Subaru XT: Пішіндің және сипаттамасы

The Subaru XT is a two door, front or all wheel drive, four passenger 2+2 coupé

The XT was conceived in the United States for the US market, and debuted globally in the US. followed by its Japanese debut in June 1985. in contrast to Subaru's other offerings. Though derived from earlier Subaru's, it was less overtly practical or commodious. The 2.7 litre flat six engine exceeded 2000 cc in the Japanese Domestic Market, thereby exceeding government engine displacement regulations, and incurring higher annual road tax.

Subaru's trademark boxer engine with its flat, horizontally opposed cylinder configuration, enabled the bodywork's pronounced wedge shape, and extensive wind tunnel testing further lowered the XT's coefficient of drag. Pop up headlights contributed to the wedge shape, and rectractable button like flaps allowed opening the door while keeping the handles flush with their adjacent bodywork. The XT used a single 22 inch windshield wiper which tucked under the hood when not in use, and rubber spoilers ahead of each wheel opening settled the airflow past the tires and wheels, while doubling as "mud guards." The result was one of the most aerodynamic production cars of its time with a coefficient of drag of 0.29, improved fuel economy, and a quieter ride due to reduced wind noise.

The XT was launched initially as the XT in North America, Alcyone in Japan and Vortex in Australia and New Zealand. The pre facelift XT was only powered by an H4 and was produced from 1985 to 1987.

Like other Subaru models of the same vintage, the North American market XT was sold in four models: the base model XT DL, the better equipped XT GL, the top of the range FWD XT GL 10 Turbo and 4WD XT GL 10 Turbo Traction. Many of the options mentioned above were available only on the GL 10 models. In Japan it was only available as 2 turbocharged models: the Alcyone 4WD VR Turbo, and the Alcyone FF VS Turbo. Australia and New Zealand also got 2 models, the turbocharged Vortex Turbo and the non turbocharged Vortex XT. Initially the Vortex was only available as the non turbocharged manual Vortex XT, but the turbo version and automatic gearbox came the following year. European markets generally only received the XT Turbo and the XT Turbo 4WD (XT Turbo Allrad in Germany), where the car was sold in small numbers as a halo model.

Model NameEngineTransmissionDrivetrainMarketXT Coupe DLEA 82 1781 cc H45 sp. M/TFWD USDMXT Coupe GLEA 82 1781 cc H45 sp. M/T
3 sp. A/TFWDXT Coupe GL 10 TurboEA 82T 1781 cc turbocharged H45 sp. M/T
3 sp. A/TFWDXT Coupe GL 10 Turbo Traction EA 82T 1781 cc turbocharged H45 sp. M/T
3 sp. A/T"On Demand" 4WDAlcyone FF VS TurboEA 82T 1781 cc turbocharged H45 sp. M/T
3 sp. A/TFWDJDMAlcyone 4WD VR TurboEA 82T 1781 cc turbocharged H45 sp. M/T
3 sp. A/T"On Demand" 4WDXT TurboEA 82T 1781 cc turbocharged H45 sp. M/TFWDEUDMXT 4WD TurboEA 82T 1781 cc turbocharged H45 sp. M/T
3 sp. A/T"On Demand" 4WDVortex XTEA 82 1781 cc H45 sp. M/TFWDANZDMVortex XT 4WD TurboEA 82T 1781 cc turbocharged H45 sp. M/T
3 sp. A/T"On Demand" 4WD

The XT received a minor update in 1987 for the second half of the 1987 model year roughly corresponding to the 1988 launch of the XT6, a new 6 cylinder model. Where earlier models featured bumper mounted reverse lights, 19871/2 up models had the reverse lights in the center taillight panel. The front and rear bumpers were also redesigned. In Japan, the original bumpers were used for the VS and VR while the VX received the new facelift. In the US, all new models received the facelifted bumpers. All wheel drive turbo and six cylinder models were distinguished by their headrests; base models had solid headrests, where the turbo AWD and six cylinder models had a large rectangular hole through the center.

In North America the updated XT was sold in 2 models: The base 4 cylinder model GL, and the new 6 cylinder model XT6. The turbo models were dropped from the North American market after the update. In Japan, the updated XT was sold in 3 models: The turbocharged FWD VS, the turbocharged 4WD VR, and the new 6 cylinder 4WD Alcyone VX. In New Zealand, the new 6 cylinder model was marketed as the Vortex ZZ6. However, virtually none were sold due to New Zealand's fuel options were 91 octane unleaded fuel or 96 octane leaded fuel while the ER27 required 96 octane unleaded petrol. There are only two NZ new 6 cylinder Vortex's left registered today according to NZTA fleet data. In Japan, the part time 4WD system was replaced entirely by the new full time 4WD system. In the US, the XT6 was available in either FWD or with the new full time 4WD system while the XT GL was available with either FWD or the old "On Demand" 4WD.

The XT6 was fitted with a unique Cybrid adaptive electrohydraulic steering system that changed the level of assistance based on the vehicle's speed. This system did not use a conventional belt driven power steering pump, freeing up much needed space in the XT6's already cramped engine bay. The Cybrid system also uses hydraulic fluid that is incompatible with conventional power steering fluid (which is usually automatic transmission fluid). This fluid is still available directly from Subaru at a significant premium over more common types of hydraulic fluid. The XT6 has two electric fans to also help performance, compared to one electric fan and one belt driven fan on all other XTs. With these changes, the XT6 was given a higher amp alternator. The XT6 was not available with the digital instrument cluster of the turbo XT models.

A special "30th Anniversary" version of the Alcyone VX was produced in 1988, limited to 30 units. This version had a white and gold paint job with "30th Anniversary" side decals and a red interior. 2 prototype versions of the Alcyone VX were made in Japan for the 27th Tokyo Motor Show. The "Junko Shimada" was one that included a full black paintjob with black smooth wheel caps and a bright red leather interior, designed by Japanese fashion designer, Junko Shimada. The other was the "FICCE Special" which was a convertible version of the Alcyone with special hubcaps and interior graphics designed by Yoshiyuki Konishi. The FICCE is allegedly sitting in the Ibaraki Prefecture in need of restoration.

Overall production of the XT remained low throughout its lifespan. Although the fuel crisis of the late 1970s and ever tightening emissions regulations had severely limited power figures from all manufacturers in the mid 1980s, the XT's paltry wasn't enough to attract serious attention from the automotive racing crowd. One of Subaru's ads from the 1980s read, The kind of car Mercedes might have built if they were a little more frugal and a lot more inventive. The car's extra features, which certainly had some novelty appeal, were uncharacteristic of this class of car and may not have contributed much to the XT's sales. In the 1980s, consumers with surplus cash in search of a better equipped vehicle did not generally start shopping at Subaru. Subaru produced 98,918 XTs, XT6s, and Alcyone's. Surprisingly, only 8,170 of these were sold in the Japanese market. While the XT was an interesting design exercise, it did little to grow Subaru's sales. The company has seen much more widespread success in the significantly more mainstream Legacy, Legacy Outback and Impreza WRX models introduced in recent years. The Subaru XT Turbo was the official car for the Most Valuable Player for Super Bowl XXII presented by SPORT magazine in 1988, eventually won by Washington Redskins quarterback Doug Williams, and The Subaru XT6 was the official car for the Most Valuable Player for Super Bowl XXIII in 1989, eventually won by San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice.

The XT was almost never officially used for racing. One exception is the 1985 Wynn's Safari Australia where one XT competed, however it received damage and was not able to finish.