Subaru today unveiled the stunning limited edition Liberty Blitzen at Melbourne International Motor Show.

The stunning limited edition Liberty Blitzen

It uses striking styling cues from the Japanese domestic market Legacy Blitzen, which until now has never been available in Australia.

Blitzen (the German word for lightning) combines the potent ability of the existing Liberty 3.0R spec.B with a long list of body and interior changes to produce a car with unique personality.

Available in bright red or obsidian black, it includes a new aerodynamic package including front grille, front and rear bumpers, side sills, roof spoiler on the wagon and 18-inch alloy wheels - underpinned by the safety of Subaru’s famed All-Wheel Drive.

Just 200 of these superb touring cars are available, in both automatic and manual transmission variants, sedan and wagon.

Liberty Blitzen’s sporty character is highlighted by wider bumpers, flared sills and the honeycomb grille. The wheel pattern is also unique to the model.

The 3.0 litre horizontally opposed boxer engine is the same as that which powered the Liberty 3.0R to its recent win in the combined national motoring organization awards, as Australia’s Best Luxury Car under $57,000.

Liberty Blitzen is expected to be available in June 2006, for a strictly limited period. Pricing will be announced closer to the release date.

It shares the same independent ANCAP five-star crashworthiness rating for occupant safety as all other Liberty variants.

Nick Senior, Managing Director, Subaru Australia, said: “For some years Subaru fans in Australia have followed the various Blitzen versions available in Japan.

“We’re delighted to reward their interest with this limited edition, prepared especially for the Australian market. Once again it demonstrates the high regard that Fuji Heavy Industries has for our Australian customers, tailoring a car especially for our domestic needs.

“It’s got tremendous road presence and combined with the highly acclaimed chassis set-up and engine of the Liberty 3.0R spec.B, we think there will be considerable interest.”

Standard features include:

• ABS Brakes with EBD
  
• Adjustable steering column
  
• Airbags – dual front side and curtain
  
• Air-conditioning - climate control
  
• All-Wheel Drive
  
• Bilstein sports suspension
  
• Cruise control
  
• DataDot security system
  
• Eight-way power driver and passenger seats
  
• Electronic throttle control system
  
• Leather steering wheel, gear shift & park brake
  
• McIntosh premium audio system with 13 speakers – six stack in-dash CD player
  
• Momo sports steering wheel
  
• Power steering, mirrors and windows
  
• Sportshift on automatic