Jalopnik
We've known about the new Subaru diesel for some time now, but we haven't had a real good walkthrough of this first-to-market boxer turbodiesel. You know, the whole shebang — specs, dimensions, power, transmissions, tricks. It's high time we rectified that. Luckily, TechOn did a sit-down with the chief engineers of the program a little while ago and got the whole kit, caboodle and whatever else goes along with it. What we came away with — other than a severe case of information overload — is that this clever little 2.0-liter horizontally-opposed four cylinder has some serious tricks up it bores.
Though perhaps a small note in the story, the engine is over 2.4 inches shorter front to back than Subarus 2.0-liter four cylinder gasoline EJ20. That's impressive considering the new block is stronger and up to 10 kg lighter than it's inline competitors.
Subie's also shifted to a fracture split bearing for the crank end of the connecting rods. What does that mean? Well, the connecting rod is forged as one unit, complete with holes at the crank bore and wrist pin ends. Machining operations clean up the surfaces and create the threaded holes for the bearing cap bolts, then the rod is scored along the split plane of the crank end bearing with a high powered laser. An expanding mandrel is then inserted and breaks the end of the rod in a controlled manner inline with that laser etching. The rough surface remains and acts to positively locate the connecting rod cap in space without any fancy machining.
Fuel is delivered through a positively massive high pressure fuel rail operating at around 26,000 PSI. The actual injection is handled by Denso developed units and are based on solenoid technology. Subaru has indicated the next generation may utilize Piezo injectors, and thus operate at even higher pressures for the next level of emissions regulations. For a little fresh air to go with that fuel, the turbo is a variable nozzle geometry unit mounted close to the manifold to reduce turbo lag and can spin all the way up to 190,000 RPM. There was a bunch of other stuff having to do with emissions and all that good stuff, but thats boring, so go read that yourself if you like.
Interestingly, the engine is only currently planned with a 5 speed manual — with taller gears due to the high torque available. Speaking of power, lets remember this thing is planned currently to put out 147 HP at 3600 RPM and 258 lb.ft. at 1800 RPM. We're not what you'd call experts, but thats a pretty healthy bite of grunt down low. With the inherently smooth operation of the boxer design, and the apparently compact and relatively lightweight design, this seems like a winner without consequence. Though it's widely anticipated this engine will eventually make from Europe to the US, nothing has been confirmed yet, but we can only hope. [TechOn]
Comments
I stumbled across this a few days ago, but I thought it was old news. Guess I should have sent it in?
But I think I'm gonna wait to see if it can hold up to 51 lbs of boost to pass judgment.
The specs are very similar to the VW 2.0tdi CRD coming to dealers this summer. I can't wait to see how the two perform head-to-head. And whether those high-pressure injections can handle B20 biodiesel (or better) so I can start making my own.
I can has AWD + Diesel in the same car?
Please!
For years, my ultimate dream do anything vehicle has been a 4-motion Passat Wagon TDI, but I'll settle for an Outback Wagon Diesel.
45 MPG hoonage FTW!
Is this what they are putting in the toyota/subaru secretary car thing? Sweet!
I don't know about buying the first year of a new, first of its kind horizontally opposed diesel engine, but they had me at (frickin') "high powered laser" beams and such. Hells yeah.
Inherently smooth boxer...I don't know. My old Subaru, with the EJ20 engine, was hardly smooth and was pretty lumpy at idle. The Honda inline 4's rev much smoother than the Subaru boxers.
Soundwise, the boxer kills the other Japanese inline fours. I wonder what the diesel boxer sounds like...
@Placebo: It's technically first-of-kind for a car, but aircraft have experimented with boxer diesels for 60+ years.
Cessna actually just recently got a boxer 4 certified, which is the first time for a light aircraft. Previous attempts had proven too heavy (weight is 10x more important in light planes than in cars)
I want one of these so bad. I'd buy one, then run out and buy unequal length headers so it'd sound even more tractor like.
"'Boxer Turbo Diesel'. Just say it Julius. 'Boxer Turbo Diesel'. 'Boxer Turbo'.
That's alotta torque."
hell yeah, with diesel a buck more than gas, i can't wait...attach that to my already over hyped hybrid and the left wing will just buy my lunch for me for the rest of my life
Points to whomever can wedge one of these in a Brat first.
Also, perfect Vanagan Syncro motor.
I will buy another Subaru if I can have this motor.
A little extra boost (and/or a stroker/big bore), and you have a diesel-WRX, too. Hell yes.
I'll be first in line to buy one if that happens.
If.
Man, I hope the MPG offsets the price of Diesel around here. A High torque diesel, fuel effecient, AWD, WRX wagon sounds like the perfect car.
@brandegee: You made a mistake in your sentence, it should read:
Points to whomever can wedge one of these in a Justy first.
Why must Subaru continue to go with the top-mount intercooler? Maybe it's just throwing a bone to the aftermarket to give them something to replace.
@brandegee: Beat me to it.
VW discovered that their TDI motor made for lots of fun at the stoplights - big grunt off idle makes for impressive peppy New Beetles, and a whole bunch of gas stations receding in the rearview mirror.
Now bolt it into a Forester.
@saabophile2: the smoothness referred to is the fact that boxer engines typically don't require a harmonic balancer as inline and V engines do. Not the idle which is purposely set much lower than inline 4's because it can be without stalling.
some how, i think the panties of many vermont dykes are getting very very wet about right now
i bet thousands of vermount dykes are wetting their woolie panties about right now
@elwood:
Simply because of packaging. It's a flat four engine with room under the hood to put the intercooler on top of the engine without having to put one in the front. I sort of like mine out of harms way, save for the Raccoon that insists on eating bugs off the top of mine in the summer.
See below:
[img76.imageshack.us]
[img76.imageshack.us]
[img76.imageshack.us]
@Ben Wojdyla: Justy or Brat? My head asplode.
Boxer turbo diesel in the rollerskate!
@grzydj: Yeah, it's good for packaging, and I imagine with the CFD tools available for finding airflow through it, it's probably pretty effective. Still a performance compromise too, sitting right on top of the hot engine.
This is a rather spiffy engine indeed. I still wish that Subaru had a part-time AWD system, though - the fuel economy of their current lineup is not so good.
Imminent Subaru Imprezza WRX STD
I want one of these in a Forrester or an Outback- something station wagon-esque. 5-speed and AWD would be nice too. Diesel here in So Cal is about a buck more a gallon than regular, so that's what, a 25% increase? If I can get 32 combined MPG that's a 60% increase over the 20 I'm averaging now, so even with the higher cost of diesel I'd be coming out ahead. Bring it on!
@cyclopticgaze: No, no, no; it's got to go in the back of a VW. Or better yet, a 914. Now that would be totally Jalopnik.
Gotcher 35mpg SUV right here, buddy.
Whew, is it model year 2015 already?
better yet put that in a Myers Manx
@oldskoolparts: Whether you're a smug hippie, or you're smug about not being a smug hippie, you need diesel levels of smug torque to carry around your excess smug.
I'll take mine in an XT.
Fracture splitting connrods is standard practice in the industry. Bearings are not split that way, instead half-cylinder shells are inserted after the splitting.
Otherwise, the only real innovation here is marrying a boxer config to diesel combustion. Subaru had to do that because all of its vehicles are designed around the boxer concept. There are definite advantages in terms of center of gravity, pedestrian crash safety and especially, engine vibrations.
However, it's also an expensive configuration: you need four camshafts and two timing chains for a DOHC layout vs. two camshafts plus one timing chain for an inline four.
@grzydj: Looks like you need one of these:
With the petrol boxers sounding almost diesel-like, what the hell would an actual diesel boxer sound like?
@brandegee:
Also, perfect Vanagan Syncro motor.
Agreed. I think we have a new candidate for best post-apocolyptic transport, a Westie Syncro with this beasty in the ass end!
@saabophile2: Inherently smooth boxer...I don't know. My old Subaru, with the EJ20 engine, was hardly smooth and was pretty lumpy at idle.
Unless your "old Subaru" was a 2002+ WRX, or you were overseas, then you probably didn't have an EJ20. EA8x perhaps? EJ18 or EJ22 maybe.
Either way, idle quality in a boxer is a whole different animal, but compare the on-rev smoothness of a boxer to a Honda and the boxer wins evertime. Doubly so if the balance shaft and counterweight system of the Honda engine is out of whack. Ever wonder why Accords come with ECU controlled engine mounts? (Yes, ECU solenoids drive vacuum to the engine mounts to soften them up at idle)
@Hyman Decent:
Change the image macro to having a Raccoon sitting at an intercooler with a bib and napkins and silverware dining on a plate of bugs.
@smalleyxb122: It would sound like pure awesome.
Boxer-Turbo-Diesel-All-Wheel-Drive:
This thing makes me want one bad.
They can even go after Audis when they come up with Boxer-6-Turbo-Diesel-All-Wheel-Drive.
Boxer-STi-Turbo-Diesel-All-Wheel-Drive:
Now that sounds real hoontastic! Do it subie, do it now!
@saabophile2: The Honda F has a balance shaft so it is very smooth. The EJ series from Subaru do not. Even though it is a boxer engine, there is still a second order imbalance. It basically wants to twist itself while the Honda would want to move up were it not for the balance shaft.
@MikeHerbst: My bad, it was the EJ22.
Clearly waking up 6 times last night with my 2 year old is not good for posting, I forgot about balance shafts in inline engines. Got to find caffeine...
Oh, I love it so. I want to hear what this sounds like unmuffled... Glorious I assume..
Please Subaru, gimmie one in an OBS. 45 MPG, the ground clearance of a ford explorer, and that torque with AWD??
What do any of you guys know about propane injection?? I can buy propane everywhere, but Nitrous is a little hard to get, and expensive...
I am getting moist...
Call 911! Go on, admit you've thought about it: imagine updating a scrappy 911 with one of these engines. Stout underpinnings, great handling, lightweight car, torquey turbodiesel engine... Anyone else see the autocross potential here?
DSLPWR
@grzydj: So your pre-Prodrive P2 donor hasn't moved up to the squirrel-eating stage yet?
@Ben Wojdyla: or maybe an XT coupe?
In a few years time, maybe I can dream of putting one of these into my Xantia, AWD and all.
Attention Porsche...
Turbo diesel in the Boxster as a three-season commuter daily driver. I'd buy one, given the progression of oil toward $200 a barrel.
@brandegee: Check out this one:
[carscoop.blogspot.com]
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