NORTH SHORE

NEWS AUTOMOTIVE

Friday. November 10, 2000 - Nerth Shore News - 35

FOR the first time, the Subaru Outback Wagon offers a six-cylinder engine. The new 3.0-litre, horizontally-opposed, six-cylinder engine has 212 horsepower, 47 more
than the standard 2.5-litre, four-cylinder engine. The 2001 Outback H6 3.0 is also available with a new Vehicle Dynamic Control system which automatically corrects
understeer and oversteer in slippery driving conditions. Test drive the H6 at Specialty Motorcars, 1235 Marine Drive, North Vancouver.

FOR 2001, the Subaru Outback
Wagon (but not the Outback sedan)
is available with a new, optional
212-horsepower, 3.0-litre, six-cylin-
der engine.
This is not the same engine used in the old
SVX sports car — it’s an all-new, smaller,
lighter six-cylinder powerplant. The new
engine has 30 per cent more horsepower and
torque than the current 2.5-litre four-cylinder
‘engine which is still the standard engine in the
Ourback and Legacy. : .
Like all Subaru engines, the new “H6” engine has horizon-
tally-opposed “boxer” cylinders rather than the more tradition-
al V arrangement or inline fayour. Subaru claims its hoxer
engines offers numerous advantages, including a lower centre
of gravity, more even weight distribution, and less noise and
vibrations. :

While Subaru enthusiasts may appreciate these
technical advantages, I’m not sure if the typi-
cal Outback buyer cares too much about the
cylinder layout — my guess is that they’re
more concerned with the number of cylinders.
Two more cylinders means more power,
refinement — and prestige.

212 horsepower

The new 3.0-litre H6 engine offers 212

horsepower at 6,000 r.p.m., up from 165

horsepower at 5,600 r.p.m. in the 2.5-litre
four-cylinder powerplant. Torque is now 210 ft.-Ib. at 4,400
p.m. compared to 166 ft.-Ib. at 4,000 r.p.m. in the four-
cylinder engine.

The H6 engine features twin overhead camshafts and four
valves per cylinder, and a new variable controlled intake mani-
fold and variable controlled exhaust system to improve torque.
Premium fuel is recommended, but the H6 will run on regular

ressive title you

: ye

fuel with a loss of about four or five horsepower.

Sophisticated AWD, anti-skid, & traction control

As before, Outbacks have a full-time four-wheel-drive sys-
tem.

This system sends about 70 per cent of the torque to the
front wheels and 30 per cent to the back wheels, but under
acceleration, it reverts to a 50/50 split for greater stability and
traction.

The Ourback H6 3.0 also includes a standard viscous limit-
ed slip rear differential which directs power to the rear wheels
with the most traction.

Outback H6 3.0 VDC models have a more sophisticated
all-wheel-drive system which includes a new automatic trans-
mission with a Variable Torque Distribution transfer clutch
(VTD) that splits power 45/55 front to rear in most condi-
tions, but can vary torque split depending on which wheels

See Fxpensive page 3

ever earn:

yf