Subaru is celebrating a milestone birthday: the Japanese brand has been using all-wheel drive for 50 years now. The Leone 4WD Station Wagon, the world's first all-wheel drive mass-produced passenger car, was launched in September 1972. Today, around 21 million Subaru vehicles worldwide rely on the additional traction and safety offered by four-wheel drive.
Very high proportion of all-wheel drive
At 98 percent, almost every vehicle developed and sold by Subaru has all-wheel drive: the so-called "Symmetrical AWD" is combined with a flat and compact boxer engine, resulting in an almost symmetrical arrangement of all important drive components - from the engine, transmission and final drive to the rear differential.
The result: a low center of gravity and balanced weight distribution, which, combined with the permanent power of the four wheels, ensures maximum stability and traction as well as excellent handling even in adverse weather and road conditions. In addition, a smoother flow of power is created, free from distortion and interference, which contributes to the high reliability and balanced, neutral and controllable handling of all Subaru models.
Continuous further development
"As one of the core technologies underpinning our commitment to safety and driving enjoyment, Subaru's all-wheel drive system has been continuously developed over half a century," explains Tomomi Nakamura, President and CEO of Subaru Corporation. "As we move into the era of electrification, we will continue to refine our long-cultivated all-wheel drive capabilities and continue to emphasize the Subaru difference in terms of stability, driving dynamics and handling."
The all-wheel drive technology is already being used in the electrified model variants with the e-Boxer mild hybrid system: the combination with a directly responding, fast-reacting electric motor enables even more precise all-wheel drive control, which further enhances the already great feeling of safety - on slippery roads as well as on uneven surfaces.
The all-electric Subaru Solterra also comes with all-wheel drive as standard, which makes use of the company's many years of expertise. An 80 kW/109 hp electric motor is used on both the front and rear axles, developing a maximum torque of 169 Nm right from the start. In combination with the dual all-wheel drive assistance system X-Mode, the best traction is guaranteed on any terrain.
