| Warp Speed |
| Subaru SVX |
| Subaru deisgned this car with a "money is no object" mindset. Well it's no exotic but just for it's rarity can be considered one. With a boxer 6 engine and first class direct spark ignition system, 4 cams and a varible intake manifold the engine itself puts out 230 hp and 228ft lb of torque. Production runs were a short 6 years starting in 92. Having only sold 25000 in 5 years it was due for the shelves. Cost of production was high mainly due to the fact of low demand. WIth a starting price of 43k CND it's not surprising. What makes Subaru so special is their AWD drivetrain which enables the car to obtain maximum traction compared to 2 wheel drive cars. The car is however quite heavy and large for a sports car therefor it was called a sport luxury coupe. Having an italian designer flare the image, end results were the "love it or hate it" appeal. Interior and exterior design are nothing similar to any car of its days. And even now the car's futuristic styling does not blend in with the trends. Between the production years, styling was kept the same except for a few conveniences. Rear seats had split folding instead of whole, front passenger got an airbag, options of an alarm system and heated seats were included also in the the United States. Overseas the climate control got a facelift and front skirts made way for foglights. All the creature comforts of AC, leather, sunroof, 4 pwr windows all add to the hefty weight. Weight savings however can be narrowed down to composite gas tank, all aluminum engine and alloy wheels. |
| Features My first impression of the car was of the futuristic interior. After first glance and I was in love. Even today there is no production car that has such sleek roomy interior. Climate comtrol is fully automatic with sunload and interior/exterior temp sensors. Leather wrapped steering wheel shift lever and handbrakes complement the seats and faux suede trimings. Had I not read the owners manual the suede's appearance was unseemingly real. The only odd or unique feature this car offers parrellel to a Countach is the split side windows. Out of place as they look, functionality-wise they are quite usefull. While driving in the rain it reduces the chance of water coming into the interior. This is due to the front windows directing the airstream back towards the car. Wind ruffling is also reduce dramaticaly by this. 100km down the highway and the car is still quite noiseless. The SVX is still comparable to today's sport luxury coupes in comfort. And at half the price of a new car this car's high depreciation value makes it a steal. |
| Handling Having a heavy front end makes most front wheel drive cars understeer. And with the car's stock suspension spirited driving isn't so great. Accerleration however is very optimal for city and highway crusing. Having majority of the torque in low end makes for fun stop and go duties. In otherwards throttle response is excellent for a car of this proportion. Even in the wet acceleration traction is top notch. Stopping power is also very good, with minimal brake dive. Twim piston front calipers make stopping duty a simple task but with repeatitive highspeed stops the brake system would opt for an upgrade. |
| Here's a few pics from the raceway |
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