Subaru's All-Wheel Drive Liberty and Outback ranges are refreshed with the addition of new engine technology, safety features and variants in the just-released Model Year 2008 line-up.

Liberty and Outback 2.5 litre normally aspirated engine power is up 5.0 per cent to 127 Kilowatts at 6000 rpm.

The 2.5 litre normally aspirated engines also add Variable Valve Lift, ensuring optimum power and torque output, fuel consumption and low exhaust emissions.

The addition of curtain airbags to Outback 2.5i and 3.0R means Liberty and Outback share this safety feature across both ranges.

Underlining Subaru's five-star safety commitment, Vehicle Dynamics Control is now standard on all SPORTSHIFT automatic normally aspirated 2.5 litre variants of Liberty and Outback, in addition to Outback 3.0R Premium, Liberty 3.0R Premium and Liberty 3.0R spec.B six-speed manual and SPORTSHIFT automatic.

Also new to the Liberty range is a Heritage variant that adds rear privacy glass, black leather trim, eight way adjustable power driver's seat and a sunroof to the MY08 2.5i specifications.

Liberty 2.5i Premium adds the McIntosh audio system with six-stack in-dash CD player and 14 speakers. It also gets self-levelling bi-Xenon headlights with pop-up washers – all for just $1300 more than the outgoing version.

Of the 22 Liberty variants, four are new, 10 offer identical pricing to the superseded versions, three have decreased up to 7.1 per cent in price and only five have had minimal increases, while adding specification.

Out of six Outback variants, all have added specification, two have decreased in price by up to 1.3 per cent, three are unchanged and one has risen, by 2.4 per cent.

Nick Senior, Managing Director, Subaru Australia, said: "It is an exciting time for Subaru. This is the first of our significant 2008 model year launches.

"After Liberty and Outback we will welcome new generation Impreza at the end of August, then later in the year we have the MY08 Tribeca and, of course, in March next year, our all-new Forester.

"It has been relatively quiet for us on the model front for us, but the avalanche is here.

"While there are no external changes to the 2008 model year Liberty and Outback, there are significant equipment, technical, safety and pricing stories throughout the range.

"Our new 2.5 litre VVL engine has more power and better fuel consumption and Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) is standard on all automatic versions.

"Our already strong passive safety story is further enhanced with curtain airbags on every model.

"Extra equipment is added to almost all models and our Subaru value for money story is as strong as ever.

"We now have an entry level 2.5 litre in the Liberty range at $32,490. It was previously $34,990. The automatic entry-level 2.5i is now $34,990 (previously $36,990) and has VDC and the new VVL engine included. That's a huge bonus for us."

He added: "The much-loved Heritage name reappears after a long absence, and the strong-selling 2.5i Premium now features VVL, VDC, McIntosh audio system, self-levelling bi-Xenon headlights, all for just an additional $1300.

"The Outback is just as strong a story. Our entry-level 2.5i manual now includes the VVL engine and curtain airbags, yet the price has dropped $500. Outback 2.5i automatic includes VDC, curtain airbags and the VVL engine, yet there is no change in the recommended retail price of $38,990."

He concluded: "We are adding more value and variety to the Liberty and Outback ranges.

"Combined with our All-Wheel Drive ability, five star safety, retained value and reliability, these cars are a great whole-of-life proposition.

"The long list of standard features in these cars underlines Subaru's commitment to premium positioning combined with fantastic value for money."

Liberty MY08 changes at a glance:

Entry-level Liberty 2.5i adds:
Variable Valve Lift with power up 5.0% to 127kW
Vehicle Dynamics Control to SPORTSHIFT automatic variants

Liberty 2.5i Heritage - new to range – adds to 2.5i specification:
Privacy glass (rear windows, rear quarters and rear screen)
Black leather trim
Sunroof
Driver's power seat with eight-way adjustment and dual memory

Liberty 2.5i Premium adds (over MY07):
Variable Valve Lift with power up 5.0% to 127kW
VDC to SPORTSHIFT automatic variants
McIntosh premium audio system
Self-levelling bi-Xenon headlights with pop-up washers

Liberty GT:
VDC to SPORTSHIFT automatic variants
Front passenger seat adds power with eight-way adjustment
Rear air conditioning vents

Liberty GT spec.B:
Rear air conditioning vents
Front passenger seat adds power with eight-way adjustment

Liberty 3.0R spec.B:
VDC to six-speed manual and SPORTSHIFT automatic variants

Outback MY08 changes at a glance:

Outback 2.5i adds:
Variable Valve Lift with power up 5.0% to 127kW
VDC to SPORTSHIFT automatic variants
Curtain airbags

Outback 2.5i Premium adds:
Variable Valve Lift with power up 5.0% to 127kW
VDC to SPORTSHIFT automatic variants

Outback 3.0R adds:
Curtain airbags

Outback 3.0R Premium adds:
Mcintosh premium sound system

Liberty MY08 pricing

These are retail recommended prices and do not include dealer and statutory charges.

Liberty 2.5i manual sedan $32,490 (previously $34,990, -7.1 %)
Liberty 2.5i SPORTSHIFT auto sedan $34,990 (previously $36,990, -5.4 %)
Liberty 2.5i manual wagon $34,490 (previously $36,990, -6.7 %)
Liberty 2.5I SPORTSHIFT auto wagon $36,990 (previously $38,990, -5.1 %)

Liberty 2.5i Heritage manual sedan $37,990 (previously unavailable)
Liberty 2.5i Heritage SPORTSHIFT sedan $40,490 (previously unavailable)
Liberty 2.5i Heritage manual wagon $39,990 (previously unavailable)
Liberty 2.5i Heritage SPORTSHIFT wagon $42,490 (previously unavailable)

Liberty 2.5i Premium SPORTSHIFT sedan $42,790 (previously $41,490, +3.1 %)
Liberty 2.5i Premium SPORTSHIFT wagon $44,790 (previously $43,490, +2.9 %)

Liberty 3.0R Premium SPORTSHIFT sedan $50,990 (No change)
Liberty 3.0R Premium SPORTSHIFT wagon $52,990 (No change)

Liberty 3.0R spec.B manual sedan $52,490 (No change)
Liberty 3.0R spec.B SPORTSHIFT sedan $52,490 (No change)
Liberty 3.0R spec.B manual wagon $54,490 (No change)
Liberty 3.0R spec.B SPORTSHIFT wagon $54,490 (No change)

Liberty GT SPORTSHIFT sedan $54,990 (previously $54,490, +0.9%)
Liberty GT SPORTSHIFT wagon $56,990 (previously $56,490, +0.9%)

Liberty GT spec.B manual sedan $55,990 (No change)
Liberty GT spec.B SPORTSHIFT sedan $55,990 (No change)
Liberty GT spec.B manual wagon $57,990 (No change)
Liberty GT spec.B SPORTSHIFT wagon $57,990 (No change)

Options:

Satellite navigation
(2.5i Premium, 3.0R Premium, 3.0R spec.B, GT, GT spec.B) $2990

Outback MY08 pricing

These are retail recommended prices and do not include dealer and statutory charges.

Outback 2.5i manual $36,490 (previously $36,990, -1.3 %)
Outback 2.5i SPORTSHIFT automatic $38,990 (No change)

Outback 2.5i Premium manual $41,990 (previously $42,490, -1.1%)
Outback 2.5i Premium SPORTSHIFT auto $44,490 (No change)

Outback 3.0R SPORTSHIFT $46,990 (No change)

Outback 3.0R Premium SPORTSHIFT $54,290 (previously $52,990, +2.4%)

Options:

Satellite navigation
(3.0R Premium) $2990

Liberty and Outback fuel consumption