Originally Posted By: nthach
Originally Posted By: wag123
There isn't any reason why this new engine technology couldn't be adapted to Subaru's boxer engines. In fact, using this technology in Subaru's boxer could make the engines even more powerful and efficient than the other inline 4cyl engines that Toyota and Mazda manufacture.
Toyota is taking a laisez-faire approach with Subaru - instead of taking over Subaru management with drones from Toyota City, they're letting Subie do their own thing. Compared with GM's strongarming of Subaru, it's working out - at least they haven't dropped to the same F&F and cheapness as regular Toyota, Akio Toyoda and Co. is still hellbent on his Lexus-first policy at the family business. Let Toyota build their appliances and Uber rigs(Camry and Prius), Subaru might be norm-core now but they're still some redeeming value about them.
Nissan had the most impact on Subaru - and it still shows today. You'd think there would be more Denso and Aisin stuff under the hood of a modern Subie. Back in the 1980s-mid 1990s, there was commonality between the two, except for engine and chassis differences.
IMO Toyota is taking a smart approach with Subaru. Subaru is a well-run and profitable company with VERY loyal customers, their customer retention rate is the highest in the industry. They can easily sell everything they manufacture without having to resort to massive incentives. Toyota is taking a mostly hands-off approach, which is something I agree with. Why fix something that ain't broke? Toyota's purchase of controlling interest in Subaru after GM divested themselves was a MAJOR blessing for Subaru. They desperately needed some financial and technical support (after getting nothing from GM for many years) because their products needed updating (they were slowly falling behind the rest of the industry), which they have done, and VERY successfully I should add. You could begin to see the results of this in 2008 and 2009 when the rest of the auto industry was in the toilet, Subaru was the ONLY auto manufacturer that increased sales in 2008 and posted a double digit sales increase in 2009. Their sales have tripled in the last 10 years and their worldwide market share has gone from 1.15% to 3.76% during this time period. They would not been able to increase production this much without Toyota's help. I would think that Toyota must be ecstatic with this performance and is ample reason to not mess with them.
Regarding the adoption of Mazda's Skyactiv technology in Subaru engines, perhaps there is something in the Toyota/Mazda agreement that prevents this from happening, or, perhaps it is in-the-works and has not been introduced yet.
Originally Posted By: wag123
There isn't any reason why this new engine technology couldn't be adapted to Subaru's boxer engines. In fact, using this technology in Subaru's boxer could make the engines even more powerful and efficient than the other inline 4cyl engines that Toyota and Mazda manufacture.
Toyota is taking a laisez-faire approach with Subaru - instead of taking over Subaru management with drones from Toyota City, they're letting Subie do their own thing. Compared with GM's strongarming of Subaru, it's working out - at least they haven't dropped to the same F&F and cheapness as regular Toyota, Akio Toyoda and Co. is still hellbent on his Lexus-first policy at the family business. Let Toyota build their appliances and Uber rigs(Camry and Prius), Subaru might be norm-core now but they're still some redeeming value about them.
Nissan had the most impact on Subaru - and it still shows today. You'd think there would be more Denso and Aisin stuff under the hood of a modern Subie. Back in the 1980s-mid 1990s, there was commonality between the two, except for engine and chassis differences.
IMO Toyota is taking a smart approach with Subaru. Subaru is a well-run and profitable company with VERY loyal customers, their customer retention rate is the highest in the industry. They can easily sell everything they manufacture without having to resort to massive incentives. Toyota is taking a mostly hands-off approach, which is something I agree with. Why fix something that ain't broke? Toyota's purchase of controlling interest in Subaru after GM divested themselves was a MAJOR blessing for Subaru. They desperately needed some financial and technical support (after getting nothing from GM for many years) because their products needed updating (they were slowly falling behind the rest of the industry), which they have done, and VERY successfully I should add. You could begin to see the results of this in 2008 and 2009 when the rest of the auto industry was in the toilet, Subaru was the ONLY auto manufacturer that increased sales in 2008 and posted a double digit sales increase in 2009. Their sales have tripled in the last 10 years and their worldwide market share has gone from 1.15% to 3.76% during this time period. They would not been able to increase production this much without Toyota's help. I would think that Toyota must be ecstatic with this performance and is ample reason to not mess with them.
Regarding the adoption of Mazda's Skyactiv technology in Subaru engines, perhaps there is something in the Toyota/Mazda agreement that prevents this from happening, or, perhaps it is in-the-works and has not been introduced yet.
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