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| “This
powerful, fun-to-drive engine justifies Subaru’s persistence
in boxer engines”
Nikos Kounitis, 4Wheels
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Few automotive manufacturers
have given more to the boxer engine cause than Subaru. The past
12 months alone have seen engineers from the Japanese manufacturer
introduce two brand new concepts
to the world stage that make use of the flat cylinder formation:
a 3-litre six-cylinder petrol engine, and the world’s
first boxer diesel with 150bhp.
But the 65 judges on the International Engine of the Year Awards
2008 committee have bestowed a trophy on a different flat-four
unit, and one that has triumphed in this category before. When
it replaced the 2-litre turbo in 2006, this 2,457cc engine scooped
first prize in the 2-litre to 2.5-litre category, beating BMW’s
2.5-litre straight six by two points. Fast-forward two years,
and the same
two engines are locked in battle for mid-range powertrain supremacy,
and the outcome is the same – only the winning margin
is down to
a single point.
Subaru’s victory was no doubt helped by the engine’s
boost in power when housed in the Impreza STi – from 277bhp
to 320bhp – but judges were equally impressed with the
performance of the 2.5-litre turbo in the Forester, where it
pushes out a mere 230bhp. Technology alterations made to this
engine to add to the appeal include turbine wheel and compressor
impeller shape to improve low-end and mid-range torque and improved
turbocharger and intercooler.
This DOHC four-cylinder powers the standard Impreza to 100km/h
in 5.4 seconds, and the STi reaches that point in 4.8 seconds.
Aside from the obvious performance, the engine offers impressive
fuel economy,
with EU combined cycle figures of 10.9L/100km (25.9mpg) for
the STi and 10.3L/100km (27.4mpg) for the standard Impreza.
One juror quick to praise the unit was Christophe Congrega from
L’Automobile Magazine: “A 2.5-litre boxer full of
torque and power.” |
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points |
| 1. Subaru 2.5-litre flat four Turbo (Forester,
Impreza) |
188 |
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| 2. BMW 2.5-litre 6-cylinder (Z4,
X3) |
187 |
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| 3. Honda Diesel 2.2-litre (Civic, Accord (Europe),
CR-V, FR-V) |
145 |
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| 4. Mazda 2.3-litre GDI Turbo (3MPS, 6MPS,
CX-7, MPV) |
118 |
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| 5. Peugeot-Citroën-Ford Diesel 2.2-litre
(Citroën C5, C6, C8,
Lancia Phedra, Peugeot 407, 607, 807, Citroën C-Crosser,
Land Rover Freelander, Mitsubishi Outlander, Peugeot 4007) |
107 |
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| 6. Toyota Diesel 2.2-litre D-CAT (Avensis,
Corolla Verso, RAV4,
Auris, Lexus IS220d) |
90 |
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©2008 UKIP Media & Events Ltd
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