Changes across the range are not major, but are significant in that they continue to add value and refinement to the Subaru All-Wheel Drive vehicles.

Significantly, all Imprezas will now have dual airbags while the all-conquering Impreza WRX and the award winning Liberty have been further enhanced with extra equipment.

The top of the range Liberty Heritage will now be fitted with side airbags.

The Outback, which has enjoyed exceptional sales growth throughout 1999, also benefits from extra features.

The 3^rd generation Liberty Wagon and Outback were only released last October, with the Liberty sedan following in March this year. These cars involved major changes, so Subaru Australia managing director, Trevor Amery, believes now is the time to build on the established strengths of the brand.

"We released the Liberty and Outback to great acclaim. The changes we have introduced with the new millennium cars are designed to further improve the value equation that Subaru represents," Mr Amery said.

"As well as launching our Year 2000 models we are unveiling two brand new television commercials, developed with our dual channel marketing strategy in mind.

"We are now marketing Subaru in two channels - the recreational and lifestyle channel for the Subaru Outback and Subaru Forester and the driver’s channel for the Subaru Liberty and Subaru Impreza.

"Underpinning both channels is our unique selling proposition - All-Wheel Drive.

"In the lifestyle channel, AWD is not only about active safety, it’s about delivering peoples’ recreational demands. In the driver’s channel, AWD is not only about active safety but also driving pleasure, sporty driving and style."

The Year 2000 GX Liberty sedan and wagon see further improvements to external appearance with the addition of colour-keyed door handles and mirrors, further lifting the luxury profile of this vehicle. It also gets adjustable intermittent wipers, and the standard fitting of a pollen filter.

Liberty GX is the outstanding medium car buy, given its specification level, AAA safety pack (All-Wheel Drive, ABS and dual airbags), outstanding build quality and award winning history. Despite the extra equipment added to the Liberty GX, its price remains an ultra-competitive $29,990.

There have been some important internal changes for the 2.5-litre Liberty RX models.

A leather steering wheel, handbrake lever and transmission lever have been added, along with rear pockets on both the driver’s and front passenger’s seats. The pollen flter also adds to driver and passenger comfort. Price remains the same for the 5-speed Liberty RX with a recommended retail price of $35,990.

One very important addition to the Heritage is the inclusion of side airbags as standard equipment, bringing the Heritage very much in line with its European competition. It also gains rear seat pockets and the pollen filter.

Heritage sedan, with side airbags and other equipment, increases by $800 to $40,990. The Heritage wagon price will remain at its MY99 level until side airbags are included in the standard specification list in September.

Subaru will continue to sell two Outback models - the Outback and the Outback Limited.

New features for the MY2000 Outback include the addition of a leather bound steering wheel, handbrake lever and transmission lever. Both versions get timed intermittent wipers and the pollen filter.

The cult car of the nineties, the Impreza WRX, looks set to build on its reputation in the new millennium.

Air-conditioning on the Impreza WRX will now be factory fitted. Additionally, keyless entry, colour-coded mirrors and door handles, and intermittent wipers with a timer are included as standard.

There’s a metallic-type finish on the console and the Year 2000 Impreza WRX will also have smart new alloy wheels.

Its price will increase by just $500, to a new recommended retail price of $40,490. The Impreza WRX Hatch is $40,990.

Significant changes to the Impreza RX include the addition of keyless entry and colour keyed door handles and mirrors, elevating this vehicle to the premium sporty car in the under $30,000 market sector. Its price, remarkably, also remains unchanged at $26,990 for the 5-speed RX sedan.

The Impreza GX models gain remote keyless entry, making this very much a premium small car without the premium price tag.

Impreza GX now comes with dual airbags, all-wheel drive, cruise control, keyless entry, power windows and power mirrors, making it an unbeatable value-for-money quality small car. Again, the price remains unchanged at $23,990 for the 5-speed GX sedan.

Bringing the entry models into line with the rest of the Subaru passenger range, the Impreza LX hatch and the Impreza Sportswagon will have dual airbags fitted as standard equipment.

Impreza Sportswagon, the entry level recreational vehicle in the Subaru range, includes duotone paint, alloy wheels, roof racks, US style Outback sport grille, and for the first time, a rear spoiler.

Reflecting the added specification, including the dual airbags, the Impreza Sportswagon has increased by $1000 to $23,990, while the price of the LX hatch rises by just $800.

Across the entire Subaru range, the automatic transmission is available for an additional $2000. There is no change to the Subaru Forester this year.

And, as with all Subaru vehicles sold in Australia, the Impreza is backed by a three years/unlimited kilometre warranty.

Fully imported from Japan, Subaru vehicles are renowned for their quality, safety, performance and commitment to All-Wheel Drive which is an inherent part of Subaru’s automotive philosophy, offering the highest levels of active safety and driving enjoyment.