Subaru has launched a version of the Legacy 3.6RS "with performance by STI". It's not a proper STI, but Subaru's motorsport arm has played around with the Legacy before.

Subaru New Zealand has concocted an STI-influenced version of the Legacy sedan - and it's possible that an Outback wagon could follow.

Subaru NZ marketing manager Daile Stephens says it is not beyond the realms of possibility that it could next bring out a NZ-unique edition of the Outback, their strongest selling car here, along the same lines as the special edition Legacy 3.6RS it has just announced.

"This 'STI Performance Kit' has been created for Legacy initially and may be reviewed for other models if there is an appetite for it," she said.

Supplied Subaru New Zealand has launched an exclusive version of the Legacy with STI handling tweaks.

However, speculation that the just-launched model – labelled the 'Legacy 3.6RS with STI Performance' – could branch into another model Japan's vaunted Subaru Technica outfit has itself never directly developed, the like-engined Outback equivalent, is not without foundation.

READ MORE

* Subaru WRX STI under 7mins around Nurburgring

* Why Outback stands so tall in Subaru range

* Five strange Subaru facts

​* Legacy is the new Commodore, or is it the other way around?

"We want to see what the appetite is (for this project). But, yeah, we're absolutely not ruling it (Outback) out. It's a possibility. But we want to see what the uptake for the Legacy is first.

Supplied The Legacy 3.6RS is the only six-cylinder STI-associated car in the world. And is exclusive to New Zealand.

"The heart says yes (about Outback), but we're not going to do anything if it isn't going to be to the benefit of the brand locally."

The new Legacy uses STI-engineered hardware to improve grip, handling, braking and performance.

The operation that started 30 years ago to take the brand into rallying –ultimately dominating the World Rally Championship in partnership with Prodrive and also national competitions including New Zealand's – has not been directly involved beyond provisioning parts.

DAVID LINKLATER Subaru Outback Premium 3.6 could well be in line for similar STI treatment. Subaru NZ aren't ruling it out.

The actual development has been left to Subaru of New Zealand, the end result being a car and kit not available anywhere but here. Subaru locally has not indicated if it has a target volume in mind.

"We don't have any major ambitions. However, if we sold another 20 a year, then brilliant."

The local distributor has gone alone with this programme to rev up sales and the image of its largest sedan and to fill a perceived vacuum left by the demise of rear-drive performance large cars from Australia, notably the Holden Commodore SV6.

Supplied Yeah. That's a CVT transmission with an STI badge on it...

"We're realistic that this (big car) segment is shrinking, but we also know that various cars have left the market. We think people who liked those cars will be looking for replacements. Hopefully this puts Subaru into that market."

The engine itself and the management computer is untouched but a sports grille, an improved airbox and bigger bore exhaust are said to lift power and torque by 10 percent, though no figures are given. The standard car provides 191kW and 350Nm, so conceivably 210kW and 383Nm. There is talk of a 0.2 seconds' improvement in the 0-100kmh time.

The STI enhancement can be provided on a brand-new car which represents as a standalone edition, for $59,990 plus on-roads, or delivered as an $8000 kit for retro-fitting to the MY18 3.6-litre edition, which has been available since January and has a RRP of $54,990.

Supplied Subaru NZ is careful not to call the 3.6RS an STI, but there are still plenty of STI badges on it. Even tiny ones.

Subaru NZ has taken care not to call was is potentially the first STI-influenced model the Japanese performance arm has allowed an outright STI product.

Says Stephens: "Hence the name. We cannot call it a Legacy STI. We've schooled our dealers not to make that faux pas. This kit has been created by Subaru of New Zealand in collaboration with STI Japan.

"They've given us a lot of help. It is a kit that is specific for our market. We are referring to this vehicle as the Legacy 3.6RS with STI Performance Kit."

Supplied 19-inch STI alloy wheels round out the package.

Insofar as designation goes, "there is an 'STI Performance badge' on the vehicle under the 'Symmetrical All Wheel Drive' badging on the rear." Full-blown STI cars, of course, are labelled more directly.

The Legacy was the first car STI developed for motorsport and as a road car and though the international rallying career was relatively brief, being ended once the Impreza came on stream, the model has since occasioned in road-ready STI trim over several generations.

However, the Japanese focus has never been on the six-cylinder powerplant; its talents instead wholly zeroing in on the firm's four-cylinder engines.

Supplied STI has played around with the Legacy before, in fact it was Subaru's entry into the WRC.

Conceivably, then, the NZ market car is the sole STI-associated six-cylinder Subaru available anywhere.

Stephens assures the rework has no impact on the standard car's warranty or the conditions of use.

All Subaru dealerships are authorised to undertake the retrofit (and sell the complete car) and upgrades include a move to a 19-inch STI rim which is equipped with a wider 245 cross section tyre and STI spec, curved vane, cross drilled rotors, of identical diameter to the standard items but lighter.

The spring and damper rates remain untouched but a thicker rear sway bar reduces roll resistance and stiffer bushings are installed to reduce understeer.

There's also an STI flexible tower brace between the front shockers. This is the same item used on the WRX STI Nurburgring 24-hour car.

Subaru Technica's sign-off reportedly required the car to be locally verified with dyno running and track testing to compare acceleration and g-force numbers of the enhanced package against the standard car.