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Subaru XT

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The Subaru XT is a two-door, front- or all-wheel drive, four passenger 2+2 coupé manufactured and marketed by Subaru for model years 1985-1991, with a facelift in 1987. At introduction, the XT was the most aerodynamic car marketed in the US market, heavily influenced by noted designer Alex Tremulis .

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80-1020: Marketed as the Alcyone in Japan; as the Vortex in Australia and New Zealand; and as the XT (with the EA-82 four-cylinder engine) or XT6 (with the ER-27 six-cylinder engine) in North America and Europe, all XT's were assembled at Subaru's Yajima Plant in Ota , Japan. Over its single generation, production reached just over 98,000. The XT was conceived in the United States for the US market, and debuted globally in

160-438: A self-levelling suspension . In 1956 air suspension was used on EMD 's experimental Aerotrain . In the U.S., General Motors built on its World War II experience with air suspension for trucks and airplanes. It introduced air suspension as standard equipment on the new 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham . An "Air Dome" assembly at each wheel included sensors to compensate for uneven road surfaces and to automatically maintain

240-437: A 'Pneumatic Spring for Vehicles'. The design consisted of a left and right air spring longitudinally channeled nearly the length of the vehicle. The channels were concaved to receive two long pneumatic cushions. Each one was closed at one end and provided with an air valve at the other end. From 1920, Frenchman George Messier provided aftermarket pneumatic suspension systems. His own 1922-1930 Messier automobiles featured

320-492: A C-notch is then bolted or welded to the vehicle frame in order to maintain structural integrity. Specifically on pickup trucks, this process is termed "notching" because a portion (notch) of the cargo bed may also be removed, along with the wheel wells, to provide maximum axle clearance. For some, it is desirable to have the vehicle so low that the frame rests on the ground when the air bags are fully deflated. Owners generally choose between having their cars 'tuck' their wheels into

400-502: A car with lower ground clearance has different aerodynamic characteristics, automakers can use active suspension technology to improve efficiency or handling. Tesla , for instance, uses "Active Air Suspension" on the Model S and Model X to lower or raise the vehicle for aerodynamics and increased range. In 2014 the new Mercedes S-Class Coupe introduced an update to Magic Body Control, called Active Curve Tilting. This new system allows

480-501: A division of Fuji Heavy Industries . All EA series engines are of a flat-4 design, and have always been water cooled. Prior to 1966, Subaru was known for producing kei cars in Japan; for their first four-passenger model, the firm developed an air-cooled boxer engine for a prototype of the Subaru 1500 in 1960, but Fuji Heavy Industries was unable to continue development due to a shortage of funding. A new prototype front-wheel-drive car

560-617: A functioning air/oil hydropneumatic suspension , incorporating the advantages of earlier air suspension concepts, but with hydraulic fluid rather than air under pressure. Citroën replaced the conventional steel springs on the rear axle of their top-of-range model, the Traction Avant 15 Hydraulique . In 1955, the Citroën DS incorporated four wheel hydropneumatic suspension. This combined a very soft, comfortable suspension, with controlled movements, for sharp handling, together with

640-792: A level high enough to maneuver over obstacles and inconsistencies on paved surfaces. These systems generally employ small, electric or engine-driven air compressors which sometimes fill an on-board air receiver tank which stores compressed air for use in the future without delay. It is important that the tank is sized for the task and can be calculated using a specific formula involving the compressor output, standard atmospheric pressure and compressed pressure. High-pressured industrial gas bottles (such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide tanks used to store shielding gases for welding) are sometimes used in more radical air suspension setups. Either of these reservoir systems may be fully adjustable, being able to adjust each wheel's air pressure individually. This allows

720-481: 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

800-403: A manual ride height switch allows control over the suspension by the driver. The "Loading" and "Off-Road" heights are available only at speeds typically less than 35 miles per hour (56 km/h). The "Highway" setting is not available manually; it is set when the vehicle moves at over typically 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) for over 30 seconds. Unlike a mechanical spring system (where deflection

880-486: A mechanical spring, air suspension can adjust to different vehicle weights by increasing the pressure in the air bag, allowing vehicle height to be maintained at a particular value. Standard coaches also have a system called ferry lift, which raises the vehicle and increases its breakover angle . This system aids loading and unloading the coach on and off ferries due to their steep ramps and risk of grounding out, but can also be used on rough ground or on steep crests. Although

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960-498: 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, 1987 1 ⁄ 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

1040-510: A non-production prototype Stout Scarab that featured numerous innovations, including a four-wheel independent air suspension system. In 1950, Air Lift Company patented a rubber air spring that is inserted into a car's factory coil spring. The air spring expanded into the spaces in the coil spring, keeping the factory spring from fully compressing, and the vehicle from sagging. The air springs were also commonly used on NASCAR race cars for many years. In 1954, Frenchman Paul Magès developed

1120-809: A pronounced wedge shape, sharing a common "folded paper" design approach with the Type AA Subaru Leone . When introduced, the New York Times called it "the ultimate in jazzy design", in contrast to Subaru's other offerings. Though derived from earlier Subarus, 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

1200-545: A single intake manifold, and the late version for the 1983 Safari Rally, featured two downdraft Weber Carburetors, each one mounted directly over each head. The Heads and Valvetrain on the EA81S engines are different from the regular counterparts, featuring different positions for the intake and exhaust valves on the Heads, feature known usually as Reverse Valves. The EA-81T is not an official engine designation from Subaru. The "T"

1280-457: A smooth ride, and one chamber is used for a dynamic driving feeling. A solenoid valve located between each chamber and a separate electronic control unit oversees the control process. In addition, the basic minimum ground height of 148mm is divided into four stages: high, normal, low, and ultra-low according to the driving mode, driving speed, and driving environment. depending on the driving mode, driving speed, and driving environment. And it informs

1360-400: A speed alarm at 55mph, that could be activated with a separate key. 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. The 1985 XT was fitted with one of two engines: These engines shared the following equipment and specifications: The XT

1440-417: A suspension "to hold the car aloft on four gas bubbles." During World War II , the U.S. developed the air suspension for heavy aircraft in order to save weight with compact construction. Air systems were also used in heavy trucks and aircraft to attain self-levelling suspension . With adjustable air pressure, the axle height was independent of vehicle load. In 1946, American William Bushnell Stout built

1520-734: Is found on the 1988-1991 Subaru Alcyone VX (XT-6 in the United States). Created as a refined luxury engine with improved power over the EA82T, Subaru introduced the ER series engine in 1988 exclusively to be featured in the Subaru Alcyone VX. Like the EA series engines, the ER series engine featured 2-valve cylinder heads with hydraulic lash adjusters and the block shared the same bore and stroke. While recognised as bearing many similarities to

1600-518: Is largely independent of load. The developers of ECAS also designed LoadSafe, a related system to ascertain load and change in load on an LCV type vehicle fitted with air springs. The system comprises: The Multi-Chamber air suspension is a suspension capable of controlling the spring characteristics of the air suspension step by step. Multi-Chamber air suspension applicated on the Genesis G90 consists of three chambers. Three chambers are used for

1680-405: Is proportional to load), height may be varied independently from the load by altering the pressure in the air springs. The air springs were designed to provide a smooth ride, with the additional ability to raise the body of the vehicle for off-road clearance and lower it for higher-speeds road driving. Mechanical springs, for which deflection is proportional to load, cannot do this; with ECAS height

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1760-428: Is sometimes eliminated and replaced with a multiple-bar linkage. These bars are typically in a trailing arm configuration and the air spring may be situated vertically between a link bar or the axle housing and a point on the vehicle's frame. In other cases, the air bag is situated on the opposite side of the axle from the main link bars on an additional cantilever member. If the main linkage bars are oriented parallel to

1840-495: Is used informally to refer to the factory turbocharged version of EA-81 engines that are equipped with a turbocharger and multi port fuel injection . Boost pressure was 7 psi . The Subaru EA-82 engine was originally intended to be a 2.0L engine as its prototypes were, but Subaru destroked it to 1.8L for production. The EA82 was produced from 1984 to 1994. It came either with carburetor , single point fuel injection , or multi port fuel injection and hydraulic lifters. Most of

1920-802: The EA-63 block, known as the "Narrow Case EA71" then Subaru completely redesigned it to make the newer version known as "Fat Case EA71" which also led to a stroked version known as the EA81. The availability in USA for the EA71 ended in 1990 on the hatchback models. It came with a carburetor and the last editions for JDM featured throttle-body injection, found on the "Maia" editions of the third generation Subaru Leone. The engine came either with solid lifters or hydraulic lifters. This engine used twin Hitachi carburetors. There

2000-572: The Mercedes-Benz W112 platform featured an air suspension on the 300SE models. The system used a Bosch main valve with two axle valves on the front and one on the rear. These controlled a cone-shaped air spring on each wheel axle. The system maintained a constant ride height utilizing an air reservoir that was filled by a single-cylinder air compressor powered by the engine. In 1964, the Mercedes-Benz 600 used larger air springs and

2080-594: The Range Rover P38A . It was developed in the early 1990s by the company now known as Dunlop Systems and Components Ltd in Coventry, UK. ECAS provides variable-height suspension for on- and off-road applications. The five suspension heights typically offered by ECAS are (from lowest to highest in terms of height) "Loading," "Highway," "Standard," "Off-Road," and "Off-Road Extended." Height is controlled automatically based on speed and undercarriage sensors, but

2160-716: The tachometer , boost indicator, temperature and fuel gauges seen as three-dimensional graphs oriented to the quasi-horizon. The XT featured a turbocharger , computer-controlled engine and transmission, adjustable height suspension and an optional digital instrument cluster. The pneumatic with height control recalled the use of Hydropneumatic suspension by Citroën , and Mercedes-Benz . Other uncommon features included an electronic in-dash trip computer , headlight washers (XT6 only), alloy wheels featuring an inset rectangular shape, pass-through folding rear seats, racing style front seats and available push-button four-wheel drive (later changed to all-wheel drive ). The XT featured

2240-439: The whitewall tires . For 1959, Buick offered an optional "Air Ride" system on all models that combined "soft-rate" steel coil springs in the front with air springs in the rear. An optional air suspension system was available on the 1958 and 1959 Rambler Ambassadors , as well as on all American Motors "Cross Country" station wagon models. The "Air-Coil Ride" utilized an engine-driven compressor , reservoir, air bags within

2320-447: The A.S.L. motorcycle in 1909. This was unusual in having pneumatic suspension at front and rear - rear suspension being unusual in any form of motorcycle at that time. The suspension units were similar to the normal girder forks with the spring replaced by a telescopic air unit which could be pressurised to suit the rider. Production of the motorcycles ceased in 1914. On 22 January 1901 an American, William W. Humphreys, patented an idea -

2400-923: The EA series from 1966 to 1994, and were found in the Subaru FF-1 Star , the Subaru Leone , the Subaru Brat (Brumby), the Subaru Loyale , the Subaru Omega (coupé), the Subaru Vortex , the Subaru RX , and the Subaru XT (Alcyone). Works Group A/B The Subaru EA-52 engine was produced from 1966 until 1970. The Subaru EA-53 was used in the 1967 Subaru 1000 Sports Sedan, sold in Japan. It used twin carburetors. This engine

2480-472: 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. Subaru EA engine#EA-82 The Subaru EA engine is a series of automobile internal combustion engines manufactured by Subaru ,

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2560-544: The MPFI EA-82 with modified cylinder heads, lower compression pistons, and boost pressure of 7 psi A revised intake known as the "Spider" manifold was available and is seen as an early version of the EJ style intake manifold. The ER series is a flat-6 engine with a displacement of 2.7L manufactured by Subaru , a division of Fuji Heavy Industries . The ER series has aluminium engine blocks and aluminium cylinder heads. It

2640-641: The Subaru EA82 engine, there are numerous differences in design between the two engines and a large portion of parts are unique to the ER27. The oil and water pumps are unique to the ER27, sharing similar bolt patterns and design to the EA82, but being of a higher flow in both cases. The intake manifold uses a two piece design with a lower section bolting to the heads containing the coolant bridge, injectors and various vacuum lines. The upper intake manifold then bolts to

2720-461: 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

2800-943: The US. After sales began in February 1985 in the US, the XT Turbo 4WD's debuted in Europe at the March 1985 Geneva Motor Show , followed by its Japanese debut in June 1985. The XT was noted for its pronounced wedge shape, low coefficient of drag ; aviation influences from the aircraft division of parent company Fuji Heavy Industry; and its host of features, either innovative or uncommon in the XT's class — including height-adjustable pneumatic suspension, digital dash, central locking system, op-art upholstery, fold down rear seat, pod- and center console-mounted HVAC controls, advanced trip computer, and instrument cluster that tilted with adjustment of

2880-474: 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. The 1987 XT was fitted with one of 3 engines 6 cylinder models were fitted with stiffer suspension to compensate for

2960-421: 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 134 hp (100 kW) 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

3040-504: 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"

3120-462: 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,

3200-410: The air bag may be caused from debris on the road . With custom applications, improper installation may cause the air bags to rub against the vehicle's frame or other surrounding parts, damaging it. The over-extension of an air spring which is not sufficiently constrained by other suspension components, such as a shock absorber, may also lead to the premature failure of an air spring through the tearing of

3280-399: The air line that transfers the air. They are screwed into the component and for the most part push-in or push-to-fit DOT line is then inserted into the fitting. Compressor failure is primarily due to leaking air springs or air struts. The compressor will burn out trying to maintain the correct air pressure in a leaking air system. Compressor burnout may also be caused by moisture from within

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3360-422: The air lines, which must be routed to the air bags through the chassis of the vehicle, rub against a sharp edge of a chassis member or a moving suspension component, causing a hole to form. This mode of failure will typically take some time to occur after the initial installation of the system, as the integrity of a section of air line is compromised to the point of failure due to the rubbing and resultant abrasion of

3440-464: The air system coming into contact with its electronic parts. This is far more likely to occur with low specification compressors with insufficient duty cycle which are often purchased due to low cost. For redundancy in the system two compressors are often a better option. In Dryer failure the dryer, which functions to remove moisture from the air system, eventually becomes saturated and unable to perform that function. This causes moisture to build up in

3520-519: 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's interior used numerous aviation-like features, reflecting influences from the aircraft division of Subaru's parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries . The instruments featured pod-mounted controls for lighting, HVAC and wipers. The instrument panel moved with

3600-431: The arches when their air suspension is fully lowered or alternatively they can choose to go for 'fitment' which in partnership with stretched tyres sees the arch itself fit in between the tyre and rim. Air suspension is also a common suspension upgrade for those who tow or haul heavy loads with their pick-up truck, SUV, van or car. Air springs, also called "air helper springs," are placed on existing suspension components on

3680-627: The bellows, and raises the chassis from the axle. Air suspension is used in place of conventional steel springs in heavy vehicle applications such as buses and trucks , and in some passenger cars. It is widely used on semi trailers and trains (primarily passenger trains ). The purpose of air suspension is to provide a smooth, constant ride quality , but in some cases is used for sports suspension. Modern electronically controlled systems in automobiles and light trucks almost always feature self-leveling along with raising and lowering functions. Although traditionally called air bags or air bellows ,

3760-444: 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

3840-451: The car too slow. As commercial vehicles didn't have to meet the new stricter regulations, it continued to be available in the Van 1200 Standard until the end of production of the first generation Leone in 1979. The Subaru EA-65 engine was produced from 1975 to 1985 The Subaru EA-71 engine was produced in two different designs; from 1976 to 1994, originally the first design was a redesign of

3920-567: The car's height. For 1958 and 1959, the system continued on the Eldorado Brougham, and was offered as an extra cost option on other Cadillacs. In 1958, Buick introduced an optional "Air-Poised Suspension" with four cylinders of air (instead of conventional coil springs) for automatic leveling, as well as a "Bootstrap" control on the dashboard to raise the car 5.5 inches (139.7 millimetres) for use on steep ramps or rutted country roads, as well as for facilitating tire changes or to clean

4000-544: The coil springs, and a ride-height control, but the $ 99 optional system was not popular among buyers and American Motors (AMC) discontinued it for 1960. Only Cadillac continued to offer air suspension through the 1960 model year, where it was standard equipment on the Eldorado Seville , Biarritz, and Brougham. In 1960, the Borgward P 100 was the first German car with self-levelling air suspension. In 1962,

4080-420: The compressed air system also powered the brake servo. Rolls-Royce incorporated self-levelling suspension on the 1965 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow , a system built under license from Citroën . In 1975, the Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 incorporated a hydropneumatic suspension when the patents on the technology had expired. This design replaced the expensive, complex, and problematic compressed air system that

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4160-581: The correct term is air spring (although these terms are also used to describe just the rubber bellows element with its end plates). On 7 January 1901 the British engineer Archibald Sharp patented a method for making a seal allowing pneumatic or hydraulic apparatus described as a "rolling mitten seal", and on 11 January 1901 he applied for a patent for the use of the device to provide air suspension on bicycles. Further developments using this 1901 seal followed. A company called Air Springs Ltd started producing

4240-440: The driver of the garage control through the infotainment screen. The speed bump control, the hump control, the slope control, and the high-speed driving control functions are activated under the air suspension control. Air bag or air strut failure is usually caused by wet rust, due to old age, or moisture within the air system that damages it from the inside. Air ride suspension parts may fail because rubber dries out. Punctures to

4320-447: The flexible layers. Failure of an air spring may also result in complete immobilization of the vehicle, since the vehicle will rub against the ground or be too high to move. However, most modern automotive systems have overcome many of these problems. Air line failure is a failure of the tubing which connects the air bags or struts to the rest of the air system, and is typically DOT-approved nylon air brake line. This usually occurs when

4400-453: The longitudinal (driving) axis of the car, the axle housing may be constrained laterally with either a Panhard rod or Watt's linkage . In some cases, two of the link bars may be combined into a triangular shape which effectively constrains the vehicles axle laterally. Often, owners may desire to lower their vehicle to such an extent that they must cut away portions of the frame for more clearance. A reinforcement member commonly referred to as

4480-520: The lower section and is unlike the EA82 or EJ22 "spider" manifold designs in that there is no central plenum chamber. The valve timing system is belt-drive using two individual timing belts, curiously one belt uses a spring tensioner (like the EA82) whilst the other uses a hydraulic tensioner (like the EJ22 ). Both JDM and USDM versions of the ER27 used multi-point electronic fuel injection. The ER27 designation

4560-496: The material. An air line failure may also occur if a piece of road debris hits an air line and punctures or tears it, although this is unlikely to occur in normal road use. It does occur in harsh off-road conditions but it still not common if correctly installed. Air fitting failure usually occurs when they are first fitted or very rarely in use. Cheap low quality components tend to be very unreliable. Air fittings are used to connect components such as bags, valves, and solenoids to

4640-449: The need for repair. Some manipulate the sensors to set the vehicle to a particular ride height at all times by adjusting the lever ratio on the height-sensing devices, or a supplementary ECU to "fool" the system. Leaks in the system, often due to main seal wear caused by excessive duty cycle, can cause premature compressor failure. Air springs are used in bus suspensions due to a wide range of advantages over mechanical springs. Compared to

4720-479: The new heavier engine. 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

4800-483: The rear or front of the vehicle in order to increase the load capacity. One of the advantages of using air suspension as a load support enhancement is the air springs can be deflated when not towing or hauling and therefore maintaining the factory ride quality. Electronic Controlled Air Suspension (ECAS) is the name of the air suspension system installed on the Range Rover Classic in 1993 and later on

4880-421: The spring rate and damping settings of the suspension, among other changes, for their sport/track modes. The Lincoln Mark VIII had suspension settings which were linked to the memory seat system, meaning that the car would automatically adjust the suspension to individual drivers. Most air suspension designs are height adjustable , making it easier to enter the vehicle, clear bumps, or clear rough terrain. Since

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4960-609: The standard tilt-telescope steering to keep the instruments oriented to the driver, recalling the same feature on the Isuzu Piazza and the Ford Probe introduced earlier in the 1980s and the Porsche 928 in the late 1970s. The joystick-shaped shifter integrated a thumb trigger interlock for the "on-demand" four-wheel drive. Turbo models featured a quasi- artificial horizon orange backlit liquid crystal instrument display with

5040-583: The steering column. With available front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive , depending on the model year, the XT offered three trim levels, DL, GL (non-turbo, front-drive only), and GL-10 Turbo. The Alcyone nameplate derives from Alcyone , the brightest star in the Pleiades star cluster , stylized in the Subaru logo. The model was superseded by the Subaru Alcyone SVX in 1992. The XT featured

5120-470: The system and can result in damaged air springs and/or a burned out compressor. The ECAS computer can, using pre-programmed criteria to detect a fault, disable the system into "Hard Fault Mode" which lowers the vehicle to the suspension bump-stops , leaving it usable with radically reduced performance until repaired. Many enthusiasts use diagnostic devices such as laptop and hand computers running specially developed software to clear spurious faults and avoid

5200-628: The technical advancements introduced to the EA82 were utilized in the next generation Subaru EJ engine , specifically, the SOHC valvetrain, and multi-point fuel injection. The EA-82T engine was introduced in 1984 for the Third generation of Subaru Leone in the GL-10 and RX Turbo trim models plus the XT (Vortex), and later on the Subaru Leone RX Coupe models. It is a turbocharged version of

5280-845: The term ECAS was successfully trade marked. The system was first fitted to the 1993 model year Land Rover Range Rover. In 2005 the GM Hummer H2 featured an optional rear air suspension system with a dual compressor control system from Dunlop to support tire inflation for off-road applications. Vehicle marques that have used air suspension on their models include: Audi , Acura , Bentley , BMW , Cadillac , Citroën , Ford , Genesis , Hummer , Hyundai , Jaguar , Jeep , Land Rover , Lamborghini , Lexus , Lincoln , Mercedes-Benz , Mercedes--Maybach , Porsche , Ram , Rivian , Rolls-Royce , SsanYong , Subaru , Tesla , Volkswagen , Volvo , and more. Companies such as Jaguar and Porsche have introduced systems on some of their models that change

5360-656: 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 . 3-sp. A/T 3-sp. A/T 3-sp. A/T 3-sp. A/T 3-sp. A/T 3-sp. A/T 3-sp. A/T The XT received

5440-406: The underlying principle remains the same. The metal spring (coil or leaf) is removed, and an air bag, also referred to as an air spring, is inserted or fabricated to fit in the place of the factory spring. When air pressure is supplied to the air bag, the suspension can be adjusted either up or down (lifted or lowered). For vehicles with leaf spring suspension such as pickup trucks, the leaf spring

5520-519: The user to tilt the vehicle side-to-side, front-to-back, in some instances "hit a 3-wheel" (contort the vehicle so one wheel lifts up from the ground) or even "hop" the entire vehicle into the air. When a pressure reservoir is present, the flow of air or gas is commonly controlled with pneumatic solenoid valves . This allows the user to make adjustments by simply pressing a momentary-contact electric button or switch. The installation and configuration of these systems varies for different makes and models but

5600-496: The vehicle to lean up to 2.5 degrees into a turn, similar to a tilting train . The leaning is intended to counter the effect of centrifugal force on the occupants and is available only on rear-wheel drive models. Air suspension has become popular in the custom automobile culture: street rods , trucks, cars, and even motorcycles may have air springs. They are used in these applications to provide an adjustable suspension which allows vehicles to sit extremely low, yet be able rise to

5680-604: Was an unreleased EA-72 concept engine Subaru developed for use in the Japanese Market in 1989. It was essentially an EA-82 with an EA-71 crankshaft . This engine never came about as the Subaru EJ15 and EJ16 were already in development for this purpose. The Subaru EA-81 engine was produced from 1980 to 1994 and is a stroked version of the "Fat Case" EA-71 it came either with Solid Lifters or Hydraulic Lifters. This engine used twin Hitachi carburetors on

5760-421: Was available with both manual and automatic transmissions. 85-87 XT Turbos were available as either front-wheel drive or part-time four-wheel drive , while the 85-87 XT non turbo cars were only available as front-wheel-drive. The part-time four-wheel-drive system, titled "On-Demand", was selectable by a push button atop the shifter. Like other Subaru models of the same vintage, the North American market XT

5840-461: Was built with a 923 cc (56 in ) water-cooled boxer engine, which became the basis for the Subaru 1000 and the EA-52 boxer engine. The car began sales to the public starting in 1966. The EA series engines have aluminum heads with aluminum blocks. Each cylinder has two valves, one for exhaust and one for intake. They came in either an OHV pushrod or SOHC configuration. Subaru produced

5920-459: 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

6000-670: 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. 4-sp. A/T Part-time 4WD Full-time 4WD 4-sp. A/T Full-time 4WD 4-sp. A/T 4-sp. A/T 4-sp. A/T 4-sp. A/T Overall production of

6080-558: Was produced from 1971 to 1972. It is the only EA- engine with rear-facing exhaust ports. This engine used twin carburetors from Zenith-Stromberg. The Subaru EA-63 engine was produced from 1973 to 1979, although it stopped being used in US-market cars in 1976. The Subaru EA-64 engine was produced from 1973 to 1979. The engine disappeared from the sedan catalogs in September 1975, as the new emissions regulations would simply make

6160-473: 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,

6240-612: Was still used on the 600 models until 1984. Air suspension was not included in standard production American-built cars between 1960 and 1983. In 1984, Ford Motor Company incorporated a new design as a feature on the Lincoln Continental Mark VII . In 1986, Nissan installed an airbag modification to MacPherson Struts on the Cedric and Gloria . Dunlop Systems Coventry UK were also pioneers of Electronically Controlled Air Suspension (ECAS) for off-road vehicles -

6320-556: Was the first time Subaru incorporated the engine's displacement into the series name and all future engines have retained this nomenclature. Air suspension Air suspension is a type of vehicle suspension powered by an electric or engine-driven air pump or compressor . This compressor pumps the air into a flexible bellows , usually made from textile-reinforced rubber. Unlike hydropneumatic suspension , which offers many similar features, air suspension does not use pressurized liquid, but pressurized air. The air pressure inflates

6400-532: Was used in the September 1968 Japan Alpine Rally which the car won in the 1000cc engine class. The Subaru EA-61 engine was produced from 1969 to 1972. The Japanese-spec Subaru FF-1 Sport Sedan and the FF-1 Super Touring sedan used twin carburetors, with the engine designation EA-61S. It was sold in the United States only for the 1971 model year. It was also briefly available in the first Leone, only in 1100 Van specification. The Subaru EA-62 engine

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