2010 Subaru Legacy U.S. production, diesel coming

The 2010 Subaru Legacy has officially begun production at the Lafayette, Indiana assembly plant in the U.S. late last week. The fifth-generation Legacy was completely redesigned for the 2010 model year to better compete with established midsize sedans. And Japan is already planning a diesel version.

Reports suggest that Subaru is getting ready to offer a diesel version of the Legacy in Japan, and eventually in the United States. Subaru offered its first “boxer” diesel engine in Europe in 2008, but has not offered it anywhere else. While the diesel version accounts for 54.1% of Legacy sales in Europe, Japan has never been keen on the oil burners. But with new emissions regulations set to take effect in Japan in 2010, Subaru is working on improving its diesel before offering it in the JDM market. Any U.S. offering still has many years to go, but apparently it is under heavy consideration.

Eventually, Subaru also wants to offer hybrid vehicles based on Toyota technology. But right now, with production underway, look for the gasoline-powered Subaru Legacy to start arriving in U.S. showrooms by July 2009.

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