Japanese manufacturer Subaru is blowing out the candles on the cake of its Boxer engine as it turns 50 this year.
What exactly is a 'Boxer' engine and how does it work?
The horizontally-opposed Boxer engine is different from inline or V-type engine as the pistons fire horizontally rather than vertically. The movement of the pistons is how the engine got its name as it it like a boxer throwing a punch.
The layout of the engine gives the car a lower centre of gravity which makes it more responsive. The engine also offers less vibration than inline or V-type engines, plus it's safer because in the event of a frontal crash the engine will drop below the passenger rather than go towards them in the cabin. It offers better fuel efficiency so it looks to be an attractive package.
Then and now
The Boxer engine was first used by Subaru on its 1000, a compact passenger car back in 1966 and the rest they say is history. Fast forward to 2016 and the Japanese firm have produced 16 million units and is installed in every model they offer today.
The engine is a key part of Subaru's distinctive Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system as it allows for a symmetrical layout for drivetrain which gives a balanced weight distribution and optimal performance.
Restrictions
At this point you may be asking why more brands don't use this engine if it offers clear advantages over it's more widely used counterparts. Well for starters this type of engine costs more to manufacture and they can be difficult to maintain for the owner due to its wide dimensions.
For example, a simple job like changing the spark plugs could turn into a long drawn out affair like to cause a lot of swearing. And hands covered in scratches.This is bad news when these engines will need more maintenance which is bad news for your sanity and also your wallet.
Despite this though, Subaru have made a success out of this engine so fair play to them. It's clear that drivers are willing to overlook the potential drawbacks in order to take advantage of the benefits it can offer compared to inline and V-type engines.