Quirky no more; Twin-turbo Legacy shakes up Subaru's image.(Brief Article)

While we're waiting on Subaru to bring an STi version of its WRX to the United States next year, let's throw a twin-turbo Legacy on our wish list for the year following.

Company officials tell AutoWeek they anticipate a performance Legacy-much like twin-turbo B4 editions sold abroad-will join Subaru's U.S. lineup in the fall of 2004, around the same time the Japanese automaker launches its redesigned 2005 Legacy.

The higher-output Legacy could mirror B4 editions sold in markets such as Hong Kong and Australia. The B4 is powered by a 2.0-liter twin-turbo dohc flat four capable of 255 hp and 231 lb-ft of torque, which Subaru folks say pushes it from 0 to 62 mph in 6.5 seconds. Those numbers have it performing near the turbocharged Impreza WRX, which boasts a superior 0-to-62-mph time (6.2 seconds) despite lower horsepower (227) and torque (217 lb-ft).

There is no official indication how much more a performance Legacy will cost over a base version. If Subaru's U.S. pricing strategy for the WRX is any indication (at $24,520, it stickers for $5,000 more than a base Impreza sedan), the juiced-up Legacy could have customers paying near $33,500, or about 25 percent more than they would for a typical Legacy. In Australia, where ...