Vehicle Dynamics International magazine announced they elected the Subaru BRZ ‘Car of the Year’ and named FHI’s Toshio Masuda ‘Dynamicist of the Year’ for its leading role in the engineering development of the sports car. Similar awards were attributed to FHI’s alliance partner Toyota for the GT86 version and to Mr Tada, the chief engineer Mr Masuda teamed with.

The Subaru BRZ was unveiled for the first time at Tokyo motor show in December last year and presented to the European press and public at Geneva show in March this year.

Developed under the theme of ‘Pure Handling Delight’, Subaru’s new sports car is a lightweight rear-wheel drive 2+2 coupe featuring Subaru’s latest and most advanced Boxer engine.

Delighted to hear the news, Toshio Masuda, Chief General Manager of FHI Product & Portfolio Planning division explained ‘It is with great pleasure that we have received these two meaningful awards. We always want our customers to understand the high base potential of Subaru’s Boxer engine and to experience the driving confidence Subaru provides. With its lowered engine position, the BRZ achieves an ultra low center of gravity (…). The highly rigid yet lightened body and chassis deliver excellent response, stability and maneuverability. Such uniqueness provides ‘Pure Handling Delight’ (…). I would like to share the honors with all the engineers involved in the project and deeply thank all of them.’

For more information:

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/b41bd0bd#/b41bd0bd/20

http://www.vehicledynamicsinternational.com/

Tokyo, November 24, 2011 – Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the manufacturer of Subaru automobiles, today announced that its new “SUBARU XV” (XV 2.0i, LHD, European specifications) has been awarded the highest five-star rating by the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP)* for its 2011 overall safety performance test. A more comprehensive and rigorous assessment system has been implemented since 2009 by Euro NCAP which evaluates “Adult Occupant Protection”, “Child Occupant Protection”, “Pedestrian Protection” and “Safety Assist”. This five-star Euro NCAP award previously crowned newly introduced Legacy two years ago, while other Subaru vehicles have also received numerous awards for their safety performances from other authoritative bodies.

*Euro NCAP is an independent agency composed of European governments and European motoring and consumer organizations. It has been assessing new car safety performances since 1997.

Subaru further advanced its unique “ring-shaped reinforcement frame body” by optimizing the impact energy relay structure. The use of high tensile steel was also increased on the new XV. These features allow reduction in weight, higher collision safety performance to impacts from all directions, and enhanced passenger safety. In addition, airbags have been installed in the front seats, driver’s knee, and sides (torso and curtain). The above features are topped with VDC (Vehicle Dynamics Control) provided as standard on all models, making the XV an extremely safe car. FHI aims to offer “Enjoyment and Peace of Mind” through the Subaru experience, its brand statement “Confidence in Motion” at the foundation. “Enjoyment and Peace of Mind” is not possible without the crucial element of “safety”. Subaru will pursue all-around safety by continuing to advance its active, passive and pre-crash safety technologies.

• Active safety: safety enhanced by driveability and risk-avoidance technologies 
• Passive safety: safety enhanced by collision safety systems
• Pre-crash safety: safety enhanced by advanced driving assist technologies such as warning alerts and autonomous emergency braking

Tokyo, September, 13 - Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the manufacturer of Subaru automobiles, unveiled the “SUBARU BRZ PROLOGUE - BOXER Sports Car Architecture II -” at the 64th Frankfurt Motor Show. (Press day: September 13 and 14; Open to the public from September 15 through 25, 2011)

“SUBARU BRZ PROLOGUE” embodies the technology concept of the “SUBARU BRZ”, an all-new rear-wheel drive (RWD) sports car, currently under joint development with Toyota Motor Corporation. Built around Subaru’s core technology - the Horizontally-Opposed Boxer engine, a new platform was developed in order to extract the maximum performance potential required of the RWD sports car.

The architecture employs the totally new 2.0-litre Subaru Boxer engine exclusively designed for the new sports car. In addition to renewing the bore and stroke, by adopting Toyota’s direct injection and port injection technology - “D-4S”, it creates higher output and better environmental friendliness to achieve sporty properties best-suited for the new generation sports car.

SUBARU BRZ is currently under development with an ambition of Subaru and Toyota to provide driving pleasure to a wider range of customers by making full uses of both companies’ expertise, and its start of production is expected in spring 2012. Thanks to its front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout; further lowered centre of gravity; and compact and lightweight body, SUBARU BRZ delivers new ways to enjoy “Pure Handling Delight” driving experience.

Major Specifications

• Body size (Overall: Length x Width x Height): 4,200 x 1,770 x 1,270 mm
• Wheelbase: 2,570 mm
• Engine type: 2.0-litre direct injection naturally-aspirated
• four cylinder Horizontally-Opposed Boxer engine

About Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.

Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the maker of Subaru automobiles, is a leading manufacturer in Japan with a long history of technological innovations that dates back to its origin as an aircraft company. While the automotive business is a main business pillar, FHI’s Aerospace, Industrial Products and Eco Technologies divisions offer a diverse range of products from general-purpose engines, power generators, and sanitation trucks to small airplanes, crucial components for passenger aircrafts, and wind-powered electricity generating systems. Recognized internationally for its AWD (all-wheel drive) technology and Horizontally-Opposed engines in Subaru, FHI is also spearheading the development of environmentally friendly products and is committed to contributing to global environmental preservation

SUBARU EUROPE NV/SA, the European subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries, the manufacturer of Subaru Vehicles, today announced the launch of a co-branded product “Subaru by Motul 5W-30”, resulting from a pan-European partnership with MOTUL lubricant company.

SUBARU EUROPE approached MOTUL after in-house research suggested that SUBARU customers were sometimes at a loss when shopping for engine oil; the exact oil specification mentioned in Subaru car owner’s manuals was not always available off-the shelf, description of compatibility of engine oil on labels was sometimes lacking or was too technical, bottle sizes were not always matching Subaru customers’ needs and, adding to the confusion, engine oil prices could vary significantly.

To address this issue, and in line with Subaru’s commitment to provide ‘Confidence in Motion’, product reliability and peace of mind to their customers, SUBARU EUROPE set out to offer a hassle-free, customer–friendly, ‘one-fits-all’ solution helping Subaru customers across participating markets to purchase engine oil quickly and in absolute confidence.

It didn’t take long for SUBARU to nominate MOTUL as the ideal candidate partner. MOTUL is indeed supplying its products for use in SUBARU’s motorsports programmes and established itself as a highly reliable supplier of top-quality lubricants. The company has in-depth knowledge of SUBARU’s technical requirements and standards, and has contributed to position SUBARU as a global manufacturer of sporty and reliable engines. Delighted to have concluded a first partnership with MOTUL, Subaru Europe Parts and Accessories Director Atsushi Nemoto explained that MOTUL and SUBARU were sharing fundamental values : “It is not only MOTUL’s international reputation or the superior quality of their products that make them a suitable SUBARU partner, but also the way they combine customer-oriented business with loyalty and true commitment”.

Offered at a competitive price and available in 1 and 5-Litre bottles, the ‘SUBARU by MOTUL 5W-30’ engine oil will be clearly identifiable on the shelves of participating Subaru dealerships.   The simple and straightforward message featured on the label ‘Engine oil for all Subaru cars, Petrol and Diesel’ will make engine oil purchase an easier and stress-free experience, and further increase Subaru owners’ confidence and peace of mind.