Alfa Pages

[Bobkelso]

Here the link to a review of an ultimate evolution of the
boxer motor, done by Subaru, who time ago bought original project
(and one or two ingeners if I remenber well the history)
from alfa when alfa-fiat terminated the boxer production..

Interesting, that time Subaru have prepared a non turbo motor,
so watching the hood photos it reminds me an 'old' 33 hood,
design of aspiration collector, position of alternator and
compressor for conditioner (and same few space like in a 16v 33

And this time motor is been positioned 120 mm lower that
in Impresa model to obtain a better handling,
in practice motor it is now as lower as in a 33
(in Italy we say: they (re)discovered the hot water )

This is a small revenge, as many people say that
fiat terminated boxer because was not possible
to cope with new euro antipollution directives
without raising all the motor (as in Impresa) to
put catalysers directly under the heads, so this next
sportcar from Subaru prove that this was no a real issue.
They simple wanted produce only the more economics
line-4 motors..I add: bastards!!!!!! sorry, coudn't resist..
It seam to me I read that there was already a 2 litre new
boxer project (that instead was developed by Subaru)

This new Subaru motor have evolutions we could expect
for the 1.7 16 v of the 33, it is compact,
have distribution chains instead of belts (!)
and 4 phase variators (one on each valve shaft,
to have power both low and high rev)..really nice..

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/05/2013-subaru-brz-first-drive-review/

(clicking on the photo galleries they appears other photos of the motor)
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Alfa 33

[Ian M]

Alot more plumbing under the bonnet than in a 33 but it does have some similarities.
Its not as far forward as it is in a 33 though.
And did I see the word toyota on it in one of the pics?
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Presntly own
Red Abarth 500c

[Bobkelso]

The car body is the same of the Toyota version,
but the Subaru version have the boxer motor..
yes motor is more rear positioned, rear traction

Founded a better photo of the motor only:
http://www.gizmag.com/subarus-brz-concept-car-breaks-cover/20358/

Ps.: that Subaru / Toyota car is superb,
still I like the design of 33 body and interiors
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Alfa 33

[john 33_16v]

I've no idea if Subaru ever bought/sold/ copied boxer technology from Alfa pre or post alfa 33, but they have built and developed boxer engines since at least the mid 1970s.

The late 70s/ early 80s 1600cc scooby engines were quite sud-ish with the carb on the top and 4 branch exhaust manifold etc etc By the mid 80s they were upto 1800cc and turbocharged with (i think?) ally blocks...

John
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If it aint broke, fiddle with it until it is!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
93 33 16v Mirtle Met
08 Fiat Grande Punto Exotica Red
90 Yamaha FZR600 Genesis- Silky white/red/blue

[Bobkelso]

Don't know..may be I'm wrong.. what I found was that
first EJ subaru motors, quite different from previous EA series
(EJ are from 1989, starting from EJ15 1500cc 85 bore x 66 stroke 100 hp,
and arriving later to 2500 cc and turbo version) were 'ispired' as an
evolution of the alfa boxer and Ing. Carlo Chiti (who was involved in
many alfa projects, the 33TT motor but also the Alfasud project
of Hruska, this one coming from the vw-Posche boxer experience)
was collaborating with Subaru from '87-88 (and before Alfa was working
on 2000cc boxer but fiat stopped the project); read also that Subaru
bought some projects and patents from alfa-fiat, don't know if is real;
in 89-90 Chiti build also a (F1?) motor 12 cylinders boxer for Subaru
but this one doesnt ended well. The 4-boxer instead was succesfull,
initially with some cranckshaft issue due to a fast realization of the project..
First EJ motors were low as 33 motor and with thing in similar place,
but 5crank supports, all 16 valves, some SOHC some DOCH..
after they evolve more 'vertical' and with things in different place.
This new FA motor seam returned to the low and compact design of '90..

I know there are some books on Ing. Chiti's and other people
of that time history, plenty of details also on the 'adventurous'
Alfasud project (initially was different from Alfanord, but both
ended in fiat group), but I'm to lazy to find these publications
and get the real history with more accuracy

Here some hystori with traduction in English about the 2000 cc
boxer alfa (stopped in 1986) and Ing. Chiti's work:
http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-33-sud-and-sprint/253253-some-info-just-for-the-history-of-alfaromeo-and-boxer.html
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Alfa 33

[Greek]

I have done the same search as you and indeed is as you say....

Carlo Chiti was the founder and first manager of Autodelta. Befor that he was responsible for Ferrari racing team and boxer turbo engines development and after he left Autodelta he was involved with Dalara and F3 . That was in the 80s and this is when Subaru bought Chiti's company because they wanted to participate in F1. Yes he created an 12boxer engine he although promising , it sisnt perform well on the track. Due to milted funds (and probably because Subaru has aquired the knowledge from Chiti) this cooperation failed and Chiti bought back his company. Couple of moths later Subary presented EJ15 , a 1500 boxer engine model which was the start for the very successful series of models to come.

I havent seen it with my eyes , yet, but i was told that the first models had very similarities with 33 because Subaru had bought some patents from Fiat and they had in scripted in the body somewhere "Licensed by Alfaromeo." (I think in the inside of the windscreen column). Dont forget that the period we are talking is the Dark period where Alfaromeo was in depth and about to be bought from Fiat and when this was done , FIAT was selling all the patents that they though thy didnt need and one of them was boxer engine developments.

Yes , there was a development on a 2.0ltr engine and first samples developed about 140 hp but progress stopped when FIAT got in to things and all 5 samples were destroyed.


Regarding Subaru boxers. Well , the did aquired knowledge from Chiti but as it seems he was smart enoug not to reveal them everything so the engine has problems that Alfaromeo's didnt. This is lubrication at lower part of the block and that the reason that there are lots of incident of broken engines when pushed to the limit for a long period of time. Same think as VW boxer or porche , lubrication issues. Alfaromeo boxer has much better design and very robust comparing to the other boxer.

[Bobkelso]

I'm a little sad for the 2000cc / 5 crank bearings boxer motor
prototypes that are being destroyed when Fiat closed
the project.. I would be very curious to see them..
(or to have some modern alfa running on boxer,
but I know is no more so important, between 10 years
probably cars will run on more simple electric motor )
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Alfa 33