Subaru in Japan has released an overview of its Global Platform, which is under development as the architecture for all the company’s next-generation vehicles.
The Subaru Global Platform is part of the six initiatives to enhance the Subaru brand, described in the Company’s mid-term management vision, “Prominence 2020,” announced in 2014.
Together with horizontally-opposed engines, Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD), and the EyeSight® driver assist system that represent Subaru’s core technologies, the new platform will form the basic foundation of the next generation of Subaru vehicles.
The President of Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI), the maker of Subaru vehicles, Mr Yasuyuki Yoshinaga, said: “The Subaru Global Platform lifts Subaru’s automotive technology to new heights, and marks the next step in the evolution of ‘Enjoyment and Peace-of-Mind,’ the value that Subaru offers to its customers.
“This new platform represents the culmination of the know-how we have developed over many years, and we are confident that it will allow us to produce vehicles that live up to our proud traditions and meet the high expectations customers have of Subaru. We continue to work on designing ever-more attractive vehicles that offer the customer both enjoyment and peace-of-mind.”
MAIN FEATURES OF SUBARU GLOBAL PLATFORM
The next-generation platform is designed with the future in mind, looking ahead to 2025. The main features include:
The biggest overall performance evolution in Subaru’s history
1. Emotionally engaging “dynamic feel” that goes beyond high performance
2. The world’s highest levels of safety
Single design concept for development of all models, adaptable to electrification in the future
1. Emotionally engaging “dynamic feel” that goes beyond high performance
The new platform will make possible a new type of driving experience, appealing directly to the senses and offering unparalleled smoothness and comfort - all backed up by excellent performance and specifications. It will further refine Subaru’s dynamic feel in the areas of straight line stability, noise and vibration suppression, and comfort.
Straight line stability
The new platform dramatically increases rigidity throughout the body and chassis (a 70-100 per cent increase over present models) and incorporates substantial improvements to the suspension system; and achieves a lower centre of gravity, bringing about highly responsive steering that allows drivers to control the vehicle as precisely as they want. The eradication of unnecessary movement in handling produces a sense of the car gripping the road surface, achieving a ride that looks to the need for enhanced straight line stability in the autonomous vehicles of the future.
Noise and vibration suppression
Optimized frame structure and stronger joints between parts allow the new platform to improve overall torsional rigidity by 70 per cent over present models. This distributes the resonance and distortion throughout the body, greatly reducing vibrations from the steering wheel, floor, and seats. It achieves a quietness that goes beyond vehicle class.
Comfort
The new platform increases the rigidity of the suspension mounting, improving the absorption of the suspension without warping the car body, and providing a smooth and comfortable drive whatever the irregularities in the road surface. By mounting the rear suspension directly to the body, the new platform reduces body roll by 50 per cent compared to present models.
2． The world’s highest levels of safety Active safety
The new platform achieves a centre of gravity 5 mm lower than present models. Together with the major improvements in rigidity and the evolution of the suspension system, the lower centre of gravity makes a more stable driving experience than ever before, and offers outstanding danger avoidance capabilities on a level with a high-performance sports car.
Passive safety
Thanks to a frame structure that enables more efficient energy absorption in the event of collision - and the enhanced body rigidity resulting from the increased use of high-tensile steel plates including materials formed by the hot press method - impact energy absorption is improved by 40 per cent over present models. The platform anticipates further improvements in strength and new materials, and has the potential to continue to offer the world’s highest levels of collision safety even in 2025.
Single design concept for development of all models, adaptable to electrification in the future
The new platform will offer a single unified design concept for all Subaru models. Planning the main specifications of all vehicle types at one time and flexibly adjusting these basic specifications to match the requirements of different models will strengthen the entire Subaru line-up, while still allowing the company to develop models that take advantage of each model’s strengths.
The new concept allows one design to be adapted not only to petrol engines but also to hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric, and other types of alternative power units, for which demand will increase.
Development based on a single design concept makes it possible to use limited personnel and facilities efficiently, to develop a diverse range of models and to direct the resulting savings into areas that can make Subaru products more competitive.
It will also become possible to produce platform components for multiple models in the same production facility, rather than manufacturing them in different factories, as has been the case in the past. This will increase production efficiency at Subaru’s factories and at partner companies. The new unified design concept will also make it easier for Subaru’s two factories in Japan - and the Subaru of Indiana Automotive plant in the United States - to carry out bridge production of multiple different models on a single line, making global production more flexible.
The Subaru Global Platform will be used in the development of all new generation Subaru vehicles on sale from 2017 in New Zealand.
For further information, please contact Subaru of New Zealand Public Relations - Catherine Pattison (027) 4455 389 or email catherine.pattison@subaru.co.nz