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The Subaru XT, XT6, and Alcyone are sporty coupes sold from 1985 to 1991. The XT was sold in New Zealand and it and the XT6 were sold in North America and Europe. The Alcyone was sold in Japan. All were available in front wheel drive or four/all-wheel drive (depending on the year) but the all-wheel drive XT was the only model sold in NZ.
Subaru XT (1985–1991)
Subaru has earned a reputation for designing and marketing unusual vehicles—sometimes succesfully, sometimes not. The Subaru XT is no exception. First introduced in February 1985 in the United States (June 1985 in Japan), the XT was a wedged-shaped departure from the 1970s-influenced curves of the previous models, aimed directly at the heart of the 1980s. When introduced, the New York Times called it "the ultimate in jazzy design," in contrast to Subaru's older "cheap and ugly" offerings.
The model was loaded with features rarely found on small cars (turbocharging, computer-controlled engine and transmission, adjustable height suspension and an optional digital dash board) and some found on few other cars of any price (electronic in-dash trip computer, retractable flaps covering the door handles, and a single wiper blade for the entire windshield).
Drivetrain The 1985 XT was fitted with two engines: - EA82: 1781 cc flat four-cylinder producing 97 hp at 5200 rpm and 103 lb-ft at 3200 rpm (7.8:1 compression ratio*)
- EA82T: 1781 cc turbocharged flat four-cylinder producing 111 hp at 4800 rpm and 143 lb-ft at 2800 rpm (9.5:1 compression ratio)
* Some sources note a compression ratio of 7.7:1
These engines shared the following equipment and specifications:
The XT was available with both manual and automatic transmissions. Early XTs were available as either front wheel drive or part-time four wheel drive, selectable by a pushbutton atop the shifter. After the 1987 mid-model update (discussed below), the four-wheel drive was replaced with all-wheel drive.
Features and options As mentioned above, the XT was loaded with odd features. Included on all models were: - Retractable door-handle flaps
- Single front wiper blade
- Steering wheel with a single vertical and a single horizontal spoke
- Pistol-grip shifter
- Microprocessor engine and transmission management
- Steering wheel with both tilt and reach adjustment
Furthermore, some models were equipped with additional gadgets:
- Digital dashboard that tilted with the steering wheel
- Trip computer with range/fuel management facilities
- Pneumatic suspension with height control
- Push-button four wheel drive (later changed to all wheel drive)
Like other Subaru models of the same vintage, the XT was sold in three models: the base-model DL, the better-equipped GL, and the top-of-the-range GL-10. Many of the options mentioned above were available only on the GL-10.
Two four-cylinded derivatives were sold in Japan: the four wheel drive Alcyone VR, and the front wheel drive Alcyone VS. Both were equipped with turbocharged motors.
As seen above, certain markets only received certain configurations—the Japanese market received only turbocharged vehicles, and the New Zealand market received only 4WD four-cylinder XTs.
The XT received a minor sheetmetal upgrade in 1987 for the second half of the 1987 model year, roughly corresponding to the 1988-model-year launch of the XT6. The early XTs are easily distinguished from the later models by inspecting the headrests: early models had solid headrests, whereas the later models had a large rectangular hole through the center.
Subaru XT6 (1988–1991) Although the XT was available with a turbocharged engine, performance from the 111 hp powerplant wasn't terribly impressive. In 1987, Subaru introduced the XT6 as a 1988 model with the 145 hp 2.7 L flat-six ER27. The XT6 received additional upgrades, including heavier suspension to handle the larger engine and 5-bolt hubs and wheels to accomodate the extra torque.
The XT6 was also 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 already cramped XT6 engine bay. The Cybrid system also uses hydraulic fluid that is incompatible with conventional power steering fluid (which is usually simply automatic transmission fluid). This fluid is still available directly from Subaru at a significant premium over more common types of hydraulic fluid.
The XT6 was not available with the digital dashboard of the regular XT models.
In the Japanese market, the XT6 was sold as the Alcyone VX. No front wheel drive Alcyone VXs were ever sold in Japan, and no XT6s were sold in New Zealand.
Both the regular XT and the XT6 were discontinued after 1991 and were replaced by the much larger Subaru Alcyone SVX. The SVX continued the tradition of surprising gadegtry in a sporty coupe, albeit in a much heavier and more powerful package.
Market appeal and production Overall production of the XT remained low througout its lifespan. Although the fuel crisis of the late 1970s and ever-tightening emissions regulations had severely limited horsepower figures from all manufacturers in the mid 1980s, the XT's paltry 111 horsepower wasn't enough to attract serious attention from the automotive racing crowd. One of Subaru's ads from the 1980s reads, The kind of car Mercedes might have built if they were a little more frugal and a lot more inventive. The car's extra features, which certainly had some novelty appeal, were uncharacteristic of this class of car and may not have contributed much to the XT's sales. In the 1980s, consumers with surplus cash in search of a better-equipped vehicle did not generally start shopping at Subaru, after all.
Subaru produced 98,918 XTs, XT6s, and Alcyones. Surprisingly, only 8,170 of these were sold in Subaru's native Japanese marketplace.
While the XT exists as a very interesting design exercise, it did little in terms of market development for Subaru. The company has seen much more widespread success in the significantly more mainstream Outback and WRX models introduced in recent years.
External links and references - Home of the Wonder Wedge (http://www.xt6.net) (also known simply as XT6.net) is an enthusiast site focused on the XT6 but provides in-depth background information on the entire XT line. xt6.net hosts a forum used by an active discussion community.
- Subaru Drive Magazine: Summer 2003 (http://www.drive.subaru.com/Sum03_SubaruHistory.htm) contains a short discussion of the XT, including the quote from the New York Times.
- Subaru Global history: Subaru Alcyone (http://www.subaru-global.com/about/history/1985-001.html). Subaru's world site discusses bits and pieces of the entire model line through history. The site does not mention the XT, but this page gives specific details on the 1985 Japanese-market Alcyone.
- XT6 Haven (http://members.tripod.com/xt6/)
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