Subaru announced on Wednesday that it has built its 15 millionth Boxer engine. The milestone comes 49 years after the Japanese automaker introduced its first Boxer engine to the market.
Although arguably best-known for its Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system, another hallmark of the Subaru brand is its range of Boxer engines. Subaru introduced its first Boxer-powered vehicle — the 1000 — in 1966 and still maintains the engine technology to this day.
Although arguably best-known for its Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system, another hallmark of the Subaru brand is its range of Boxer engines. Subaru introduced its first Boxer-powered vehicle — the 1000 — in 1966 and still maintains the engine technology to this day.
Unlike typical inline and V-engine designs, Subaru’s Boxer layout uses a horizontally opposed cylinder setup. That unique design not only allows for smoother operation, but also allows the engine to be placed lower in the engine bay, result in a lower overall center of gravity.
Subaru is one of just a few automakers to still employ the Boxer engine design. Thanks to a joint venture with Toyota, a 2.0L Boxer four can be found beneath the hood of the Toyota GT86 as well as the Scion FR-S. Porsche also uses a flat-six design in its 911, Boxster and Cayman sports car lines.
Image by Drew Johnson.
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