Subaru is celebrating its 40th anniversary four-wheel drive vehicles
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the manufacturer of Subaru vehicles, announced that 2012 marks the 40th anniversary of the debut of Subaru's all-wheel drive vehicles, the first of which, the Subaru Leone Estate Van 4WD, was introduced in Japan in 1972.
To this day, FHI remains a pioneer in all-wheel drive. cars. Subaru's total production of *1 4x4 vehicles reached 11,782,812 (January 31, 2012), representing approximately 55.7% of the brand's total sales.
Subaru's all-wheel drive system ensures efficient distribution of traction to all four wheels. Thanks to the combination of symmetrical all wheel drive (SAWD) and the Subaru Boxer horizontally opposed engine, power unit is located symmetrically relative to the longitudinal axis of the car, and the transmission is shifted back, within the wheelbase. This arrangement optimizes the longitudinal-transverse mass balance and provides stable traction on any surfaces in different conditions movement. In addition, excellent resistance to high speeds and excellent steering and handling characteristics, making SAWD the core technology behind Subaru's philosophy of safety combined with driving pleasure.
Through continuous research, adapting Subaru's all-wheel drive system to the nature of each model, FHI has perfected its technologies in this area - from technology that can provide control on rough roads, to unique technology, which guarantees high stability in rain, snow or high speed driving. Latest developments include management tractive effort on four wheels, which creates a constant reliable grip all four wheels with the road.
Additional Information
Subaru symmetrical all-wheel drive systems
- VTD all-wheel drive system *2: Sports version electronically controlled all-wheel drive, which improves steering characteristics. The compact all-wheel drive system includes a planetary center differential and a multi-plate hydraulic clutch interlocks *3 electronically controlled. The torque distribution between the front and rear wheels in a ratio of 45:55 is continuously adjusted by a differential lock using a multi-plate clutch. Torque distribution is controlled automatically, up to a 50:50 ratio between the front and rear wheels, taking into account the condition of the road surface. This provides excellent stability, and by distributing torque with an emphasis on rear wheels steering characteristics are improved, which provides an aggressive sports driving.
Current models (Russian specification)]
On Russian market Subaru Legacy GT, Forester S-Edition, Outback 3.6, Tribeca, WRX STI with automatic transmission - All-wheel drive system with active torque distribution (ACT): An electronically controlled all-wheel drive system that improves economy and stability. The original multi-plate torque transmission clutch moment Subaru electronically controlled torque distribution between the front and rear wheels in real time according to driving conditions. In normal modes, the system distributes torque between the front and rear wheels in a ratio of 60:40. It maximizes the benefits of all-wheel drive, providing stable and safe handling in any traffic situation regardless of the driver's skill level.
On the Russian market Subaru Legacy/Outback 2.5 with Lineartronic transmission, Forester (with automatic transmission), Impreza and XV with Lineartronic transmission. - All-wheel drive system with center self-locking differential with viscous coupling (CDG): mechanical system all-wheel drive for mechanical transmissions. The system is a combination center differential with bevel gears and blocking based on viscous coupling. Under normal conditions, the torque between the front and rear wheels is distributed in a ratio of 50:50. The system ensures safe, sporty driving by always making the most of available traction.
[Current models (Russian specification)]
Subaru Legacy, Forester, Impreza and XV with manual transmission. - All-wheel drive system with multi-mode center differential (DCCD *4): A performance-oriented all-wheel drive system for serious sporting events. The all-wheel drive system with an electronically controlled active limited-slip center differential uses a combination of mechanical and electronic differential locks when changing torque. The torque between the front and rear wheels is distributed in a ratio of 41:59, with an emphasis on maximum driving performance and optimal control dynamic stabilization car. Mechanical blocking has a faster response and works before electronic. Working with large torque, the system demonstrates best balance between sharpness of control and stability. There are preset differential lock control modes, as well as a manual control mode, which the driver can use according to the traffic situation.
[Current models (Russian specification)]
Subaru WRX STI with manual transmission.
*1 including production of vehicles with plug-in all-wheel drive
*2 VTD: Variable Torque Distribution
*3 Managed differential increased friction
*4 DCCD: Active Center Differential
Symmetrical AWD
Symmetrical all-wheel drive
Since its introduction in 1972, Symmetrical AWD (All- wheel drive) has been continuously improved. Complemented by a horizontally opposed Subaru engine BOXER, it ensures perfect symmetry of the structure. This ensures maximum efficiency of the engine power output, high level traction and vehicle stability, as well as ideal weight distribution. Absolute control over the car is maintained in almost any driving conditions, turning every kilometer of the distance traveled into pleasure.
Engine torque is constantly transmitted to all four wheels and provides maximum traction and, consequently, maximum vehicle handling, therefore, than better grip wheels with the road, the more confident you feel behind the wheel of your car. This advantage- Your key to success in extreme conditions, either bad weather or emergency situation when the count goes to fractions of a second.
Advantages
The best balance
When you turn, the centrifugal force pushes the car to the edge of the road. How far the car rolls depends on the center of gravity. If it is located high, it takes more time to regain balance and control of the car. If it's low - like a Subaru - there's less body roll and less yaw, giving the car more stability.
Improved grip strength
Constant four-wheel drive has special advantages over 2-wheel drive (2WD) - especially when cornering. By transmitting power through all four wheels, the car handles naturally and neutrally around corners, avoiding sluggishness or oversteer that can lead to instability and crashes.
Test Drive
Subaru Forester
Drive is everything!
Potapkin Alexander ( 26.05.2017
)
Photo: PushCAR
Any person in our country and abroad who is at least a little familiar with cars, having heard the phrase - "Symmetrical all-wheel drive", will immediately remember Subaru cars. This is a kind of rule - we say Subaru, we mean symmetrical all-wheel drive, and vice versa - we say symmetrical all-wheel drive, we mean Subaru. And, of course, Subaru cars are legendary boxer engines. Subaru vehicles are a tradition of all-wheel drive and boxer engines, to which the manufacturer has remained true throughout its history.
To date, in Russian Subaru offers only four models. But main model the brand was and remains Forester, it is the main locomotive of all sales. The new, fourth generation Forester with the SJ index appeared in 2013, and has already survived two small restyling. After all, minor, but frequent, changes in appearance are designed to maintain interest in the model and in the brand as a whole.
It's no secret that all Japanese manufacturers have recently become very fond of continuously variable transmissions, in other words, a variator. Among them was Subaru. Abandoning traditional automatic transmissions, the developers have put on a new generation own development- Lineartronic variator. On the one hand, the variator is a smooth ride and fuel economy. On the other hand, this is a lot of wear on the parts of the box and a quick “overheating” on the road. After all, any crossover, especially with all-wheel drive settings like Subaru's, sooner or later simply has to go off-road - "knead" the dirt and transfer heavy loads. And it seems that the CVT is simply not suitable for such trips, but Subaru engineers managed to destroy this statement. The Lineartronic box is capable of withstanding enormous loads. You can get stuck and skid for five or ten minutes, and in the end, you never see on dashboard box or clutch overheating indicator. Of course, if you wish, you can overheat the variator and clutch on the Forester, but if you compare it with competitors, then Forik is one of the leaders in terms of endurance. Branded symmetrical all-wheel drive, as before, differs depending on the transmission. WITH mechanical box gears is a more advanced all-wheel drive system with a self-locking center differential. That is, the version on the "mechanics" has a permanent four-wheel drive. A simplified system comes with the variator, which automatically distributes torque between the axles, and a multi-plate clutch is responsible for blocking the center differential. And the X-Mode off-road assistance system gives the Forester permanent all-wheel drive, if the speed is not higher than 40 km / h, and helps to automatically maintain set speed on the descent.
But, even with a simpler all-wheel drive and without X-Mode systems, Forester off-road will be able to compete with a couple of cars in this class. The main rivals of the Subaru Forester in terms of cross-country ability, all-wheel drive and its settings can be considered the new Jeep Cherokee or Land Rover Discovery Sport.
And, if with the technical component of the transmission and all-wheel drive, which complements ground clearance at 22 cm, everything is very good and there is simply nothing to complain about. And this, one might say, is the main trump card of the Forester, on which the manufacturer focuses, but for the rest, namely, comfort, quality of materials and assembly, there are still questions and comments. Of course, if we draw an analogy with the previous generation, then new Forester made way better. But, nevertheless, there are still many shortcomings in it, which simply should not be in a car for more than two million. And the first thing you notice in the car's interior is simplicity, archaism and meager quality of materials. Many are accustomed to the fact that Subaru is primarily handling and technology, but comfort and ease of movement are secondary things, and here they are not particularly needed. To be honest, personally, I can’t understand this, and it’s a little wild for me to see a car for 2 million with a penny, for example, without rear sensors parking, about the front, I'm silent. Yes, there is a rear view camera, but for all current trends, it simply must be supplemented with parking sensors. And there are no parking sensors in any version! Or a multimedia system with six speakers, which, apparently, is here simply because it is necessary, and no one has been involved in its settings at all. The head unit is completely touch-sensitive, and it is worth giving it its due, the “head” itself works very quickly. I was also surprised by the simply disgusting work of the light sensor. Sometimes he did not understand when he needed to turn on the dipped beam, and when to turn it off. Plus, the optotronic instrument panel “attached” to it works in just two stages, that is, no smooth transition backlight, in other words, there is no dimmer. It just switches to dim or bright. And it is worth noting that now you will not find such minor flaws even in budget cars for 600 thousand rubles. And you should not forget about the main "trick" of the majority Japanese manufacturers- only two power windows, and sometimes one, which operate in automatic mode.
As for the cabin as a whole, he loves to creak very much, especially on bumps and bumps, and he is not happy with loud music either. In general, the Japanese have much to strive for. Nevertheless, if we do not pay attention to these little things, let's call them that, then a very large and spacious salon in class. Big trunk(maximum volume with the rear sofa folded 1548 l), a spacious rear row, and very loyal seats to the back endow the Forester with the practicality that many appreciate and look at first of all when choosing a car. But if you continue to find fault with the little things, then for myself I noted the insufficient adjustment of the driver's seat. Personally, I did not have enough vertical adjustment, and I wanted the chair to go lower.
Management Forester is a typical representative this class. But it does have a slight advantage - the boxer motor, which keeps the center of gravity lower, which gives it an advantage in corners. Plus all-wheel drive, which constantly distributes torque between the wheels and axles, depending on the steering wheel. The car on our test was with a 2.5 liter engine. This motor is a kind of golden mean for the Forester. 171 hp engine produces a peak torque of 235 Nm. According to measurements and sensations, he goes a little faster than the declared characteristics. Such agility and responsiveness cannot boast even more powerful engines the same volume. The motor confidently pulls the car even after 140 km / h, and acceleration to 100 km / h takes just over 9 seconds. But due to insufficient soundproofing engine compartment And wheel arches, I don’t want to “turn” the motor at all, and on high speed a lot of aerodynamic noise penetrates into the cabin. Of the minuses can be noted too sensitive gas pedal. This will be especially noticeable in city traffic. Even at the slightest pressure on the gas, the car immediately reacts with a jerk forward. The panacea in traffic jams will only be the "reduced" L mode, which puts the box in a simulated first gear.
In terms of suspension and handling, the Forester didn't just take a step forward, it took a big leap. The joint platform, on which the junior model XV is also based, has MacPherson struts in front with a stabilizer roll stability, rear - independent, spring on double wishbones. And the suspension here is really tuned for bad roads. You can safely drive at speed along the broken country road or on a “concrete” that has seen a lot, and at the same time, just marvel at the minimal buildup of the body, the absence of breakdowns, and enjoy the pleasant and quiet operation of the racks.
Subaru Forester gets better and better with every generation. His main trump card in front of his classmates was and will be the technical component - the engine and all-wheel drive. But the interior (performance, design and quality) loses almost all competitors on the market. For most buyers in a car, convenience, comfort, modern systems active safety and various electronic assistants. Off-road capabilities are of little concern now. After all, few in the city crossover storm ravines, overcome fords or simply drive on muddy ground. Therefore, placing great emphasis on the cross-country ability of the car and investing heavily in its development is not entirely right move. Nevertheless, Subaru brand cars will always find their buyer and will never be left without attention.
The cost of the car Subaru Forester (2.5 CVT) from 2,197,900 rubles.
Wanted to add useful information about symmetrical drive Subaru and specifically my Legasya. Maybe for someone who still doubts whether or not to take this car, this information will be useful and important for making the right decision.
In those. characteristics, I indicated that the drive is permanent full and this is so, but it is also symmetrical. What does it mean?
The entire system is perfectly symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Evenly distributed on all four wheels, the load provides exceptional stability during movement and maneuvering.
Any road, especially in Russia, has an uneven surface. Pits found on the asphalt, slippery areas, and just puddles when driving at high speed can cause loss of control of the car. Full AWD drive allows you to avoid loss of control by controlling the grip of each of the wheels every moment. When one of the wheels slips, the car reacts to prevent skidding. rises directional stability when driving at high speeds, the car does not "scour" on bumps or ruts.
In difficult weather conditions tire grip is noticeably worse. Slippery road, covered with freshly fallen snow, is an almost insurmountable obstacle for a car with two-wheel drive. If any of them gets stuck, the driver is practically doomed to seek outside help. All-wheel drive system AWD installed in Subaru cars, gives even exclusively city cars the power and cross-country ability of off-road vehicles. If any of the wheels loses traction, the load is redistributed to the rest and the car continues to move.
On a freeway, overcoming even not very steep, at first glance, turns, a car with a two-wheel drive can suddenly break into a skid. This is due to the gradually and imperceptibly increasing centrifugal force acting on it during the maneuver. The perfect balance of all Subaru all-wheel drive system designs and the force that is transmitted to each wheel make it possible to perfectly follow the chosen trajectory of movement. For the first time, a city car acquires dynamics and controllability racing car. It was after Subaru that many other auto manufacturers began to equip their cars with all-wheel drive systems, but this company retains leadership in the quality of its developments.
The system combines a fairly low center of gravity, which is inherent in Subaru boxers, and the complete lateral symmetry of the transmission. This solution combines excellent vehicle weight distribution and perfect balance, thanks to which AWD (All Wheel Drive) provides excellent stability and excellent wheel traction. pavement in absolutely any conditions. Big plus of this system is the placement on one line of all components: engine, transmission, rear differential and universal joint, forming a symmetrical structure in a horizontal plane. This solution is very important for the ideal weight distribution of the car along the length and width, which gives a neutral balance, which ensures a more comfortable and safer driving.
In confirmation of all this, I suggest watching the video at the link below. The topic of ice in Russia is more relevant than ever. Personally, when buying a car, I made a big bet on safety, because. my family's life is important. And since we have winter for six months, then the choice was obvious in favor of all-wheel drive. Only here on Subari he is really the best. WHAT CAR DO YOU THINK WAS CLIMBING THIS SLIDE? The question will be removed at the end of the video!
https://rutube.ru/tracks/3786687.html?v=aaf61c7931770df4820410f172d4b397.
"Tell me about Subaru's all-wheel drive, namely the 60x40 torque distribution. How does it work?"
It is good that the author of the question indicated the ratio (60/40), although it would be better if he also specified the model, as well as the years of its release. After all, despite the common brand name Symmetrical AWD, completely different all-wheel drive transmissions are used on Subaru cars, depending on the model, year of manufacture and sales market!
In order not to confuse readers and not to overload the answer with a listing and description of all possible variations, we will briefly go over circuit diagrams all-wheel drive used on modern Subaru, and let us dwell a little more on the one that, as it seems to us, is of interest to the author of the question.
Versions with a manual transmission have an "honest" permanent four-wheel drive. As a rule, this is a CDG scheme with a symmetrical center differential, which is blocked using a viscous coupling. Consider pure mechanics, supplemented by hydraulics, without any electronic control. Some models, in particular the Forester, are also equipped with a rear cross-axle differential, which is blocked with a viscous coupling. In addition, a reduction gear is used on a number of models.
But "charged" WRX STi equipped with an asymmetric differential, which provides a redistribution of torque in favor of the rear wheels. The ratio depends on the generation of "verses", but is at the level of 41:59 - 35:65. In this case, the "center" has a variable (forced or automatic) degree of blocking using electromagnetic clutch. This system known as Driver Controlled Center Differential (DCCD). On the rear axle, in addition, a "self-block" is installed.
For "charged" versions of Subaru with automatic transmission (the same Impreza WRX STi, as well as Forester S-Edition and Legacy GT) at one time a scheme was proposed, called Variable torque distribution AWD (VTD). It uses an asymmetrical planetary differential (45:55 in favor of the rear wheels), which is locked using an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch. As an option, a viscous coupling can also be installed in the rear axle differential.
Finally, Subaru automatic transmissions and Lineatronic CVTs are equipped with the Active torque split AWD (ACT) all-wheel drive system. Apparently, it is about her that our reader asks. Depending on the generation and year of manufacture, there are certain design differences, but the principle of operation of ACT remains unchanged.
Unlike the above schemes, there is no center differential here, for transmitting torque to rear wheels responds to an electronically controlled clutch. Well, and most importantly, such Subaru have a more "front-wheel drive" character on how many surfaces, since the ratio in normal conditions here 60:40 in favor of the front wheels!
At the same time, the redistribution of traction depends on a number of parameters (the selected gearbox mode, the speed of rotation of the front and rear wheels, the position of the "gas" pedal, etc.), on the basis of which the control unit "decides" how hard to clamp the clutches and how much torque transfer to rear axle. Therefore, the ratio changes in real time and can vary between 90:10 - 60:40 in favor of the front axle. By the way, the rear cross-axle differential on a number of models can also be equipped with a viscous coupling as an automatic lock.
It is impossible to say that Subaru with ACT have a "fake" all-wheel drive: unlike many models of other brands with plug-in rear axle here the thrust to the rear wheels is always supplied. But things still do not reach the "equal" ratio of 50:50, in general, slippery surfaces such cars are controlled somewhat differently than versions with a mechanical differential. However, all these features are revealed in far from standard driving modes, but in "civilian" even experienced driver is unlikely to determine which of the Symmetrical AWD variations is used.
Ivan KRISHKEVICH
website
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