Subaru unveils global platform for its next-gen vehicles

Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI), the manufacturer of Subaru automobiles, has unveiled the Subaru Global Platform, which is currently under development as the architecture to be used for all Subaru’s next-generation vehicles.

The Subaru Global Platform is part of the six initiatives to enhance the Subaru brand and in line with the ‘Prominence 2020’ mid-term management vision plan. Together with the horizontally-opposed engines, Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD), and EyeSight that represent Subaru’s core technologies, the new platform will constitute the basic foundation of the next generation of Subaru vehicles.

Marking the launch of the new concept, FHI president Yasuyuki Yoshinaga said, “This new platform represents the culmination of the know-how we have developed over many years.”

The global platform will be used in the development of all Subaru vehicles from now on, beginning with the next-generation Impreza, due to hit the market in 2016.

Targeting improved refinement

The next-generation platform is designed with the future in mind, and looks ahead to 2025. Specifically, the new platform aims to further refine Subaru’s dynamic feel in straight line stability, noise and vibration suppression, and  comfort
The new platform dramatically increases rigidity throughout the body and chassis (a 70% to 100% increase over present models) and incorporates substantial improvements to the suspension system and achieve a lower centre of gravity, bringing about highly responsive steering that allows drivers to control the vehicle precisely as they want.

An optimised frame structure and stronger joints between parts allow the new platform to improve overall torsional rigidity by 70% over present models. This distributes the resonance and distortion throughout the body, greatly reducing vibrations from the steering wheel, floor, and seats.

The new platform increases the rigidity of the suspension mounting, improving the absorption of the suspension without warping the body of the car, and providing a smooth and comfortable drive whatever the irregularities in the road surface. By mounting the rear stabiliser directly to the body, the new platform reduces the body roll of the vehicle by 50% compared to present models.

Top-notch safety

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 with the requirements of different models will strengthen the entire Subaru lineup while still allowing the company to develop models that take advantage of each model’s strengths.

The new concept allows one design concept to be adapted not only to petrol engines but also to hybrid vehicles, plug-in hybrids, electric cars, and other types of alternative power units for which demand will increase further.

Subaru says it will also become possible to produce platform components for multiple models in the same one 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 our partner companies. The new unified design concept will also make it easier for our 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 our global production system more flexible.