Global Platform Subaru | Desjardins Subaru

For over 50 years, Subaru has been at the forefront of automotive safety, always striving to better protect occupants. It's no surprise that the manufacturer, known for a full range of award-winning vehicles for safety, raises the bar once again with the Subaru Global Platform. This cutting-edge architecture, first used on the all-new 2017 Impreza and 2018 Crosstrek, will play a crucial role in next-generation Subaru vehicles.

Superior Mechanics

The design of the Subaru Global Platform was guided by three main objectives: increase straight-line stability, reduce noise and vibration levels, and enhance driving comfort. This new architecture increases structural rigidity by 70 to 100% (depending on the models compared), incorporates significant improvements to steering and suspension systems, and allows for an even lower center of gravity, resulting in more responsive and sporty handlingfor the driver.

This design also reduces vibrations felt in the steering wheel, floor, and seats while providing a level of ride quietness that surpasses the best in its class. Finally, by using stiffer suspension mounts, the Subaru Global Platform halves body rollcompared to current models, ensuring a comfortable and controlled ride even on the roughest surfaces.

Designed for Tomorrow

Great strength is a guarantee of great safety - that's why the ultra-strong Subaru Global Platform creates an incredible level of protection. The increased structural rigidity, improvements to steering and suspension systems, and the low center of gravity all contribute to enhancing active safety levels. All these improvements come together to create a more stable driving experience and better evasive capabilities.

In terms of passive safety, the superior rigidity comes from the advanced architecture and increased use of high-strength steel plates. This allows for 40% greater impact energy absorptioncompared to current Subaru vehicles based on the previous architecture. The Subaru Global Platform has the potential to meet or even exceed anticipated collision safety standards for the year 2025.

Flexibility - To Meet Demand

The Subaru Global Platform owes its name to its great modularity, designed to adapt to all requirements, from the hatchback compact to the seven or eight-seater SUV. Such a versatile design offers numerous benefits, both for Subaru customers and the environment.

Subaru factories around the world can thus transform the assembly line to produce different models, based on the types of vehicles desired by customers. Moreover, this revolutionary design can be modified to accommodate various powertrains, ranging from our current SUBARU BOXER gasoline engines to future alternative propulsion technologies. The result is a truly versatile and eco-friendly solution, which will meet the needs of motorists for years to come.

Sophisticated Chassis: Strength and Safety, Derived from the Core

Subarus are stronger and safer than ever, thanks to constantly evolving production methods and relentless technological advancements. The starting point is the very construction of the vehicles and the quality of the materials used. The ultra-rigid frame and body are the foundation of improved performancein all respects, from driving dynamics to impact protection.

High-Performance Construction for High-Performance Results

The frame is the base on which all key elements of a vehicle are assembled. The result of many years targeting the best production standards, the Subaru reinforced arch-shaped chassis is the ideal platform to provide unmatched driver confidence. When designing this frame, Subaru engineers aimed to maximize frame strength and torsional rigidity while minimizing weight. This approach has created a sense of great solidity as well as more precise and reliable handling, especially on bumpy roads and in corners. This ultra-robust frame also allows the suspension system to work more efficiently, providing smoother behavior by isolating occupants from noise and vibrations. Furthermore, the lightweight construction achieves a better power-to-weight ratio and improved fuel efficiency.

Designed to Surpass the Industry's Most Rigorous Safety Standards

The Subaru reinforced arch-shaped chassis combines pillars, side frames, and floor cross-members into an arch structure to form an ultra-robust protective cage. This exclusive design incorporates high-strength steel to provide high impact protection and progressive crumple zones at the front that divert impact energy away from the cabin. Most notably, the B-pillar is a powerful work of art, featuring eight layers of high-tensile strength steel wrapped around an ultra-high-strength boron rod. This column is laser-cut and welded, then welded at the ends to create a uniform and incredibly strong structure. The roof also offers exceptional strength — being made of the same gauge steel as authentic samurai swords. These seemingly extreme measures ensure that the reinforced arch-shaped chassis provides a good balance between collision protection and energy dissipation control, from all directions. It is such an effective design that it has helped Subaru become the only manufacturer to receive a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) for all its models, for a sixth consecutive year (2010-2015).

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