DETROIT, Mich. - Subaru wants to move upscale into premium-brand territory, where Acuras and Volvos roam, but with a clear emphasis on performance (like seemingly every other car maker on the planet except for, oh, maybe Kia). To help meet that objective, the 2005 Subaru Legacy is completely redesigned, immediately recognizable as a Subaru yet beautiful in a way that no Subaru before has been.

Whether the cars meet the standards for refinement and quality that are demanded by premium consumers remains to be seen. Certainly, the 2005 Subaru Legacy is more upscale than the sensible-shoes model it replaces.

As before, two all-wheel-drive body styles are available. Buyers can select between a sedan or a station wagon (thankfully, Subaru is not trying to pass this latter style off as a crossover, a sport wagon, a sport hatch, or any other such silly thing).

At the bottom end of the range is the 2.5i, powered by a 2.5-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine that makes 168 horsepower. The uplevel 2.5 GT is equipped with a turbocharged version of that engine. The Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT produces 250 horsepower and 250 lb.-ft. of torque, making it capable of acceleration on par with, if not quite matching, the vaunted Subaru WRX. A functional hood scoop feeds cool air to the 2.5 GT's intercooler, and distinguishes this performance model from the standard Subaru Legacy.

All Subaru Legacy 2.5i models are equipped with a four-speed automatic transmission. The 2.5 GT offers a choice between a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic with a manually interactive feature accessed by using the shift handle or buttons on the standard MOMO steering wheel.