When Subaru Killed The Ej Engine (and What Replaced It)

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When you deliberation of boxer engines pinch their flat, horizontally opposed architecture, it's apt that vintage Volkswagens specified arsenic nan original Beetle outpouring to mind. Or possibly Porsche, which named an full car after that type of engine. But Subaru's affinity for pancake engines goes backmost a way, too. In 1965, nan marque dropped its EA-52, which at 900 cubic centimeters and 55 horsepower was some smaller and little powerful than galore modern motorcycle engines.

By 1989, things had improved considerably pinch nan merchandise of nan EJ bid successful North America, which provided nan gusto down immoderate of Subaru's legendary all-wheel thrust World Rally Championship cars. For example, nan 250-plus horsepower WRX (World Rally Experimental) like this 1 that Colin McRae drove to 3 consecutive victories successful nan mid-late 1990s. Remarkably, nan EJ continued successful accumulation for longer than immoderate readers person been alive — a whopping 32 years.

Although nan 16-valve EJ motor was utilized successful aggregate Subarus, including the Forester, Outback, and Legacy, it's possibly astir associated pinch hopped-up versions for nan aforementioned WRX. So erstwhile nan past Impreza-based WRXs rolled disconnected nan assembly statement successful 2021, it was arsenic bully a clip arsenic immoderate to discontinue nan venerable EJ. The elemental truth is that it was getting progressively difficult to meet stricter emissions and substance system standards pinch specified an aged engine, nary matter nan easiness of modding that appealed to enthusiasts. 

Replacing nan hallowed EJ series was a gangly order, and initially Subaru chose nan FB family of engines, a third-generation boxer already utilized successful nan Subie lineup starting pinch nan Forester successful 2010. Specifically, nan WRX sewage the 2.4-liter FA24F. However, nan FA24's estimation was called into mobility by respective high-profile motor failures from lipid starvation nether way conditions successful Subaru's BRZ and its badge-engineered twin, Toyota's GR86.

More recently, a 4th procreation of nan boxer motor was announced: nan CB, short for "compact (or concentration) boxer." But it's nary exaggeration to opportunity that nan CB18 rollout was a debacle. A sensor malfunction successful that motor resulted successful Subaru's determination to halt accumulation and cease worldwide export of 3 models during 2022: the Forester, Outback, and Levorg. However, not earlier 54,000 vehicles had already near nan factory.

To beryllium sure, it wasn't each rainbows and unicorns complete nan EJ's agelong lifespan, either. As outlined successful Jalopnik's comprehensive guideline to Subaru engines, definite iterations are known to leak lipid for illustration crazy while others for illustration a dependable fare of caput gaskets. Still, it's an immensely celebrated motor that's prevalent not conscionable successful Subarus, but swapped into kit cars, Mazda Miatas, airplanes, and moreover motorcycles. Heck, it's for illustration a Japanese balanced of nan Chevy LS, which is precocious praise indeed.