Subaru firmly believes that the Horizontally-Opposed Engine is the optimum design for driving enjoyment. The pistons face away from each other in a 180º symmetrical layout around the crankshaft and work to balance out each other’s vibrations, delivering a smooth, shudder-free feel. This is because the engine can rotate freely at any given speed, delivering heart-gripping response to the driver. The length and height of this engine layout can be kept shorter than a traditional in-line engine, and it is also lighter. The engine can be mounted lower in the vehicle than other engines, and weight balance on the left and right can be made almost exactly the same. In this design, the low centre of gravity engine lowers the centre of gravity of the entire car. Similarly, a symmetrically balanced engine increases the symmetrical balance of the entire car. Both of these aspects combine to deliver a safer, more stable, and ultimately, more enjoyable experience on the road.
More enjoyable experience on the road.
Balanced & Composed.
Greater Stability for Easier Driving
Since the Horizontally-Opposed Engine is structured with the pistons mounted horizontally, it has a lower total height and is more compact and lighter than an in-line engine or a V engine. This allows for level cornering and more stable high-speed driving, thereby helping to realize the SUBARU ideal of enhanced driving safety.
Enjoyable, Smooth Acceleration
The pistons in an in-line engine or a V engine generally move vertically. However, in the Horizontally-Opposed Engine, the opposed pistons move horizontally and the opposing forces cancel each other out, thereby reducing the amount of vibration and providing a more comfortable feel to the engine.
Cabin-protecting layout.
In the event of a head-on collision, the Subaru Boxer Engine and gearbox are designed to slide beneath the cabin for your protection. Related: Passive Safety
Ultra-low center of gravity packaging
Comfortable ride
Most sports cars make adjustments in the suspension system to ensure roll stiffness. In contrast, ultra-low center of gravity packaging has been achieved by pursuing the potential of the Boxer engine and the vehicle itself rather than unnecessarily tightening the suspension. This packaging makes it possible to enjoy excellent handling with little roll, instability, bumps and vibrations for a smooth and comfortable ride.
Advantages of shifting to a low center of gravity
Load shift reduces postural changes, making it possible to achieve both gentle motion and steering response. This ultra-low center of gravity packaging has achieved a gravitational center height of 460 mm*1, among the top class in the world*2. This provides drivers with handling that has excellent response and a comfortable ride for all.
*1 In-house measurements
*2 As of February 2012 (in-house research)
Handling with excellent response
Better contact with the road surface, little roll, and fast convergence afforded by a low center of gravity create a sensation of the vehicle adhering to the road. The excellent front and rear weight distribution of 53:47* produces a direct response to steering. The enjoyment of this completely new handling can be experienced not only in limited settings such as circuits, but by anybody driving on public highways or roads with even slight curves. This is the attraction of ultra-low center of gravity packaging.
Various innovations:
・The shapes of auxiliary equipment have been completely rethought to give the engine the lowest center of gravity possible.
・The driving position has been set at the lowest possible position to lower the center of gravity of the entire vehicle.
・A lightweight and highly rigid chassis has been specially designed to improve stability.
・Uses an FR layout and the pleasure of unembellished handling has been pursued to the utmost limit.
・A light yet strong body structure that ensures optimal performance for the front, rear and cabin has been developed.
The ultra-low center of gravity packaging is the result of pursuing the advantages of the low center of gravity offered by the horizontally opposed Subaru Boxer engine to their limits. The Boxer engine, which had a low center of gravity to begin with, has been made lower and mounted closer to the center of the vehicle to truly lower the center of gravity of the vehicle overall. This previously unheard of endeavor and innovation resulted in a gravitational center height that rivals that of super sports cars, excellent front and rear weight distribution and a new dimension of driving that has never been experienced before. The expertise in horizontally opposed engines, technology and passion for driving cultivated at Subaru have all been poured into this ultra-low center of gravity packaging.
Introducing the Subaru Boxer Family.
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EJ
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FB
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FA
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EE
Introducing the Transmission Family.
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Lineartronic
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E-6AT
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6MT