Subaru Alcyone SVX

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Subaru Alcyone SVX

Manufacturer	Subaru
Parent company	Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI)
Also called	Subaru SVX / Alcyone SVX
Production	1991-1997
Predecessor	Subaru Alcyone XT
Class	Sport compact
Body style	2-door coupe
Layout	FF layout / All wheel drive
Engine	3.3L 230 hp EG33 H-6
Transmission	4-speed automatic 4EAT
Wheelbase	102.8 in
Length	182.1 in
Width	69.7 in
Height	48.4 in
Similar	Toyota Supra Mitsubishi 3000GT Nissan 300ZX

The Alcyone SVX, also known in the United States as the Subaru SVX, was a mid-sized, high-performance sports-touring coupe sold by Subaru from 1991 to 1997. It was Fuji Heavy Industries first attempt to enter the luxury/performance car market.

1 History and Sales
2 Body
3 Drivetrain
4 Performance
5 Common problems
6 External links

[edit] History and Sales

Subaru introduced the SVX in the United States in July of 1991 (as a 1992 model), following up the U.S. debut with a Japanese market introduction in September of that same year. The model was designed and marketed as the replacement for their aging Alcyone XT and Alcyone XT6 coupes.

The MSRP of the base model 1992 SVX-LS was $24,445, with the top of the line model with touring package, the LS-L, listing at $28,000. By the end of its production run in 1997, the price had risen to $36,740 for the top-of-the-line LSi.

Despite its high price, sales in the United States were good; 5,280 cars for 1992 and 3,859 cars in 1993, although it is reported that Subaru intended to sell 10,000 SVXs each year. However, sales dropped significantly for the next few years before falling to just 640 units in 1997, at which point Subaru discontinued the vehicle.

Total sales of the SVX numbered 14,257 in the United States and a total of about 25,000 worldwide. 2,478 SVXs were sold in Europe (with 854 headed directly to Germany). Roughly 7,000 of all SVXs sold were right-hand drive models. [1] SVX Color availability by year in the various markets around the world can be found here: [2]

During the early 2000's, prices have stabilized, and it has become one of the more popular cars to collect from the 1990s, especially among Subarus. Many well-preserved and maintained examples are still on the road today and available at a fraction of their original price. Further information on the SVX can be found in the companion Wikicars article here: [3]| - Subaru Alcyone SVX

[edit] Body

Alcyone SVX Hood Emblem

In stark contrast to the boxy, angular XT, the SVX had curvy, almost futuristic, lines designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro of ItalDesign and an unusual, aircraft-inspired "glass-to-glass canopy" with 2-piece power side windows. The windows are split about 2/3 of the way from the bottom, with the division being parallel to the upper curve of the door frame. These half-windows are generally seen on exotic vehicles with "scissor", "gull-wing", or "butterfly" doors, such as the Lamborghini Countach, De Lorean DMC-12, and the McLaren F1. The SVXs aerodynamic shape allowed it to attain a very low drag coefficient of only .29cd.

[edit] Drivetrain

EG33, quad cam, 24 valve engine

Unlike the previous model, which had been available with either a turbocharged 4-cylinder (as XT) or a naturally-aspirated 6-cylinder (as XT6), the SVX debuted with and remained available with only one engine, the EG33 model 3.3 liter "BOXER" horizontally-opposed Flat-6 or H-6. The engine was an indirect development of the ER27 model, 2.7 liter unit that had powered the Alcyone XT6. The new 3.3 liter variant was equipped with dual overhead camshafts and 4 valves per cylinder, and had an increased compression ratio of 10.0:1, bringing power up to 230 hp (172 kW) at 5,400 rpm and 228 ft.lb (309 Nm) of torque at 4,400 rpm.

The exhaust system consisted of headpipes from each bank of cylinders with their own pre-catalytic converters, which entered a dual-inlet / single outlet main catalytic converter. A single 2.5" exhaust pipe exited the main converter and went into a resonator, and onto the main, transverse, single inlet muffler with twin exhaust tips in the bumper.

The All Wheel Drive system had a viscous, limited-slip rear differential using a 90% / 10% power split front to rear, which could transfer up to a 50% / 50% power split for maximum traction if the front wheels started to slip. This superior AWD system was offered throughout the entire production run.

In addition, a Front Wheel Drive version was offered on the SVX during the 1994-1995 model year.

[edit] Performance

Acceleration from 0-60mph was just 7.3 sec, with a 1/4 mile time of 15.4 sec. @ 92.5mph. The top speed of the 1992/1993 SVX was 154mph, while in later models (1994-1997) the top speed was electronically-governed at 143mph.

Although it was considered to be a very powerful vehicle at its debut, the SVX was heavy, weighing in at 3580 pounds (1624 kg), and was only available with the 4EAT 4-speed automatic transmission, both of which adversely affected performance. When this car first entered production, a manual transmission, capable of handling the horsepower and torque of the EG33 engine, was not available.

[edit] Common problems

Transmission failure in the early models, brake rotor warping and wheel bearing failures were all common problems with the SVX. At first glance, it is tempting to blame these failures on the weight of the car, but in actuality, these failures are mostly due to Subaru engineering errors (that in many cases Subaru fixed).

Automatic transmission failures in the early models (1992-1993) were caused by a fine screen filter installed in the transmission cooler, which was located inside the radiator. Debris from normal wear would build up and clog the screen, reducing or stopping automatic transmission fluid flow, thus killing the transmission through overheating. Subaru later corrected this by removing the screen entirely and installing a proper external filter in the automatic transmission fluid circuit to catch any debris from the transmission, before it entered the cooler.

Warped brake rotors were due mainly to poor choice of pad material (and possibly inadequate rotor ventilation).

Rear wheel bearing problems seemed to be due to either defective wheel bearing grease seals or improper bearing assembly when the car was manufactured. The 2005 WRX STI uses the same rear wheel bearing and that car weighs in at 3350 lbs., which is not much less than the SVX at 3580 lbs.

[edit] External links

SVX World Network - The most comprehensive source of information on the SVX
Subaru SVX Information Warehouse - Valuable SVXipedia and FAQs on maintenance of the SVX
Research Everything SVX - Specifications on sales, models, options, colors and prices by year
Jamsvx Subaru SVX - Detailed information on SVX history and variants in the JDM market
Subaru SVX.com
1992 SVX Technical Service Bulletins - Official factory information addressing early problems
History | Subaru Global - Subaru's official history site
History | Subaru USA - History of Subaru in America, 1968-present
Subaru VIN codes