Not too hot, not too tame. Just cool. So goes the recipe for the latest, most lavish and last of the new-generation Subaru Legacy models.
As the premium performance package from the Fuji factory shop, the GT Spec B will ultimately be second only to the as-yet-unseen variant from the STI skunkworks division.
Everything's here for a good time, and a fast one too. There's a turbocharged 2.5-litre engine from the WRX, 18-inch rims and sticky rubber, twin exhausts, a bit of a body kit and that trademark of all turbo Scoobies, a letterbox slot in the lightweight bonnet.
The real heat comes from within: 0-100kmh spools up in as little as 6.2 seconds and top speed is in excess of 235kmh, yet it's presented sensibly, with a stronger, smoother torque spread.
All this is dependent on where the now-familiar SI (for Subaru Intelligent) Drive's centre console-sited rotary control is positioned. "Intelligent'' mode is the conduit to the up-to 11% improvement in claimed economy but also pretty much kills any kapow.
The go zones are Sport or, even better, Sports Sharp. Technically, all it does is give quicker throttle response, but the effect is huge. The manual feels zippier than the auto, though Subaru timepieces say otherwise.
Previous outings in the new-shape Legacy have proven how rewarding it is to drive, and that's still the impression from the GT. Yet it's obvious the big wheels and Bilstein springs do impact on ride comfort.
In addition to being the performance leader, the GT also serves as the technology kingpin. The Premium editions are the first Subarus of any kind here with satellite navigation, which integrates a Bluetooth phone system. A reversing camera and DVD entertainment system are also Premium features.
The GT is reckoned to have the goods to be a compelling "value'' alternative to much-pricier European product. I'm not wholly convinced, but marketing boss Peter Douglas-Bell knows his customers aren't street hoons.
"People who buy our cars tend to live in blue-chip suburbs.''
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