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Time to read 8 min
There was a time when automobiles were more categorized than they are today. It's not that today's average is without predetermined needs or a certain goal in which the vehicle's design would help them achieve, but consumers of an earlier time would more often than not walk into a car dealership to purchase a vehicle that would serve a specific purpose. If an individual was young, single and only needed a vehicle for basic transportation or to support some level of status, they could purchase a sedan or coupe that had enough room for themselves, a passenger, storage to carry the basic necessities while going to work, school, traveling for a holiday, or just motoring around town on the weekends. In those days, if the consumer lived in a region that had environmental challenges that come with winter weather or rural terrain, they would add specific accessories to the car to make it more suitable to function properly under these conditions. Those who were employed in the trades may choose a more rugged design, like a pickup truck, van, or jeep style vehicle that came factory-equipped with heavy duty frame work, an engineered suspension, and possibly, a more robust transmission and drivetrain which can move them through obstacles and difficulty related to their daily responsibilities more effectively than the average car. Either way, the concept of owning a vehicle that is engineered to take on a plethora of situations whether they be during the daily drive, stressful tasks, or extreme conditions was stuff of science fiction. Far past is a time when there was a huge gap between a consumer who wanted and/or needed a vehicle to just get them to point "A" and point "B". Today's market is filled with options that have redefined and expanded the automobile's standard rear, front, two and four wheel drive categories, and launched innovations that we would have never imagined possibly in those early days.
One amazing step has been the development of All-Wheel Drive, something that our favorite brand has been pioneering and dominating for decades. The development of smart technology that can enhance the overall driving capabilities of any vehicle style not only to stabilize in bad conditions, but increase performance under the best and most incredible challenges has not only changed the industry, but also has pushed the boundaries of the future. Throughout the years, consumers from every background, region, and profession have grown to appreciate the ability to have full control of a vehicle under all conditions, whether they are driving to work, racing down a track, or barreling down a trail. The four-wheel equipped vehicle, most commonly the truck or jeep, has its place but generally has to deal with a specialized task at hand without the convenience of intelligent technology to make it versatile and flexible for all drivers in all conditions. Looking back into history, we will realize that Subaru actually brought the first Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive System (SAWD) into the light in 1972. Per the carmaker, the technology was introduced as a "part-time mechanical four-wheel drive system", a pioneering option for the first-generation Subaru Leone Wagon. Fast forwarding 14 years into the future, Subaru continued innovations at full throttle with the first full-time SAWD system offered in the 1986 automatic non-turbocharged Subaru XT. They accelerated into 1991 with Variable Torque Distribution (VTD) and added Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) seven years later, giving the vehicle more accurate control of its AWD system. Today we see Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive System as a household term and a familiar technology that is now incorporated with VDC, ABS, and traction control to enhance handling for all types of driving, conditions, and levels of performance as more sophisticated details of want and need came from the auto consumer across the drawing table into the lap of the auto industry.
As this technology has become more commonplace, and, in some aspects, taken for granted, many consumers and possibly some inexperienced enthusiasts may not completely understand what differentiates the drive systems offered by assorted manufacturers in comparison to what has been developed and improved throughout the history of the Subaru brand. Not all systems are created equal. The AWD system was engineered to creatively and efficiently utilize front, rear, and center differentials (the components that allows wheels on the same axle to spin at different rates) and allow the equipped vehicle - car, truck, or SUV - to provide constant, specific, and varied amounts of power to each and every wheel directly with intelligent result. This gives any driver a very important and critical feature when the vehicle is confronted with moments of slippage and lack of control. The intelligence of this development is truly exposed when you realize that the AWD system uses sensors to smartly detect when specific wheels on the vehicle need a distribution of power when appropriate traction and proper amounts of grip are required to keep the vehicle stable. Offered in two categories, either full-time AWD, when their is constant monitoring of traction needs with power and torque delivered to all four wheels always, or part-time AWD, when the system switches deployment of power to front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive, basically giving power and torque to either the front or rear axle when sensors detect a need for more traction. Those who have immersed themselves in the Subaru culture and have grown to develop both an appreciation for the brands innovations and unique development know that since the technologies injection into the Subaru XT back in 1986, most platforms they have released (excluding the rear wheel drive BRZ) since that early period are built with an SAWD system, proving both the impact and success of their innovative efforts and how much the consumer focus has changed in four decades.
Subaru's design of a symmetrical configuration functioning in concert with a flat, boxer engine with its transmission balanced atop the front axle both enhances and elevates performance for all types of driving, but also delivers a well-conceived formula of weight distribution alongside a lower center of gravity. To the enthusiast or the average consumer driver behind the Subaru wheel, this improves the overall driving experience including stabilized handling and profound steering capabilities. Historically, there have been a number of variants of the AWD system developed by Subaru over the years. For example, as we mentioned, with it first officially and commercially released in 1987, the Subaru XT of that year was equipped with an active torque split all-wheel-drive variant which incorporates a multi-plate transfer clutch that was controlled electronically and designed to distribute torque with a 60% front to 40% rear ratio by default. Per Subaru’s design and engineering specifications,”the system’s torque distribution is adjusted up to a 50:50 split in real time with input from the throttle, transmission, engine control unit and wheel speed sensors. Active torque split AWD is paired with 4-speed automatic transmissions and Subaru's chain-driven Lineartronic continuously variable transmission.” With the release of Subaru’s SVX in 1991, another system variant, the Variable Torque Distribution (VTD) all-wheel-drive, provides a normal torque split of 36% to the front, and 64% to the rear, with future versions of distribution to split the torque from 45% to the front, and 55% to the rear. Again, as Subaru clarified within its specifications, “Rear biased torque distribution reduces understeer, which occurs in AWD vehicles. Variable Torque Distribution AWD uses a multi-plate clutch in conjunction with planetary gears in the center differential and a viscous coupling rear differential to distribute torque up to a 50:50 ratio.” If we focus our attention to manual transmissions, the Viscous Center Differential (VCD) all-wheel-drive variant comes into play on some Subaru vehicles where it is specifically engineered to distribute torque evenly between the front and rear axles by default. Lastly, the Multi-mode Driver Control Centre Differential all-wheel-drive system, available only on the Subaru WRX STI , was specified by the car maker to use “a torque sensing mechanical Limited Slip Differential (LSD) with an Electronic LSD to distribute torque with a 41% front and 59% rear split.” The pioneering design behind Subaru’s Multi-mode system is the ability to operate in both automatic or manual mode allowing the driver to adjust the lockup of the system's center differential as required. Using history, proven innovation, and customer satisfaction all as confirmations why this brand has continued to be an impactful force in the industry, it should be understood by enthusiast and observer alike that Subaru's SAWD has a reputation for being one of the best AWD systems available in the modern automotive marketplace.
We know that reading about how Subaru changed the game with their SAWD system is inspiring and makes you think about your own vehicle.
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We hope this article has been informative, interesting, and has helped you gain a better understanding of the Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive System and the long history behind its success. Remember, no matter if you choose to pursue a more exciting, dynamic daily drive, a more exhilarating weekend on the track, or a more aggressive adventure overland and in the wild the team here at Subimods will continue to provide innovations and products that take your chosen Subaru platform to new levels of performance.
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Bryon Turcotte - Managing Editor/Writer
Turcotte has worked as a writer, journalist, and digital content developer for 30 years. He began his career in music journalism in 1995 then worked for several years as both a staff writer, managing editor, and a freelancer for both regional and national music publications. Over the next three decades his contributions extended beyond the music industry as he served within the realms of higher education, science and technology, manufacturing, and finance. He has been serving as a content developer and writer on the Subimods Marketing team since August 2023.
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