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ok so ive heard rumors that the subaru motor is made by porsche, told its the same as the boxter motor? is there any truth to this? i was thinking maybe the design of the motor is called boxter. i think it was a 2002 legacy gt i was looking at at the time i heard this..but i never bought it.

 
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... it's a boxer motor... Not a boxter motor...
Subaru's make their own engines.

 
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its called a boxer engine as the pistons are pushed side to side <--- + ---> instead of up or even in the V directions.

it allows for a lower center of gravity if you believe everything you read.... not that I dont believe it.....im just saying

 
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ok that makes more sence...thanks...there are a lotta subaru owners out there that think that they have porsche motors stock. ive actually heard 2 or 3 guys in about a year tell me this.

 
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haha...

 
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i think Porsche uses a horizontally opposed engine too correct? that is where the confusion comes in.

 
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alot of people make this mistake...i'll admit that i even made this mistake when i first started getting interested in subaru...

 
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Subaru has been known for its boxer engines and the way they have made it competitive against V# engines. I think the confusion lies in the fact that Porsche has the Boxster (which is one sweet ride) and Subaru engines are called boxers.

DreX got it right (of course ) and they are called boxers because the pistons seems to box. Yeah, like a Money Mayweather jabbing furiously.

I haven't heard of anyone being confused with this though.

 
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you're 100% right. Porsche also has most of its engines as boxer engines so the design is the same. However subaru doesn't have its engines built by porsche. Just uses same layout.

 
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First time I've heard this mix-up myself, lol. Subaru's engines are called Boxers, meaning that the pistons are horizontally opposed. It has nothing to do with the Porsche Boxter

 
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yeah, well to clear up the confusion, Subaru did buy the copyright from porchse long long time ago to redevelop the boxer engine, so in another word the motor is originally from Porchse

 
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Actually the origins of our engines have more in common with airplanes, and my wife always noted that the WRX sounds more like an airplane (early WRX EJ20G really does), and this is because of FHI's experience with aircraft engines.

Supposedly this is why the 06 and 07 STi looked so horrible (aircraft heritage was the excuse), and also marked the demise of the beloved GDA and GDB WRX/STi series.

 
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All ' flat' (180 degree opposed, common crank), engines are named BOXER, as patented by Karl Benz in the late 1800's.

Many Companies have made a version of the Boxer engine, Lancia, Citron's 2CV has one as well as the Chevy Corvair.

Porsche and Subaru are the only 2 companies currently making, ( independently of each other), automotive versions of the Boxer.

BWM make a very common 2 cylinder boxer aircraft engine that I've worked with a few times. Most large certified piston aircraft engines are boxer's Lycoming, Continental, Rotax.. The engine layout is VERY common.

 
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180 degree horizontally opposed engines are referred to as 'boxer" style engines. In deed they were originally patented and built by Karl Benz. I am not 100% certain, but his very first engine was a horizontal single... precursor to twin / multi cylinder "boxers," maybe? Currently BMW, Porsche and Subaru are building "boxers" in mass production. The Ferrari Testarossa 1984-91 was a twelve cylinder "boxer" in limited production. For those of you wondering, the BMW "boxer" can be found under the seat of one of their motorcycles and some airplanes. Subaru even has a "boxer" diesel that is highly regarded, and may soon be in the U.S.

To the other point, BMW originally made it's name building aircraft engines. That's the "why" of why does the logo look like that. The white is the blurred propeller and the blue is the sky beyond.

Another point I find interesting, that I just learned is there are only three engine designs that are harmonically stable, boxer four, inline six, and a vee twelve. I suspect that may be why Subarus last so long; they just aren't subject to the same cyclic load(ing) that other cars are subjected to.