Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the manufacturer of Subaru automobiles, today announced that total cumulative production of Subaru’s horizontally-opposed “Boxer” engines*1 has reached 15 million units*2. The 15 million milestone was achieved in the 49th year since FHI developed the all-new horizontally-opposed water-cooled four-cylinder aluminum engine and adopted it in the Subaru 1000 compact passenger vehicle in May 1966.
(2015MY Legacy/Outback)
In a horizontally-opposed design of Subaru’s Boxer engine, the pistons face each other in a side-to-side symmetrical layout and the opposing pistons work to cancel out the inertia force of each other, resulting in less vibration, superb rotational balance and a smooth exhilarating feel right up to the high rev range. The engine’s flat, low profile also helps to lower the vehicle’s center of gravity, enhancing driving stability and handling performance. Over a long period of time, Subaru has committed to maximizing the advantages of its Boxer engines and continued to enhance them to power its vehicles.
Subaru marked another significant milestone last month, when it produced the 14 millionth unit of its All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system, which was first featured in the Subaru Leone 4WD Estate van launched in September 1972. Subaru’s Symmetrical AWD system is one of the core technologies to underpin Subaru’s commitment to safety and driving pleasure; it provides driving stability at high speeds as well as brisk cornering, which is a synergy between the driving stability and drivability intrinsic to AWD and the balanced distribution of weight realized by the symmetrically-laid-out drivetrain with a longitudinally-mounted Boxer engine positioned in line with it.
Under Subaru’s “Confidence in Motion” brand statement, FHI will continue to pursue its engineering excellence and enhance the distinctive appeal of the Subaru brand to offer enjoyment and peace of mind to customers worldwide.
*1: The “Boxer” engine is so called because the movement of the engine’s pistons resembles the movement of a boxer’s fists.
*2: Includes OEM vehicles
