What are the reasons for regional variations in vehicle specifications?

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Geektastic

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#306605 7-Aug-2023 08:54

I recently bought a Subaru Outback turbo.

NZ vehicles are Japanese built and USA vehicles are built there.

The vehicles built in both locations are essentially the same.

However, I did note that the engines in the USA versions are tuned to a higher power - 260 bhp v 245 - despite being otherwise the same engine.

Why would that be done?

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#3112612 7-Aug-2023 08:57

I don't know the answer. A combination of market position and less sensitivity to fuel consumption in USA market imo.

shk292

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#3112615 7-Aug-2023 09:01

I can't answer your question, but here's a strange one: my Kia is advertised by Kia NZ as needing to use 95 RON fuel. However, in all other markets it is marketed as needing 91 RON, the user manual supplied says 91 RON and the sticker by the filler flap says 91 RON. And RON is an international standard so 91 RON in NZ is the same as anywhere else.

My guess is that different countries have different expectations; coming from the UK it was noticeable that cars here generally have more powerful engines than in the UK and the mix of auto:manual is reversed. I guess also that USA cars generally lug around more weight so a few extra hp is useful

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#3112619 7-Aug-2023 09:06

Petrol - 91/95+ - does affect power although not to the extent the OP has mentioned I don't think.

Regulations - some countries have tighter controls on exhaust systems, filters etc, and anything that assist the car in "breathing", can affect power as well.

More air = more power. (At basic level)

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#3112620 7-Aug-2023 09:08

NZ new cars should be fine on 91+...... seals used in engines from overseas cars etc have been exposed to higher fuel types and the seals dont like 91, and causes issues.

So from new, the seals should be good for anything.

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#3112634 7-Aug-2023 09:27

Geektastic: I recently bought a Subaru Outback turbo.

NZ vehicles are Japanese built and USA vehicles are built there.

The vehicles built in both locations are essentially the same.

However, I did note that the engines in the USA versions are tuned to a higher power - 260 bhp v 245 - despite being otherwise the same engine.

Why would that be done?

"Furthermore, Ford makes clear differences in the range of engines and relies "over there" (means the US) on units with much larger displacements."

And if you can do that with a s/w change and the demands on the final engine service life are not so high because you already have the next model year in mind anyway, then it will be adapted to the market.

Sometimes it is simply a matter of complying with certain insurance or tax classes of the respective country.

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#3112659 7-Aug-2023 10:20

Geektastic: I recently bought a Subaru Outback turbo.

NZ vehicles are Japanese built and USA vehicles are built there.

The vehicles built in both locations are essentially the same.

However, I did note that the engines in the USA versions are tuned to a higher power - 260 bhp v 245 - despite being otherwise the same engine.

Why would that be done?

If it really exists is a ~6% difference noticeable. It could be that in its US market segment 260 bhp is needed to match the completion so that is the figure that Subaru US's ad agency pulled out of their trunk.

I remember the days when all the motorcycles provided to the US magazines for test had been modified in some way to give 10 -15mph higher top speed than anything straight out of the showroom.

Geektastic

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#3112869 7-Aug-2023 15:58

Oddly, the torque figures are the same for both U.S. and Japanese engine variations.

The naturally aspirated Outback is 91 RON and the Turbo is 95 RON in Australia and NZ.

One other difference is American versions get wireless charging pads and our versions don’t.

Edit: feel sorry for the British buyers. They don’t get the Turbo version at all!!

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Geektastic

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#3112872 7-Aug-2023 16:03

The biggest practical difference is about a 0.5 second acceleration to 60mph in favour of the American car.

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#3112873 7-Aug-2023 16:13

Geektastic: I recently bought a Subaru Outback turbo.

NZ vehicles are Japanese built and USA vehicles are built there.

The vehicles built in both locations are essentially the same.

However, I did note that the engines in the USA versions are tuned to a higher power - 260 bhp v 245 - despite being otherwise the same engine.

Why would that be done?

Which generation Legacy is it?

Geektastic

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#3112974 7-Aug-2023 19:54

Current 23 MY.

mudguard

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#3112978 7-Aug-2023 20:05

Basically comes down to fuel availability. In Japan they have access to 100 octane fuel so some imports will want our 98.
My Corolla runs on 91 and my (30 year old) Civic takes 98.
There are also quite a few other quirks sometimes (speaking mostly about Japanese). Often imported Japanese Hondas will have rear wipers whereas the NZ versions don't.

hucknz

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#3112984 7-Aug-2023 20:19

Emissions standard will be the main difference in engine output. The same engine can have a different map loaded depending on the region it’s being shipped to so it can meet the local regulations.

They also measure things a bit differently so there can be some differences there. US still use horses@RPM, many other countries use DIN KW over an RPM range.

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#3113031 7-Aug-2023 22:12

The difference could be due to multiple factors. The two most likely IMO are differing measurement metrics and or marketing requirements and a third one, differing fuel specs.

Cars which are essentially the same being produced in the same factory but have different features/specs for different countries.

My car is sold in the US under a different brand name. While it's essentially the same car and comes out of the same factory as the US version there is several differences. Mine has gearshift paddles on the steering wheel, the US ones don't, I can switch off the auto stop start, you can't on the US version. The towing ratings for the cars are different.

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#3113040 7-Aug-2023 23:32

Climatic differences are the other big difference. Cars sold in the Middle East need to be suitable for 50 degrees, cars in Canada and the Nordics need to be suitable for -25 degrees

robjg63

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#3113091 8-Aug-2023 09:19

Because we often piggy-back on the Australian market, we are impacted by the Australian 'requirements'.

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