kalinut Posted November 15, 2003 Share Posted November 15, 2003 In what model year did subaru make the change from 4WD to AWD ? Also, did they change all their vehicle models in the same year ? Thanks ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinsUBARU Posted November 15, 2003 Share Posted November 15, 2003 wasnt really a specific year. The AWD legacy was introduced in late 89 as a 90. The Loyales last year, which was 4wd, was 94. The Impreza was introduced in 93, and that was awd. In 1996 they droped FWD and just made everything AWD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calebz Posted November 15, 2003 Share Posted November 15, 2003 I have wondered this myself, becayse I have seen plenty of legacies badged as 4wd instead of awd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerFahrer Posted November 15, 2003 Share Posted November 15, 2003 The Legacy was the first Subaru with AWD. It was badged 4WD because the term AWD wasn't really widely accepted yet... No USDM Subaru Legacy or any later model, ever came with 4WD... Yes I believe the 4WD ended with the 80's generation in 1994... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinsUBARU Posted November 15, 2003 Share Posted November 15, 2003 a while ago the subaru of japan site had their official defo. of what AWD was. Without remembering it word for word, it basically said, "The on-road version of 4WD", and that is why the Legacy was badged as 4WD first. As they realized they could bank hardcore on the AWD system in America, they got the word out as to what it was, how it worked, and how it was different than 4WD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hondasucks Posted November 16, 2003 Share Posted November 16, 2003 MY 91 had a badge on teh dash that said "Full Time 4WD" with "ABS" below it. Since it was not really AWD but it was fuill-time 4WD with an automatic viscous locking center diff. (Would have rocked if they had added in a diff lock like they did on the older FT4WD, since that viscous lock took some considerable wheelspin for it to engage.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alias20035 Posted November 16, 2003 Share Posted November 16, 2003 All Wheel Drive was available as early as 1987 (maybe even 86)on some GL (Loyale) and XT vehicles, however most of these models sold were shift on the fly 4wd. The Legacy's AWD/4WD logo was designed so that the A would look like a 4 and the 4 would look like an A if you get my drift.... No one understood AWD back then... "Full time 4wd" Legacy's are All Wheel Drive, and they in fact use the same clutch pack system as used in current models. The 1989 Legacy 4EAT/AWD transmission was used until 1997/98 when a major revision was introduced, and the 5MT with its viscous center differential from 1989 is virtually unchanged (aside from 8 bolt mounting). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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