The Subaru Alcyone SVX, also known outside of its home market Japan as the Subaru SVX, is a two-door grand tourer coupé. Produced from 1991 to December 1996, it was Subaru’s great attempt to enter the luxury/performance car market. Its intention was to combine two seemingly contradictory elements—comfort and performance. The name “Alcyone” (pronounced “al-SIGH-uh-nee”) refers to the brightest star in the Pleiades star cluster (Greek mythology, was the name of one of the Pleiades, daughters of Atlas and Pleione), on which the Subaru logo is based.
Other meaning of Alcyone – is a female name in Greek myphology. She married Ceyx, son of Eosphorus the Morning Star. After death of husband in a shipwreck, following his fate she jumped into the sea and they both were turned into halcyon birds (kingfishers) (blue – gold fish, that’s why these two color fit this car so much) by Gods. When Alcyone made her nest on the beach, waves threatened to destroy it. Aeolus restrained his winds and kept them calm during seven days in each year, so she could lay her eggs. These became known as the “halcyon days,” when storms do not occur. Today, the term is used to denote a past period that is being remembered for being happy and/or successful. “halcyon days of youth”
Читаем про SVX из журнала Top Gear 1994 (на русском)
Production/sales
Total sales of the SVX numbered:
♠ 14,257 in the US
♠ 2,478 in Europe (with 854 headed directly to Germany and 60 to France)
♠ Roughly 7,000 of all SVXs sold were right-hand drive models. Included in this number were the 249 vehicles sold in Australia.
5,884 units remained in Japan.
♠ Total of 24,379 worldwide
Colors available
There are only 8 official color available for Subaru SVX (at the picture). So beware of repaints.
As an investment, Subaru actually lost $3,000 on every Subaru SVX sold, for a total loss of around $75,000,000 on this project. It was also developed and released during Japan’s “bubble economy”, and as the economic condition in Japan continued to decline, it had an effect on sales in Japan.
Development of SVX
The Subaru Alcyone SVX made its debut, as a concept car, at the 1989 Tokyo Auto Show.
Italian automobile designer Giorgetto Giugiaro of ItalDesign designed the slippery, sleek bodywork, incorporating design themes from his other concepts, such as the Ford Maya and the Oldsmobile Inca. Subaru decided to put the concept vehicle into production and retain its most distinguishing design element, the unconventional window-within-a-window. Subaru called this an “aircraft-inspired glass-to-glass canopy,” which was adapted from the previous model Subaru Alcyone with an additional extension of glass covering the A-pillar.
The decision to release this car for production gave the public the first opportunity to buy a “concept car” as conceived. The suffix “SVX” is an acronym for “Subaru Vehicle X”.
In contrast to the boxy, angular XT, the SVX had curvy lines designed by Giugiaro and the unusual two-piece power side windows. The windows are split about two-thirds of the way from the bottom, with the division being parallel to the upper curve of the door frame. These half-windows are generally seen on exotic vehicles with “scissor”, “gull-wing”, or “butterfly” doors, such as the Lamborghini Countach, De Lorean DMC-12 (another Giugiaro design), and the McLaren F1. The SVX’s aerodynamic shape allowed it to maintain the low drag coefficient of Cd=0.29, previously established by the XT coupe it replaced. European market cars had a slightly lower wind resistance of Cd=0.285, thanks to a larger undertray.
From 1991 to 1992, Subaru displayed the Amadeus, a prototype shooting brake variation on the SVX, in both two- and four-door versions, which was considered for production. Ultimately the Amadeus was not produced.
Maintanence and good to know
- Oil change: ~12.000 km
- Oil filter change: ~19.000 km
- Wheel size: 225/50/R16
- Best tires: Yokohama AVS dB or Pirelli P7000.
Tires to avoid:Dunlop SP 8000 and Goodyear GS-D - Fuel capacity: 70 L. Consumption: ~13L/100 km
- The maximum speed was limited in 1994+ models due to the addition of an electronic speed governor
- Hight: 1300 mm
- Length: 4625 mm
- Width: 1770 mm
- Track front: 1500 mm Rear: 1480 mm
- Brakes: disc ventilated
Motorsport
In 1991, a Subaru SVX, driven by Ken Knight and Bob Dart, won the Alcan Winter Rally, a race starting in Seattle to the Arctic Circle and back.
In the early 1990s there was a Subaru SVX PPG Pace Car. It featured a silver to purple fade paint job, silver wheels in the front, purple wheels in the rear, “SVX” windshield banner, roll cage and an amber roof light. It was evaluated by Wally Dallenbach Sr, Indy Car Chief Steward and PPG Pace Car evaluator. It was used as a promotional tool for Subaru, as well as a pace car. While most pace cars were retired after one season, the SVX proved to be such a worthy example and a favorite, and was used for several seasons. It was in storage for many years in the famous “Subaru Performance Attic” in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, near Subaru of America’s headquarters. This is an unofficial museum where many of the unique Subaru concept cars and Subarus of historical significance are stored. The Pace Car (VIN 000002) has been recently been shipped back to Japan to be permanently united with the first SVX produced (VIN 000001)
Download Subaru Alcyone SVX for Assetto Corsa
(tuned rims, head lights~ stock specs, Street tires V10)
NOTICE! Unlike the other models, this SVX original model was made by other modder group.
Gallery of SVX
V6 AWD MKZ vs F6 AWD SVX
- Length: 4625 mm
- Width: 1770 mm
- Hight: 1300 mm
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