FHI is going diesel, as predicted!

[Huffer]

Subaru develops horizontally opposed Turbo Diesel engine

http://www.gizmag.com/go/6235/

September 29, 2006

Subaru Europe President Hiroyuki Ikeda dropped an unexpected announcement in his Paris motor show speech when he mentioned that the company was working on a SubaruBoxer Turbo Diesel and that development is nearly complete.

The horizontally opposed engine layout made famous by Volkswagen has long been favoured by Subaru and has been the mainstay of its fleet for more than three decades with its latest effort winning first place in the 2.5-liter class of the International Engine of the Year Awards. Though it’s logical that the company would develop the world’s first horizontally opposed diesel engine, there are many technical difficulties to overcome, so it was by no means regarded as a given. Anyway, we have the drawings in high res and we suspect it’ll be a beauty.

The superb rotational balance of the horizontally-opposed engine allows low vibration because the pistons counteract each other to cancel it out. Moreover, with its firmly supported crankshaft, the crankcase construction is strong enough to resist huge combustion pressure. The horizontally-opposed engine’s character is proving an excellent match for a diesel engine.

Ikeda said, “the adoption of a thin journal for the crankshaft and turbo charger placed under the cylinder block enhances all the advantages of the Boxer Engine, which are a low center of gravity, lowvibration, high rigidity and compactness.”

Ikeda said he anticipated unveiling the Subaru Boxer Turbo Diesel engine next year at Geneva Motor Show.

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[shazapple]

This should be interesting!

[Wiscon_Mark]

Images aren't working.

But a Subaru with good mileage?! :grin:

[Jonathan]

Diesels are very popular in the European countries, where Subaru doesn't have an especially large volume of sales. Getting a diesel motor is therefore crutial in obtaining a significant market penetration with in the Eurpean community, imho.

While there have been a few semi-succesfull diesel cars in the US from Volkswagan, Mercedes and a very small number of Volvos and at one time that French Piggie car (Peugeot ?), main stream America has never really been sold on the diesel for passenger cars. Given the high sulpher content of American diesel fuel, I do not expect this market to evolve much in the next five to ten years.

In America, I think hybrid technology for slow-moving over-crowded urban areas and "displacement on demand" systems for rural highway commuting are both likely to become much more popular technologies than the diesel in the short term.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Actually, diesel tech. has really advanced in the last couple years, with advancements in performance (turbodiesels actually mean quick!) and a lot less emissions. I forget exactly what they do to the exhaust system, but they're getting a lot less emissions now. Mercedes-Benz is coming out with their new designs in the US very soon (08 I think?).