Subaru B9 Scrambler

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    When mention is made of ‘Subaru’, the first thing that comes to enthusiasts’ minds is WRX – the model which made Fuji Heavy Industries (the company which makes Subarus) the first Japanese carmaker to win the WRC crown three years in a row (1995 – 1997). Older people, less into motorsports, would know Subaru as a manufacturer noted for its all-wheel drive (AWD) systems and more uniquely, its flat-four boxer-type engines which it has refined over the decades.

    Now, like many Japanese carmakers, the company is looking at using hybrid powerplants in future which will also have AWD and Boxer engine because these are key elements in its DNA. An advanced concept which is being developed is the Sequential Series Hybrid Electric Vehicle (SSHEV) system which is used in the B9 Scrambler, a prototype displayed at the 2003 Tokyo Motorshow. The SSHEV system is claimed to offer ‘jet-smooth yet awesome acceleration’ as well as low fuel consumption and ultra-low toxic exhaust emissions.

    The SSHEV system, like other hybrid powerplants, has two parts – a high-performance electric motor and a 2-litre horizontally-opposed 4-cylinder SOHC petrol engine. Up to speeds of 80 km/h, only the electric motor is used to propel the car; for higher speeds or when going up slopes or when stronger acceleration is required, the petrol engine joins in to boost output for extra performance. A lot of work went into the management system which is highly intelligent to ensure optimum use of the two power units for the best fuel efficiency and lowest emissions.

    The all-important battery is a NLE battery which is a compound manganese lithium-ion battery pack for automobile applications. Its laminated electrode, insulator construction and special cell electrode are said to offer better energy density and power density than the nickel-hydride batteries used in some other hybrid vehicles. The NLE battery has low energy loss (from self-discharging) so it can be kept light and compactly sized.

    It has been possible to mate the 100 kW electric motor within the overall AWD drivetrain concept without having excessive dimensions, allowing the Scrambler to offer the same sort of driving qualities as a Forester or Legacy. The secret is in the use of a 2-way clutch between the motor and the petrol engine which determines power flows. This clutch can enable the 101 kW (140 ps)/186 Nm petrol engine to run exclusively for sporty driving, or allow the electric motor and engine to run concurrently for maximum performance.

    ADA – Active Driving Assist – is also provided in the Scrambler and this system uses Sensor Fusion technology in conjunction with a stereo camera with a milliwave radar that provide imagery of the road ahead. The stereo camera systems (which consist of two small CCD cameras which enable perspective to also be captured) are mounted on the upper part of the windscreen and also at both ends of the rear numberplate. The milliwave radar unit, tucked behind the front grille, gets an accurate measurement of the vehicles ahead in any weather conditions.

    With all these features, ADA can make driving safer because of the ability to detect as well as analyse impending actions of other vehicles. Its coverage is not only forward but also at the rear and sides. It can also manage the cruise control system so that the Scrambler will be kept at a safe distance from the vehicle ahead at all times.

     

    The styling of the Scrambler was largely the work of Andreas Zapatinas, a 45-year old Greek who is the Chief Designer for Subaru Advanced Design. He has taken ideas from the B11S concept car (shown in Geneva earlier this year) and shows how the ‘face’ of Subaru is likely to evolve.

    The styling exercise was not constrained by tyre sizes, pre-conceived body dimensions and other limitations but Zapatinas has managed to merge an advanced look with familiar cues. There is something akin to an air intake and wing motif, both of which serve to remind that the company started off as an aircraft manufacturer. Large 19-inch wheels are also fitted but the car can have its ground clearance varied between 150 mm and 200 mm by air suspension. The 2-seat cockpit has a slightly retro look to some elements although the brushed aluminium trim gives a futuristic feel.

    The B9 Scrambler is design proposal which Zapatinas says provides the public with an idea of the direction Subaru is going in and is part of the process of reinforcing the Subaru brand identity. “The various essence and motives presented in the model will be eventually reflected in future production models,” he says.

     


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