would expect from a Legacy that doesn't have this system: a balance between comfort and sport. A turn to the right engages Sport Sharp, which modifies the electronic throttle mapping to deliver instant action with the right foot and more power sooner with every inch of travel.

For cars equipped with automatic transmissions, the shift maps also change. In I-mode, shifts are the smoothest and in Sport Sharp, the car anticipates cornering and overtaking by holding onto lower gears longer when needed.

In addition to SI-Drive, the new Legacy 2.5 GT Limited gets restyled six-spoke wheels, a better audio system with auxiliary input, tire-pressure monitors and a split-folding rear seat.