A hallmark of most Subaru vehicles is the Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive (SAWD) system, and this year, Subaru celebrates five decades of the drivetrain layout that has enabled its models to conquer a range of driving conditions.
Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive Explained
The system made its debut as a part-time feature on Japan’s first mass-produced AWD passenger car, the Leone 4WD Estate Van, in September 1972. Since then, a total of 21 million Subaru vehicles have made their way on roads all over the world with SAWD, amounting to 98 percent of the brand’s sales. Legions of Subaru customers and fans are already familiar with the SAWD system, which distributes the torque equally between the front and rear axles. The drivetrain works in concert with the horizontally opposed or Boxer engine. This combination of balance and low center of gravity has resulted in all-weather stability and traction on practically all road surfaces.
Subaru's all-wheel drivetrain first appeared on the Leone 4WD Estate Van
The SAWD has undergone an evolution as well ever since it was made available to the market. From the original part-time mechanical setup in 1972, Subaru introduced the full-time version on the non-turbo variant of the XT in 1986 featuring active torque split, with an electronically controlled derivative debuting a year later.
Variable Torque Distribution AWD made its appearance on the Subaru SVX in 1991, accompanied by Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) in 1998 that enables all torque to be directed at a single wheel. Symmetrical AWD is currently standard issue on practically all Subaru models (except the BRZ sports car) using either a manual transmission or CVT, with the former employing a viscous limited-slip differential AWD system.
On hybrid Subaru models, the AWD system uses a highly responsive electric motor
Subaru continues to update its SAWD technology even in the age of electrification. A highly responsive electric motor allows for more precise control of the all-wheel drivetrain on hybrid e-Boxer models. Meanwhile, the release of Subaru’s first electric vehicle, the Solterra, introduces dual-motor AWD, with the benefit of instantaneous torque.
“As one of the core technologies that underpin Subaru’s commitment to safety and driving enjoyment, Subaru’s AWD system has been continuously enhanced over half a century,” said Subaru Corporation President & CEO Tomomi Nakamura. “Toward the age of electrification, we will further refine our long-cultivated AWD capability with electrification technology and continue to pursue the ‘Subaru Difference.’”
Know more about each car brand’s distinctive technologies at Philkotse.com.