Subaru Third Generation Boxer engine

M

Murto

Petrolheads
Personally i think it looks amazing :subaru:.......maybe in the distant future
might have one.

subaru3rd-genboxer.jpg


Boxer lovers, the next chapter in your love affair has just begun. Fuji Heavy Industries, parent company of Subaru,
has introduced the latest, third-generation boxer engine that will relieve the second-gen after 21 years of service.
This is a brand new lump, not a rework, and FHI has built a factory just to produce it.

The bore and stroke have been increased, and it will be available with four cylinders in 2.0- and 2.5-liter displacements.
The intake ports have been redesigned, lighter pistons and connecting rods offer reduced internal friction,
and separate cooling circuitry for the block and the head are some of the changes that have resulted in a lower emissions
and a ten percent increase in fuel efficiency. No power figures are being quoted yet, so we'll have to see how it measures
up when it finds its way into production engine bays.
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/subaru-third-generation-boxer-engine/#3394932
 
It's gasoline

FHI Develops a New-generation Subaru Boxer Engine
New Horizontally-Opposed engine, providing superior combination of environmental friendliness and enjoyable driving

Tokyo, September 23, 2010 - Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI) has developed its new-generation boxer engine* that combines the technology and know-how used in Horizontally-Opposed Boxer engines, the core technology that has supported Subaru's unique driving since it was first employed in the Subaru 1000 in 1966. This overall renewal is the first in 21 years, since the second generation boxer engine was introduced in the first Legacy models in 1989.

This new-generation Horizontally-Opposed 4 cylinder gasoline engine, the third generation Subaru boxer engine, showcases Subaru's latest engineering research and development. It offers a new performance level by further refining Subaru's unique expertise in Boxer engine technology. The engine was entirely renewed, starting from the basic structure, while all the advantages of the horizontally-opposed layout were maintained: lightweight, compact, low center of gravity, and superior vibration balance. New-generation improvements include advances in both environmental friendliness, such as an approximately 10% improvement in fuel efficiency, and driving performance for smooth acceleration in all speed ranges. Furthermore, FHI designed the new engine with consideration of the technology's expandability and potential capability to receive further upgrades meeting future environmental measures.

FHI built a new factory at the Gunma Oizumi Plant exclusively for the production of this new-generation boxer engine. This new plant offers state-of-the-art production facilities that make full use of FHI's engine manufacturing know-how developed to date, as well as a highly efficient production system delivering products meeting the highest quality standards.

Major Features of the New-generation Subaru Boxer engine
The overall structure of this engine has been totally renewed, by reviewing the bore and stroke for the basic structure to
allow a longer stroke than current engines. It is designed to achieve high efficiency in basic performance, allowing the
smooth and sporty rotational properties for which Horizontally-Opposed engines are known, while also making improvements in practical torque and environmental friendliness. This engine is available with 2,500 cc or 2,000 cc displacement, both with 4 cylinders. These models will now be positioned as our main engines.

The New-generation Subaru Boxer engine
・ The bore and stroke, the basic structure of this engine, have been reviewed to achieve a compact combustion chamber as well as a long stroke, which was difficult previously due to chassis mounting conditions in boxer gasoline engines. This allows high combustion efficiency, and generates a sufficient mid-low speed torque with improved fuel efficiency and practicality.
・ Improved fuel efficiency has been achieved through optimization of intake port configuration and the addition of partitions inside ports, the use of TGV (Tumble Generated Valve), and the use of an EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) cooler.
・ AVCS (Active Valve Control System) is used on both intake and exhaust valves. For the intake side in particular, an intermediate lock system allows valve timing to be advanced or delayed for precise control over intake and exhaust valve timing, allowing maximum engine performance in output, fuel efficiency, and exhaust emission.
・ The use of lightweight primary moving parts, such as pistons and connecting rods, and a highly efficient and compact oil pump provides an approximately 30% reduction in friction loss and improves fuel efficiency and revolution response.
・ Cooling has been optimized by using separate engine cooling circuitry for the block and the head, resulting in improvements in fuel efficiency and output characteristics.

FHI is fully committed to develop new products on the theme of integrating enjoyable and reliable driving with environmentally friendly solutions. This same theme applies to this new-generation boxer engine, which will be
positioned as a main engine and the starting point of its future power unit strategy. Starting with the Forester, the new engine will be deployed in other Subaru products in the future.
* Boxer engine: Also known as a Horizontally-Opposed engine. In this design, the pistons are arranged symmetrically left and right along the crankshaft. When the pistons move, they resemble the punches thrown by boxers, thus resulting in this popular name.
 
This has been needed for a long long time, Subaru are about 2 years behind in terms of emissions and fuel economy, doesn't matter a fcuk to most of us but new car sales are dominated by these requirements. Lets hope they get it to market soon.
 
Its hard to judge this new engine without having any engine stats but hopefully it will be competitive. The only worrying thing is the absence of direct injection which every other manufacturer is now using in combination with high compression engines using small turbos. Maybe Subaru will use DI on their forced induction engines as it works really well with turbos where the DI allows the use of higher compression rates which means a small turbo will spool up instantly with absolutely no lag like a NA engine.

The great thing about DI is its greatly improved efficiency and superior mpg and CO2 figures. DI engines also have diesel like levels of torque at really low rpms so the in-gear response is unbeatable. The only downside is having the power everywhere in the rev range sometimes makes me miss the old skool pause .......whump of older generation turbo units which has its own charm.

This new gen 3 Boxer just might be the saving of the company and not a second too soon, but its the figures which will reveal all so until then all anyone can say is it looks good but the proof of the pudding.....

Frawls
 
The only downside is having the power everywhere in the rev range sometimes makes me miss the old skool pause .......whump of older generation turbo units which has its own charm.


This could be mapped in to the power band with a clever ECU surely to add character to the driving experience.Cant wait to see what they come up with.
 
gonzogicken said:
The only downside is having the power everywhere in the rev range sometimes makes me miss the old skool pause .......whump of older generation turbo units which has its own charm.


This could be mapped in to the power band with a clever ECU surely to add character to the driving experience.Cant wait to see what they come up with.
Click to expand...

True, but I cant see many people mapping an engine to reintroduce turbo lag. Also I'm not sure you could successfully do it as the nature of high compression would mean you would have to blead boost constantly to keep the turbo from spooling boost which make for a very odd sounding and performing engine ie killing the in-gear performance and constantly hissing from from the engine bay.

Anyway its all a bit academic at the moment until we see what the new flat four turbo's configuration is. This has to be the engine they'll fit to the Subaru Coupe if it ever sees the light of day.

Frawls
 
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