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Powerplant

Maximum boost - The Impreza's turbocharger

By SWRT.com, on 04-07-2008 00:00

Favoured : 41

Small engines and big performance. We take a look at the role of the turbocharger in the world of rallying.

A mainstay of Subaru’s model lineup, the turbocharger in its simplest form works by forcing more air into the combustion chamber. Put simply this causes the ECU (engine control unit) to react by injecting more fuel, which with more air means a bigger bang, and more power.

But how does the turbo do this? It works by compressing the air before it enters the combustion chamber, forcing more into the engine. As the exhaust gasses leave the engine, they pass through the turbo and spin up the exhaust turbine.

This turbine drives a connecting shaft which spins a compressor wheel. The compressor wheel sucks in air through the air intake at the top of the turbo, and compresses it within the compressor housing, increasing the speed at which the air enters the intake manifold.

As you probably know, turbo charging technology plays a crucial role in any World Rally Car, by allowing relatively small engines to produce substantial power. For example; the WRC2008 produces around two and a half times the amount of torque of a roadgoing Impreza STI. This means that, in spite of the power output of Subaru’s two-litre boxer engine being capped at 300bhp by FIA regulations, the latest rally Impreza is still able to accelerate to 60mph from standstill in under three seconds even on gravel.

To put all this into perspective, a performance road car turbo produces around 20psi (1.3bar) of boost pressure, and a standard turbo between 10 - 15psi (around 0.8bar). By contrast, the turbo on the Impreza WRC2008 produces up to a monstrous 60psi (4bar) of boost, and this is where the performance comes from.

Whilst incredibly impressive, it helps to bear in mind that the engine alone is worth around three times the cost of a new Subaru Impreza WRX STI, and the cost of the turbo itself is more than enough to buy yourself a Subaru Justy!

But don’t go raiding your bank just yet; even if you are willing to spend the cost of a small hatchback on a single turbo, they are supplied specially to the Subaru World Rally team by Japanese manufacturer IHI. Operating at a temperature of 1000 degrees Celsius, they would also readily melt most of your engine bay, battery, fuse box and all!

Luke Thomson for swrt.com

Last update: 16-07-2008 13:54

FHI, New Prototype Electric Vehicle, at the G8

By subaru.com, on 27-06-2008 00:00

Favoured : 43

Published in : Tech, Powerplant

Tokyo, June 27, 2008 – Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the maker of Subaru automobiles, today announced the successful development of its Subaru Plug-in STELLA Concept model, a prototype electric vehicle (EV). FHI will provide five units of the Plug-in STELLA Concept for use at the Hokkaido Toyako Summit to be held July 7 through 9, 2008.

Four of the five will be used to transport government officials and other participants at the summit, while one vehicle will be displayed at the Environmental Showcase, an exhibition and demonstration area in the International Media Center, and it will also be available for test drives.

In addition, FHI will provide one STELLA Concept model to the Japan Post group for use in mail collection and delivery in the vicinity of Toyako during the summit.

The Subaru Plug-in STELLA Concept combines the EV system employed in the R1e, (which recently debuted in the U.S. at the New York International Auto Show), with the mini car, Subaru STELLA. The resulting vehicle represents an optimized model that features STELLA’s compact packaging and superb utility.

FHI plans to use the Plug-in STELLA Concept in the development and test-marketing of the next generation of EV in Japan in the near future.

FHI jointly developed the Subaru R1e with Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. (TEPCO), a leading utility in Japan, and the vehicle’s performance has been tested since June 2006. 40 units of the R1e model, equipped with lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries, have been used by TEPCO as part of its corporate fleet and by the Kanagawa Prefectural Government, providing performance results that further advance FHI’s EV development work. Such data collected under real-world conditions has helped FHI refine the concept of the next-generation EV and make further improvements in convenience and comfort under everyday driving situations.

FHI has placed emphasis on its mission to pursue the perfect integration of a pleasant and reliable driving with environmental considerations. While seamlessly improving the power units design and introducing such cleaner engines as the Horizontally-Opposed diesel engine in Europe (available since March 2008), the company has positioned EVs as another viable solution for environmental preservation, and it plans to accelerate its EV development work.

About Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of nearly 600 dealers across the United States. Subaru makes the best-selling All-Wheel Drive car sold in America based on R.L. Polk & Co. new vehicle retail registration statistics calendar year-end 2005. For additional information visit www.subaru.com.

Last update: 29-07-2008 11:11

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