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November 21, 2007
No Way: Subaru to Ditch AWD??
By Jen
Editor
Resulting from a push to increase the fuel mileage ratings of its fleet, Subaru of Australia is rumored to be actually considering dropping its mpg-robbing AWD driveline, as well as its 4-cylinder boxer engine, on a number of its future models. And while the news pertains to the Australian market, Automotive.com warns us not to "think for a second the same discussion hasn’t been going down in Subie’s US corporate HQ." With all the fear-mongering it’s hard not to panic, but don’t start freaking out just yet: Subaru has after all built its current reputation on all-wheel, street legal rally cars, and it isn’t about to take the teeth out of the AWD models its customers have come to know and love. If implemented, the AWD embargo will apply mostly to Subaru’s up-and-comers, including microcars and hybrids like the G4E concept currently under development.
Comments
Anonymous
Nov 22, 2007 at 3:17 am
1993 loyale 2wd 5speed repeating itself any day now would be Absolutely Perfect. the mention of no boxer engine in the lack of awd is saving nothing. Inlines suck. Keep getting the 4×4 boxer. Tiny inlines and 2wd is the very tragedy I thought Subaru conquered forever. To see it any sube (even the justy) is ashame for the name. Put a 2.5 SOHC in a 2wd and watch what legend it makes on its own.
retroman
Nov 21, 2007 at 11:02 pm
I don’t think they’ll ditch AWD across the entire fleet either and I never thought AWD actually affected mileage much. Subaru is like the Porsche of off road racing and they rely on that heritage somewhat to sell their street cars. Still though I’d like to see them utilize part time AWD like Porsche has in some of their vehicles. It allows the car to be RWD or whatever until the computer senses a traction loss in the main drive wheels and sends power to the front depending on which wheel has the most traction. A system like that can be expensive, which is probably why Porsche is the only one to use it that I’m aware of.
kap0w
Nov 21, 2007 at 9:19 pm
I don’t think anyone is implying that Subaru won’t sell AWD – it’s just that they won’t sell *exclusively* AWD, which I think is a fine decision. AWD really does reduce fuel economy and across an entire model line, that really adds up. As much as I love that sweet sweet snow handling, not everyone needs it.
Ted
Nov 21, 2007 at 6:34 pm
unless you’re offroad, FWD always gets you there. If gas leaves $3.00 USD far behind, all options are on the table for consumers.
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The specialists become extinct. The versatile survive.
Evan
Nov 21, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Wow, Guess that’s good news for Mistubishi. Bet once Subaru stops selling AWD the Evo’s will start selling like hotcakes…
I never thought that the AWD really hindered the Fuel Mileage.
Highspeedhijinks
Nov 21, 2007 at 6:19 pm
Whats that ?!?! This just in Subaru to become totally useless.