Subaru XT

Subaru's trademark boxer engine with its flat, horizontally-opposed cylinder configuration, enabled the bodywork's pronounced wedge shape, and extensive wind tunnel testing further lowered the XT's coefficient of drag. Pop-up headlights contributed to the wedge shape, and rectractable button-like flaps allowed opening the door while keeping the handles flush with their adjacent bodywork. The XT used a single 22 inch windshield wiper which tucked under the hood when not in use, and rubber spoilers ahead of each wheel opening settled the airflow past the tires and wheels, while doubling as "mud guards." The result was one of the most aerodynamic production cars of its time with a coefficient of drag of 0.29,[4] improved fuel economy, and a quieter ride due to reduced wind noise.

The XT's interior used numerous aviation-like features, reflecting influences from the aircraft division of Subaru's parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries. The instruments featured pod-mounted controls for lighting, HVAC and wipers. The instrument panel moved with the standard tilt-telescope steering to keep the instruments oriented to the driver, recalling the same feature on the Isuzu Piazza and the Ford Probe introduced earlier in the 1980s and the Porsche 928 in the late 1970s. The joystick-shaped shifter integrated a thumb trigger interlock for the "on-demand" four-wheel drive. Turbo models featured a quasi-artificial horizon orange backlit liquid crystal instrument display with the tachometer, boost indicator, temperature and fuel gauges seen as three-dimensional graphs oriented to the quasi-horizon.

The XT featured a turbocharger, computer-controlled engine and transmission, adjustable height suspension[4] and an optional digital instrument cluster. The pneumatic with height control recalled the use of Hydropneumatic suspension by Citroën, and Mercedes-Benz. Other uncommon features included an electronic in-dash trip computer, headlight washers (XT6 only), alloy wheels featuring an inset rectangular shape, pass-through folding rear seats, racing style front seats and available push-button four-wheel drive (later changed to all-wheel drive).

The XT featured a speed alarm at 55mph, that could be activated with a separate key.[1]

The 1985 XT was fitted with one of two engines:

• EA-82: 1781 cc H4 producing 97 hp (72 kW) at 5200 rpm and 103 ft·lbf (140 Nm) at 3200 rpm (9.5:1 compression ratio).
• EA-82T: 1781 cc turbocharged H4 producing 112 hp (83 kW) at 4800 rpm and 143 ft·lbf (194 Nm) at 2800 rpm (7.5:1 compression ratio; some sources say 7.7:1.) in North American specifications. In Europe the power of the XT Turbo was 136 PS (100 kW; 134 hp); the naturally aspirated model was not sold there. Starting in 1987, power for North American cars increased to 115 hp (86 kW).

These engines shared the following equipment and specifications:

• 1,781 cc (109 cu in) displacement (92×67mm/3.62×2.63")
• Multi-port fuel injection
• Single overhead camshafts

Subaru Vortex Turbo (New Zealand)

The XT was available with both manual and automatic transmissions. 85-87 XT Turbos were available as either front-wheel drive or part-time four-wheel drive, while the 85-87 XT non turbo cars were only available as front-wheel-drive. The part-time four-wheel-drive system, titled "On-Demand", was selectable by a push button atop the shifter.

Like other Subaru models of the same vintage, the North American market XT was sold in four models: the base-model XT DL, the better-equipped XT GL, the top-of-the-range FWD XT GL-10 Turbo, and the top-of-the-range 4WD XT GL-10 Turbo-Traction. Many of the options mentioned above were available only on the GL-10 models.

In Japan it was only available as 2 turbocharged models: the Alcyone 4WD VR Turbo, and the Alcyone FF VS Turbo.

Australia and New Zealand also got 2 models, the turbocharged Vortex Turbo and the non-turbocharged Vortex XT. Initially the Vortex was only available as the non-turbocharged manual Vortex XT, but the turbo version and automatic gearbox came the following year.

European markets generally only received the XT Turbo and the XT Turbo 4WD (XT Turbo Allrad in Germany), where the car was sold in small numbers as a halo model.

Subaru XT6 ER-27

The 1987 XT was fitted with one of 3 engines

• EA-82: 1781 cc H4 producing 97 hp (72 kW) at 5200 rpm and 103 ft·lbf (140 Nm) at 3200 rpm (9.5:1 compression ratio).
• EA-82T: 1781 cc turbocharged H4 producing 115 hp (86 kW) at 4800 rpm and 143 ft·lbf (194 Nm) at 2800 rpm (7.5:1 compression ratio; some sources say 7.7:1.)
• ER-27: 2672 cc H6 producing 145 hp (108 kW; 147 PS) at 5,200 RPM and 156 ft⋅lb (212 N⋅m) at 4,000 RPM.

6 cylinder models were fitted with stiffer suspension to compensate for the new heavier engine.

Subaru XT6

In North America the updated XT was sold in 2 models: The base 4 cylinder model GL, and the new 6 cylinder model XT6. The turbo models were dropped from the North American market after the update.

In Japan, the updated XT was sold in 3 models: The turbocharged FWD VS, the turbocharged 4WD VR, and the new 6 cylinder 4WD Alcyone VX.

In New Zealand, the new 6 cylinder model was market as the Vortex ZZ6. However because New Zealand's fuel options were 91 octane unleaded fuel or 96 octane leaded fuel, it was not a viable option to sell the ZZ6 as the ER-27 required 96 octane unleaded petrol, which resulted in virtually none being sold. Despite this, there are still a few 6 cylinder Vortex's registered today according to NZTA fleet data.

In Japan, the part-time 4WD system was replaced entirely by the new full-time 4WD system. In the US, the XT6 was available in either FWD or with the new full-time 4WD system while the XT GL was available with either FWD, the new full-time 4WD or the old "On-Demand" 4WD.

The XT6 was fitted with a unique Cybrid adaptive electrohydraulic steering system that changed the level of assistance based on the vehicle's speed. This system did not use a conventional belt-driven power steering pump, freeing up much-needed space in the XT6's already cramped engine bay. The Cybrid system also uses hydraulic fluid that is incompatible with conventional power steering fluid (which is usually automatic transmission fluid). This fluid is still available directly from Subaru at a significant premium over more common types of hydraulic fluid.

The XT6 has two electric fans to also help performance, compared to one electric fan and one belt driven fan on all other XTs. With these changes, the XT6 was given a higher amp alternator.

The XT6 was not available with the digital instrument cluster of the turbo XT models.

A special "30th Anniversary" version of the Alcyone VX was produced in 1988, limited to 30 units. This version had a white and gold paint job with "30th Anniversary" side decals and a red interior.

2 prototype versions of the Alcyone VX were made in Japan for displaying at events. The "Junko Shimada" was one that included a full black paintjob with black smooth wheel caps and a bright red leather interior, designed by Japanese fashion designer, Junko Shimada. The other was the "FICCE Special" which was a convertible version of the Alcyone with special hubcaps and interior graphics designed by Yoshiyuki Konishi. The FICCE is allegedly sitting in the Ibaraki Prefecture in need of restoration.[6]