Subaru’s SEMA Seductress: the Legacy GTK
Following its very public debut last November at the SEMA show in Vegas, this slick looking wagon has been stashed in the Subaru warehouse – away from public eyes. If you think it’s because Subaru is concerned about driving this car in public, you have it all wrong. Unlike most SEMA cars, this one is actually ready for action.
Today we’re going to get up close and personal with the one-off Subaru Legacy GTK. A car that may not be going into production anytime soon, but certainly shows just how close motor sports are to Subaru's heart.
Subaru Outback Chassis and Legacy GT Powertrain combined.
First, let’s consider the heart of this particular car: For the GTK, Subaru started with a 2.5-liter turbo motor and a 6-speed manual transmission from the 2010 Legacy GT Sedan. By merely modifying the exhaust system and the ECU tune, they coaxed out 300hp and 350 lt-lbs of torque for the otherwise standard engine. That’s an increase of 45 and 92 over the stock mill, respectively.
A few more bolt-ons make this ride track-friendly: In front is a SPT strut tower brace and all four corners sport STI “Pink” springs looped around Bilstein struts. Stopping power is courtesy of a Brembo system that looks like it’s straight off an STI. Tires are BF Goodrich P245/50 R19 Force-KDW 2s, wrapped around HRE custom competition wheels.
The body is lifted from a 2010 Subaru Outback. Its been fitted with a custom roof system from JAC Products, the liftgate and midgate spoilers as well as headlights were sourced from a Japanese market Subaru Legacy, then a custom front air dam with fog lights, lateral hood vents, tail lights and diffuser were fabricated solely for this project.
Just because this is a race-inspired ride doesn’t mean it’s not comfortable. The cargo area is “Kart Friendly” (but more on that later) and features rubber decking with tie-downs and LED lighting. Up front is a command center lined with Ultrasued and leather with deep Recaro Sportster buckets to keep your butt in place during hard cornering.
Believe it or not, the inside is also a testament to Subaru’s green policy -- many of surfaces were fabricated using 100-precent recycled Ultra Microfibers. So you can feel good, while at the same time clipping that apex at full throttle. That’s progress.
Custom interior is setup for corner-carving action.
A showcar isn’t a showcar without a bangin’ stereo and here we have Harman/Kardon pulling rank. The custom surround-sound system drives 18 speakers with an 11-channel GreenEdge amplifier. Control is via 7-inch touch screen mounted in the traditional location.
At the SEMA show, the GTK was fully-kitted with an SCCA Junior Coyote Motorsport Kart in the boot – hence, the “K” in the name. The intent was to show how mom and dad could go Autocross, while the kids enjoyed SCCA Karting solo action – all without having to hitch a trailer. The family that races together, stays together… right?
One thing we’ve learned over the years regarding most SEMA cars is this; they drive like crap. When the whole reason for existing is to simply be parked for a week on a red carpet and be seen, does it really matter how well it drives? To Subaru it does. Like we saw in the Forester XTI concept the year before, the Legacy GTK drives as close to “production ready” as you’ll find on the show floor.
Just like any reasonably modified Legacy GT, power is brisk and the setup is dead-on reliable. When you shift, it’s clean. Power comes one without any dead spots -- no customary tuner car hiccups as the car transitions from open to closed loop control. The stock turbo is small, and can only do so much, but it's still surprising just how quick these cars are with a little modification.
In short, this is the Legacy most car guys (and girls) wish Subaru would sell. But unfortunately, the last time they offered a 5-speed turbo Legacy wagon it sold abysmally. Still, we know it’s in the back of their minds – which is promising. Maybe someday it will return. But that’s probably just as likely as them providing a free Go-Kart in the trunk with every purchase. But we can dream. Right?
Photos: Greg Jarem/Subaru of America
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Very nice....a well done job. ALSO, those seats? = sex
LOVE IT !!!!! I would buy it if it was in the subaru line up
i think i just came in my pants
Very nice!
i have the "slow" selling 2006 OB XT with 5spd and its a blast to drive and still turns heads. make this car we will have two OB XT(K)'s. Lets build it and make the new Outback a 6 spd Turbo.
anyone with a downpipe and ecu tune can have 300+ hp on their legacy.
the power advertising in moot.
Very very Nice!! However I wanted to clarify if indeed this thing of beauty can wear 245/50 R19 rubbers? Or is it just a typo where author meant to say 245/40 R19? Thanks
According to Subaru it does indeed run 245/50 R19s.
Then they got their details wrong...
the picture clearly shows 245/40-19 BFGoodrich Traction T/As
mmmmmmmm - wagons - all America ever needed, yet as usual, we never want what we need
Too bad it's red
They did some minor tweaks and raided the parts bin for a shared platform...
I love my Legacy but Subaru could do more to show their support for motor sport
Good point. I'll ask them about that.
This, or a comparably equipped Forester - I don't care. Build one and I'll buy it!
looks awesome but 300hp 350torque???? come on dude. That's crap. The mustang is 10-15K cheaper and will piss all over that.......what is subaru thinkin????
uhhh... except this is AWD, will out-handle a mustang any day of the week, hauls 5 people in comfort, (plus the GO-KART in back!!!) and is quite easily tunable to a lot more than the HP stated. Ummmm ... YUP, I'll take this!!
nobody said they were dyno numbers and if you don't know yet the 2010 mustang will destroy any legacy gt, will not comfort 5 but 4 and so will a mustang........don't go there
People are comparing a true sports car, with a slightly-modded luxury sport wagon? Really?
People are comparing a true sports car, with a slightly-modded luxury sport wagon? Really?
FYI I live in North America and I have a 08 Legacy GT(turbo) wagon with a manual transmission (no its not swapped). So 05 is not correct....
liar.
the last wagons were 07 model year production.
The mustang is an econobox pos.
i saw a ford f1s**ty just yesterday with the hood up with what looked like 3 trailer park rejects in front of it.
as stated earlier. just an aggressive reflash will yield 300hp. im pretty sure with the existing turbo on the 2010 would yield greater. with a couple of parts even hit 300whp.
those of us with subarus buy them for awd. we mod to rape rustangs some do it stock. haha.
finally the ford rustang v8 can outrun a japanese v6. its about time. the rustang v6 will still get beat down by the common japanese v6 4 door SEDAN though. straight line and corners.
we buy subarus to get awd, irs, 5 star safety, boost when needed, reliability. list is too long to type.
i mean if you feel that insecure to compare an econobos pos rustain to a WAGON maybe you are getting too close to the burbs and need to move further out to the country. I mean, your trailer lot that is leased will probably be bought out for 500K homes and you will have to move anyways.
think of this as well...nobody wants to pay bmw 3 series price for a mustang. just admit the ford is an econobox pos forever. is it me or do most ford lovers have credit issues?
and its all out of a 2.5l with a smallish turbo. and you are comparing a pos rustain with a 5l?
hahahaha.
IF subaru wanted to make a 400hp beast they could. get the 3l and let a turbo fall on it.
look at what the new audi s4 does with a 3l s/c with 4klb with 333hp. why does it run with a 400hp rustain? with a chip it's game over.
i know you want to compare prices. when ford can drop the tech that subaru or audi does let me know.
kinda sad how the rustains "competition" are 4 door sedans and wagons huh?
btw if you go to college and get a job you too can buy something nicer than a rustang.
canadia/mehico doesn't count.
hehe
All this talk about a mustang, why are you on this site talking about that pile. Because sub doesnt need any more horse power. Its not the muscle, its all about performance. It will never get any better. Good job subaru.
Huge improvement over the standard Legacy in my opinion and I think it looks sort of like a shrunk Porsche Cayenne... lol