Subaru BOXER Sports Car Architecture Press Release

[Deslock]

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=982

Subaru Rear-Wheel-Drive Sports Car

The Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) Sports Car, which is currently under joint development with Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota), incorporates into a new generation sports car with an ambition to provide driving pleasure to a wider range of customers. Thanks to its "front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout", further lowered centre of gravity, compact and lightweight body and short wheel base, it delivers a new level of driving excitement with very unique crisp handling. The car will be the only existing front-engine, rear-wheel drive sports car powered by a Boxer engine in the world, by making full use of both companies' expertise: Subaru's Horizontally-Opposed Boxer engine and performance car technologies and Toyota's RWD technologies.

This new car is rooted in both companies' engineering philosophy. Subaru's engineering excellence, renowned for providing "Enjoyment and Peace of Mind" to its loyal customers, has been applied to the car's development. Subaru's idea of a front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout that was already used in the "Subaru P-1", Subaru's first prototype passenger car, as well as the expertise acquired during the development of the "Subaru XT" or of the fully-fledged speciality coupe model "Subaru SVX" were also incorporated into the model's development.

This Subaru Rear-Wheel Drive Sports Car, as Subaru's first mass-produced front-engine, rear-wheel drive model, is expected to be produced in spring 2012 at a Subaru production plant in Japan.

Subaru's Development Philosophy and the Rear-Wheel-Drive Model

Ever since Subaru started building cars, Subaru's objective has always been that of providing customers with enjoyment and peace of mind. Subaru's development philosophy lies at the heart of each and every model ever produced, offering customers an assurance of driving "Confidence". With such a consistent approach to the development of cars, Subaru has released a range of unique, innovative products to suit the requirements of customers at any point in automotive history, some of which include cars with Rear-Wheel, Front-Wheel and All -Wheel drivetrains.

Subaru developed the Subaru P-1, its first prototype passenger car, in 1954. To create a car that delivered a comfortable ride, Subaru determined that it needed to have an excellent suspension system and a lightweight, rigid body. To achieve this, a front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout was used for the drivetrain and chassis, and a full monocoque design for the body – the first of its kind in Japan. Powered by a 1.5-litre engine, the classic 4-door sedan Subaru P-1 prototype was produced in its dozens. Although it never made it to the market, the Subaru P-1 was considered the forefront of innovative Subaru engineering.

Some of the pioneering features found in the Subaru P-1 included an independent wishbone suspension system at the front, and a proprietary lightweight and rigid, full monocoque body design developed with the aid of aircraft technology born from the very origins of Subaru. Expertise and development philosophies that were raised during this time blossomed into a range of innovative ideas and advanced technologies that would later be applied to the development of the "Subaru 360", Japan's very own mini car for the public at large. These key concepts also found their way into the "Subaru 1000", the earliest Front-Wheel Drive model to be powered by Subaru's first Horizontally-Opposed Boxer engine, and other All-Wheel Dive (AWD) models used as the base platform for passenger cars. Indeed, these concepts continue uninterrupted to this day with the subsequent development of Subaru's current distinctive crossover models.

Technology Exhibit: "BOXER Sports Car Architecture"

Behind the new level of driving excitement and pleasure that the RWD Sports Car delivers is its new platform technology, built around Subaru's key component – the Horizontally-Opposed Subaru Boxer engine. A new platform has been developed based on Subaru's renowned AWD model package in order to extract the maximum performance potential required of the RWD Sports Car. The "BOXER Sports Car Architecture" represents a proposal of Subaru's new definition of driving excitement.

Subaru Boxer engine

At the heart of this Technology Exhibit is Subaru Boxer engine. It is its lightweight, compact and low centre of gravity that lends itself to the level of driving excitement that Subaru is aiming for, and is without a doubt the most suitable engine for the RWD Sports Car. The Subaru Boxer engine can be constructed of aluminium owing to its compact and rigid engine design, making for a much lighter power unit. Its low centre of gravity provides a high level of driving stability and remarkable handling. Since the piston's opposing movements inherently counteract each other, no balance shaft is needed. This cancels out excess vibrations and gives the engine a sprightly, sporty feel at virtually any engine speed. Needless to say, the Subaru Boxer engine has certain underlying characteristics that make it suitable for such sporty driving.

In the BOXER Sports Car Architecture, Subaru's Boxer engine, which originally features a low centre of gravity and optimum weight balance, is even lowered and set back further towards the centre of the chassis. This feature also offers a low-profile sports car silhouette with its lowered engine hood design, resulting in a lowered driving position. All these elements deliver excellent driveability, stability as well as handling performance.

Optimised Chassis Layout for the RWD Sports Car

Another important factor that enables the RWD Sports Car to deliver driving performance befitting of a Subaru is its chassis. Rather than simply developing a frame and body that focuses purely on speed, development has been conducted to produce a chassis that delivers Subaru's authentic driving characteristics: a sporty driving experience, an overall enjoyable ride, and stable drivability with driver confidence. The result is that the tyres follow every subtle variation in the road surface and that it responds exactly to the driver's input. The BOXER Sports Car Architecture does not depend solely on engine power output – instead it maximises the potential of this newly developed chassis to achieve the fundamental characteristics of a rear-wheel drive sports car by delivering sporty performance as driver and vehicle work in unison, as well as providing agile response afforded by its short wheel base. Subaru's distinctive suspension setup has been used, incorporating struts at the front, and a double-wishbone layout at the rear, to provide outstanding stability and control.

When compared to other Subaru AWD models, the engine now sits even lower and further back in the engine bay. A lower centre of gravity, now located further toward the middle of the chassis itself, gives optimum front-rear weight balance for a RWD sports car. Drivers will discover a remarkable, natural feel when cornering, giving new level of driving excitement. A short front overhang, matched with a shorter rear overhang reduces any yaw moment of inertia generated, and provides a higher level of stability and control, and handling performance of a pure sports car.

The RWD Sports Car's platform technology adds a completely new package to complement Subaru's existing AWD platform. This package will open Subaru's renowned on-road performance to a broader range of customers. At the heart of this drivability lies Subaru's engineering philosophy that constantly provides enjoyment and peace of mind. The "BOXER Sports Car Architecture" is a technical masterpiece that has been designed so that drivers can fully enjoy Subaru's new approach to driving pleasure, with the full knowledge that they are constantly supported with the sense of confidence that only a Subaru can provide.

Major Specifications of "BOXER Sports Car Architecture":
Body size (Overall: Length x Width x Height): 4,200 x 1,770 x 1,270 mm
Wheelbase: 2,570 mm
Engine: 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated four cylinder Horizontally-Opposed Boxer engine
Tire size: 215/45R17 [/quote]

[linkwpc]

I think going non-turbo is a bad idea... This car CALLS for a turbo!! It looks like I'm not going to buy it.... This news sucks....

[NESW20]

Originally Posted by linkwpc

I think going non-turbo is a bad idea... This car CALLS for a turbo!! It looks like I'm not going to buy it.... This news sucks....

good. then you can leave here and quit bitching about n/a. nerd.

[Siriusly.Andrew]

Originally Posted by NESW20

good. then you can leave here and quit bitching about n/a. nerd.

hehehe, he can take that 2010 Camaro of his and "transform" it into a telephone pole :P

[NESW20]

haha, linkwpc actually seems alright. i was giving him hell in another thread and he soaked it up.

[Siriusly.Andrew]

I actually just read that.

But its a Camaro, and its debut was in Transformers, I really honestly couldn't resist lol.

He wants turbo and torque, hes got the perfect candidate already. why get the FT?

[linkwpc]

Originally Posted by Siriusly.Andrew

I actually just read that.

But its a Camaro, and its debut was in Transformers, I really honestly couldn't resist lol.

He wants turbo and torque, hes got the perfect candidate already. why get the FT?

I also want a small car. I love to have more then one car. I like options. I own an RX7 FD and I loved the small sports car feel. But I also LOVE V8s. Now that I got my V8 that will try to keep my whole life, I want a little sports car with an turbo that I can take out the mountains. One of the most car I have ever wanted was a 99-00 Subaru RS coupe. I never got that, but I was hoping this car would be it but with turbo! Thats is what I'm looking for. I'm very happy with my camaro and it will stay with my forever but I love options! The more cars, the better

[Siriusly.Andrew]

I'm not very familiar with fd's I know a decent bit about fc's though. I don't think the fd is much bigger than an fc and that's a small car, wouldn't your rx-7 fill the small car segment your looking for or are you looking for a none rotary small car? I suppose that would make sense.

[Ryephile]

Originally Posted by Deslock

Major Specifications of "BOXER Sports Car Architecture":
Body size (Overall: Length x Width x Height): 4,200 x 1,770 x 1,270 mm
Wheelbase: 2,570 mm
Engine: 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated four cylinder Horizontally-Opposed Boxer engine
Tire size: 215/45R17

I can't imagine they actually put that engine in the car for the US market. The 2.0L n/a flat-4 currently makes about 140 HP. Having that engine in the FT-86 would be a major disappointment, resulting in ~10 second 0-60 times. That's not acceptable these days.

The "new" 2.5L n/a flat-4 that debuted in the 2011 Forester makes 170HP & 174Lb/Ft. That would be the bare minimum power to make the FT work as an entry sports car. At 2700 pounds & 170HP, that would put the FT-86 at 15.9:1 pounds per HP ratio, a bit slower the current Miata, which has a 15.0:1 pounds per HP ratio.

That said, I don't believe this engine will find itself in the FT-86 either. The Toyota & Subaru executives have been adamant that the engine will be a "high-revving" oversquare engine [short stroke, big bore]. The new 2.5L n/A flat-4 in the Forester is undersquare at 90mm stroke and 84mm bore.

The media has been adamant the car will have a high-revving 2.0L engine. In order to achieve "optimum power-to-weight ratio", the car will have to be on-par with the Miata, IMO, the de-facto reference in affordable fun to drive sports cars. This means the FT-86 in 2700 pound production guise will need exactly 180HP to achieve 15.0:1 pounds-per-HP that will result in quick-enough high 6's in 0-60 runs. If the engine miraculously revs to 8k RPM, it'll only need a totally possible 120 Lb/Ft to achieve the 180HP figure. Think RX-8 in terms of powerband.

That's my deduction.

[OldSkoolToys]

Originally Posted by Ryephile

I can't imagine they actually put that engine in the car for the US market. The 2.0L n/a flat-4 currently makes about 140 HP. Having that engine in the FT-86 would be a major disappointment, resulting in ~10 second 0-60 times. That's not acceptable these days.

The "new" 2.5L n/a flat-4 that debuted in the 2011 Forester makes 170HP & 174Lb/Ft. That would be the bare minimum power to make the FT work as an entry sports car. At 2700 pounds & 170HP, that would put the FT-86 at 15.9:1 pounds per HP ratio, a bit slower the current Miata, which has a 15.0:1 pounds per HP ratio.

That said, I don't believe this engine will find itself in the FT-86 either. The Toyota & Subaru executives have been adamant that the engine will be a "high-revving" oversquare engine [short stroke, big bore]. The new 2.5L n/A flat-4 in the Forester is undersquare at 90mm stroke and 84mm bore.

The media has been adamant the car will have a high-revving 2.0L engine. In order to achieve "optimum power-to-weight ratio", the car will have to be on-par with the Miata, IMO, the de-facto reference in affordable fun to drive sports cars. This means the FT-86 in 2700 pound production guise will need exactly 180HP to achieve 15.0:1 pounds-per-HP that will result in quick-enough high 6's in 0-60 runs. If the engine miraculously revs to 8k RPM, it'll only need a totally possible 120 Lb/Ft to achieve the 180HP figure. Think RX-8 in terms of powerband.

That's my deduction.

You're forgetting the FB20 hasn't debuted in any cars yet, and is rumored to start at 148hp. The FB25 in the Forrester is the econobox / no performance within 10 miles of here, version.

Neither of which are going to be/are equipped with Toyota's D4-S direct injection system/ heads. I'm not defending the FB20 but its seems HIGHLY unlikely that Subaru will fork out a completely different 2.0L boxer for the Toyobaru, especially given Subaru's history of...well, having just one 2.0L boxer.

Not only that but the FT-86 is being engineered around the fact that its going to have a 2.0L boxer under the hood. Anything different and they risk completely throwing off the balance and symmetry they've spent so much time engineering.

Honestly, don't expect the FT-86's FB20 to be much like the one that comes in the base Impreza.

Think of it like 4A vs. 4A-GE....they both share the same block, but the 4A-GE is a completely different kind of engine.

Also the weight is still very much speculation, and I still argue that 2700lbs would be a heavy mark for this car. 2500-2600 should be very doable. You're entire premise is around an imaginary 2700lb mark.

[Ryephile]

So if I read your post correctly, you're thinking they'll take the base FB20 and put direct injection/high flow/high RPM cylinder heads on it?

I think we both agree that the base 148HP FB20 would be a total flop. That said, the exec's have been adamant the FT-86 will be a high-revving engine, something the base FB20 likely will not be. This makes the case for a tweaked FB20 highly likely, though how tweaked is way up in the air at this point.

Personally, I would opt out of relatively unreliable and noisy direct injection and put the money towards some good CFD development and using a full-time closed loop wide-band O2.

I wish I could agree the weight will be that low, but it just won't be. The Miata weighs 2500 pounds. The FT-86 will have less expensive materials [i.e. steel] to fit the price point, a rear seat, more glass, and likely target better crash ratings. That will easily add 200 pounds to the car. The only way to bring the weight back down under 2700 pounds will be to make it shorter and more spherical [a la Fiat 500 or Mazda2] or go expensive [like the extruded/bonded aluminum chassis Lotus uses, or full carbon monocoque like McLaren or Lamborghini]. The number of steel unibody cars on the road at or under 2700 pounds can be counted with very few fingers:

Mazda2, Fiesta, Fiat 500, MINI Cooper hatch, and MX-5 Miata [which has a steel backbone underneath the unibody]. Apart from the hybrid construction Miata, they're all hatchbacks, not low-slung coupes. Did I miss any? I did, the Kia Forte' Koup is pretty close at 2737 advertised base curb weight. That's rather admirable from Kia especially since it's much larger than the FT-86 is. I doubt most want the FT to be compared to the Forte' though since it's front drive!

[OldSkoolToys]

We already know that the boxer for the FT-86 WILL be fitted with D4-S, and more than likely Toyota based high-flow heads (last part is speculation).

I honestly don't know the performance implications of applying DI to a boxer engine, but in the GR series the HP gain seemed to be ~30hp on the 3GR-FE ->3GR-FSE. At this point it does seem like a DI'd FB20 is the engine for the FT-86, but you prove a point on the bore and stroke...

As for weight...I have faith in Toyota, is about all I can say. They asked us directly (via Club4ag.com and its creator Moto-P), as well as fans in Japan, and experienced race vets (like Orido and Tsuchiya) what they wanted from this car, and the resounding qualities were light weight, low cost, and high rev/free revving engine.

[serialk11r]

I was wondering about the bore and stroke too, since the EJ itself doesn't rev that high does it? The FB has reduced frictional losses and whatever but the increased stroke...

[aliphian]

If they slightly increase the rev limit and add DI, we will get >180hp. That will be plenty to have fun.