Subaru EN engine


The EN series engine is used for kei cars sold by Subaru in Japan. It is a four-cylinder, four-stroke engine introduced in 1989 and discontinued in 2012. It was a replacement for the two-cylinder EK23 that was used in the Subaru Rex. While other manufacturers adopted a three-cylinder engine, the Subaru EN is a four-cylinder of only 547 cc. Subaru also did make a three-cylinder engine, called the Subaru EF engine which was used in the Subaru Justy, but the larger EF engine was not modernized at the same time.
The following year, 1989, the Japanese Ministry of Transport revised the standards for kei cars. This resulted in the new 660 cc class series of four-cylinder engines, and the EN05 had its stroke increased to produce the EN07. The bore pitch remained as the changes were kept to a minimum. The increased stroke helped make up for the lack of low-speed torque, a weakness of the other four-cylinder 660 cc engines. While four-cylinder engines are not typical in kei class cars, Subaru still primarily uses this layout. Three-cylinder engines have proved to be on par with Subaru's four-cylinder designs; while not as smooth running they tend to be lighter and more economical due to lower friction losses. Nonetheless, the EN07 powered three of the five most fuel efficient kei passenger cars in 2009, when the EN engine was its peak of development.
There was a turbocharged version of the predecessor, the EK23, used in the Subaru Rex, which competed with the Daihatsu Mira and Suzuki Alto. This was replaced with a supercharger for the EN-series. The four-cylinder EN engine was originally marketed as the Clover4, and Subaru engraved the head with a clover-leaf mark, to set it apart from its three-cylinder version. Subaru remained faithful to the EN-series until they stopped building kei car engines. Subaru uses Daihatsu three-cylinder units for the Sambar truck since 28 February 2012.

EN05

The EN05 was the first engine in the EN series. Variants include a naturally aspirated model with a carburetor, and the EMPi equipped with a supercharger. Cylinder dimensions are slightly oversquare.
The EN05 had its stroke lengthened to reach the new 660 cc limit set for kei cars by the Japanese government for March 1990, making it a decidedly long-stroked unit.

EN07A (Naturally Aspirated carburetor)

Installed in the Vivio Van.
The engine was installed in the early Sambar. Compression ratio dropped slightly, and tuning emphasized low-rpm torque.
Used in:
The EN07A engine became EN07E with EMPi.
Used in:
The EN07C engine became EN07F with EMPi. The rocker cover on the delivery service version had a crimson ceramic coating.
Was installed in the Pleo Van EGI SPI engine design.
Used in:
The Rear engine/Rear drive version initially installed in the Sambar used a distributor, but a distributorless ignition was used from 1996 on. Like the EN07F, the high durability version used in the delivery-service version has a rocker cover decorated with a crimson ceramic coating.
Equipped with a CVT for Pleo; previously called "mild change". For power and fuel economy the engine has both SPI and a low-pressure supercharger without intercooling.
Subaru Pleo L

EN07U (mild change EMPi)

The EN07W engine became EN07U when fitted with EMPi and a small intercooler. The L-type Subaru Pleo late in the generation.
Subaru Pleo L

EN07Z (IC supercharger with EMPi)

The EN variant for Rex's hot model and for Pleo RM. The MPFI fuel injection was reset to make power at lower engine speeds.
Used in:
The Subaru R2 was fitted with this version from its debut. It has a variable valve timing DOHC head and direct ignition.
Used in:
VIVIO RX-R was developed at the time the DOHC head design appeared. It adopted direct push and a high lift cam like Toyota, but the timing belt drives only the exhaust camshaft; the method of driving the intake cam is synchronous from there. This 660 cc DOHC narrows the valve angle slightly aiming for a compact combustion chamber. The first-launched and latest versions take regular gasoline, but there is also a high-octane gasoline version. Cylinder head channel was changed for Subaru Pleo when heat damage appeared in the cylinder farthest away from the radiator.
Used in:
The Subaru Fiori derivative of the Rex was also equipped with pink and blue pinstriping from factory and a 2-year, 50,000k warranty was offered when new. Equipped with a different engine, the Fiori had Subaru's 758 cc carburetted four-cylinder EN08 powerplant. Sold as the Fiori in Australia, this model was also marketed as the M80 and the Mini Jumbo in other export markets.