Subaru Says The New Crosstrek, Impreza Ride Improves Because Of Glue? It’s True

Subaru Corporation redesigned the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek subcompact SUV and 2024 Impreza compact hatchback using a unique glue. Subaru says the new models needed improved cabin quality. And they found a unique solution. 

Keita Sato, who is Subaru's chief body designer, says, "The Subaru Global Platform has brought the driving feel to a high level, but compared to European high-grade models, the quality of the cabin was still lacking. Therefore, we focused on the sound and vibration when driving over bumps on the road surface." 

Subaru improved their seat comfort by collaborating with the Gunma University School of Medicine, focusing on the human body's structure and conducting research to improve ride comfort. Check out the report here.

But Subaru needed to improve ride quality. While working on the seat comfort, Keita Sato says they looked at the roof area. 

"When the roof vibrates, the air in the cabin fluctuates, and this is transmitted to the occupants as air-borne sound, stimulating the semicircular canals and causing discomfort and motion sickness." 

"I hypothesized. At the same time, the advanced development department developed a high-damping mastic, an adhesive that absorbs vibrations, and was thinking about how to use it." 

"Therefore, when we made a prototype car with this new adhesive applied to the roof and verified it, it became clear that the reverberation noise generated by the roof as a source of vibration was reduced and that the ride quality could be improved," Sato said."

Subaru says the Mastic adhesive used on the Crosstrek and Impreza design is a paste-like material with a viscosity similar to that of wood glue and has been used to bond the roof and the reinforcing material (brace) that reinforces the roof. 

In the case of the new Impreza, there are four reinforcements (three for cars with a sunroof), each of which has 13 grooves to which the adhesive glue is applied. When the roof is placed on top of it, the mastic collapses into an elliptical shape along the shape of the groove, and when heat is applied later in the painting process, it hardens while retaining some elasticity and bonds the brace to the roof.

The result is a clear difference in how noise and vibrations in the interior of the Crosstrek and Impreza are contained when the vehicle runs over bumps on the road surface. Sato says, "You can even hear the difference in the sound of rain hitting the roof."

Customers who buy the redesigned 2024 Subaru Crosstrek subcompact SUV and 2024 Impreza compact hatchback will feel an improved ride quality. Subaru used adhesive glue to do it. 

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Denis Flierl brings over thirty years of combined auto industry and automotive journalism experience to Torque News readers. He is an accredited Rocky Mountain Automotive Press (RMAP) member. The last twelve years have been spent with Torque News, covering Subaru vehicles and the latest news. Check back daily for his expert Subaru analysis. You'll find the latest stories on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

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Photo credit: Subaru