"Subaru": country of origin, history of the company and its best qualities. History of the Subaru brand Where is Subaru Forester assembled

Japanese history car company Subaru began in 1954 after Fuji Heavy Industries received an order from the Japanese government to produce an inexpensive car. The first prototypes were released in the same year, and in 1955 the first pre-production samples, called the Subaru 1500, were released. However, due to lack of funding, the start of mass production was postponed until 1958. Having gone on sale, two options were presented for equipping the model with a 1.5-liter power unit with a capacity of 47 Horse power and 1.8-liter, 54 horsepower. Successful sales of the 1500 model allowed Fuji Heavy Industries to begin developing a compact truck based on it, which was later sold under the Sambar brand.

The company's next passenger car model " Subaru"was introduced in 1966. Since fuel consumption has always been a key factor in the success of a vehicle, the compact Subaru 1000 sedan, equipped with a 0.9-liter boxer engine producing 55 horsepower. In addition, the company decided to move away from the then classic rear-wheel drive chassis design, presenting one of the first Japanese cars with front-wheel drive.

However, Subaru engineers did not stop there, starting the same year to develop a passenger platform that could allow the use of all-wheel drive, while maintaining the lightness and compactness of a compact car. So, in 1971, a compact sedan model was introduced Subaru Leone, equipped with all-wheel drive and power units with a capacity of 55 to 90 horsepower. In addition to a rich range of engines, the car was equipped with several body options, among them was a station wagon body, which became especially popular in the automobile market of the United States of America and Canada in 1977, immediately after the release of this modification. However, the key factor in the success of the model was the fuel crisis, which completely changed the automotive industry in the 70-80s of the 20th century.

In 1978, based on the model Subaru Leone production of a small BRAT pickup, developed for the Japanese domestic automotive market. In addition, modifications were introduced in 1979 Subaru Leon to participate in the World Rally Championship. From 1980 to 2011, the factory team " Subaru"was a regular participant in the championship, but after a number of failures, it was decided to curtail the sports program of the Japanese brand. During the debut of the very first model Subaru WRX, Italian teams reigned on the rally tracks, racing cars of the " Lancia" And " FIAT" However, after the rules were tightened, the palm alternately passed from “ Audi" To " Lanche », « Peugeot" And " Toyota" Company management " Subaru"in 1994, after a number of failures, again decided to close the rally program immediately after the end of the 1995 season, of which the team's first driver was also informed Colin McRae. Updated Subaru Impreza in modification 555 allowed the driver to win only two victories in the 1995 season, but thanks to the incredible reliability of the car, McRae certainly finished in the top three, which ensured that he championship title, and the Japanese brand a long-awaited victory. The next victory was already won Richard Burns in 2001, and 3 years later the Norwegian consolidated his success Peter Solberg, trying on the champion's crown in 2004, beating the future legend of rally racing Sebastian Loeb.

Against the backdrop of the development of the team’s racing traditions, “ Subaru", production cars have undergone a number of changes. So in 1983 it was introduced minivan Subaru Domingo, which ranked second in sales in its segment in the United States automobile market. This was followed by city cars for the domestic market, but real success came much later.

In 1987, the first generation of the mid-size sedan was introduced Subaru Legacy, built on a new generation platform, which in some modifications had front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, which made it possible to lay the technical basis for the creation of a new class of cars - the crossover segment. Under the hood Subaru Legacy There is a two-liter turbocharged power unit with a capacity of 217 horsepower. In 1989, a modification was introduced Legacy Outback, which had a station wagon body and permanent all-wheel drive.

Amid the growing success of the compact sedan Mitsubishi Lancer, which in 1991 was built on the same principle as Subaru Legacy, but due to its compact dimensions and lighter weight, it began to gradually displace the “ Subaru"from the positions she occupied. In a hurry, the company's engineers developed a competitor Mitsubishi Lancer, introducing it in 1992 under the title Impreza. The key difference between the model, however, was not the technical data, but the pricing policy. Basic version of the car Subaru Impreza with front-wheel drive was 80% of the cost basic version Mitsubishi Lancer, which allowed the company " Subaru» regain their positions forever.

However, the fast-growing segment of mid-size crossovers continued to attract the company’s management “ Subaru", which led to the start of work on a full-fledged SUV of the brand. The first generation of the model was introduced in 1997 Subaru Forester, equipped with a turbocharged engine producing 250 horsepower. By the way, this model also joined the number of Subaru cars that have received many modifications and updates, constantly forming part of the company’s current model range.

A complete renovation took place in 2000 Subaru cars, but financial difficulties gradually wore down the Japanese company. In 2002, after an expensive launch of the model Subaru Outback, How independent car led to the concern's losses becoming too large. Brand problems " Subaru"attracted not only the Japanese government, which was in dire need of debt repayment, but also investors who wanted to purchase a promising brand. The decision was made much simpler than originally planned. A technological cooperation contract was signed with the Swedish brand " Volvo", which in exchange for technology and development " Subaru", paid part of the company's debt. But this turned out to be not enough, and in 2004 the brand got a new co-owner - the largest automaker " Toyota", who planned to include another famous brand. True, the country's government blocked the deal, citing antitrust laws. As a result, the company Toyota" managed to obtain only about 7% of the shares " Subaru».

Having secured itself financially, the company “ Subaru» began further work on new cars. A special special version was introduced in 2005 Subaru Impreza, which received a 390 horsepower engine and an aerodynamic body kit, developed jointly with the racing department of the brand " Audi" And the following year, the company tried itself as a manufacturer of luxury cars, introducing the model Subaru Tribeca, which was supposed to compete with brands such as “ Lexus" And " Infinity ».

The next blow to the company's welfare " Subaru» caused worldwide economic crisis, which forced the Japanese brand to reduce production volumes and also switch to a shift work schedule. In addition, the years 2008-2010 became so unsuccessful that one of the brand’s factories was temporarily closed. The concern came to the rescue again " Toyota", providing " Subaru» with a new inexpensive model and, having covered all the brand’s debts, received an additional 0.5% of shares. Subaru BRZ model represents a complete analogue of Toyota 86, except that it was decided to sell twin cars in different countries, without creating artificial competition.

In 2011, a compact Subaru XV crossover, built on the basis of the legendary Impreza models, but with increased ground clearance and a lot of electronics. The urban crossover broke the sales record in its class in the automobile markets of Japan, the United States of America and Canada, falling short of the model Toyota Rav4 only a few hundred copies sold.

In 2012, the brand introduced one of the most impressive cars to date, developed jointly with Toyota. It was a Subaru BRZ with boxer engine and rear-wheel drive.

The Subaru BRZ is a compact rear-wheel drive sports car in the body of a two-door coupe, developed and produced jointly by Subaru and Toyota, and was officially presented in December 2011 at the Tokyo Motor Show. BRZ is an abbreviation for Boxer, Rear Wheel Drive, Zenith. The model is sold under three different brands: Toyota (Toyota 86 in Japan, Australia, North America and North Africa, Toyota GT-86 in Europe, Toyota FT-86 in Nicaragua and Jamaica), Subaru (Subaru BRZ) and Scion (Scion FR- S).

The car is built on a modified Subaru Impreza platform. The sports car has a low center of gravity, located at a height of 460 mm, thanks to the boxer engine and the low seating position of the driver and passenger, and the gearbox, like the engine, is located as far down and back as possible.

The fourth generation of the STI began in 2014. This year was marked by the release of the fourth generation WRX STI. Probably, it is this generation that differs most from all previous ones in terms of technical equipment.

Subaru WRX STI is a true legend and, without exaggeration, a cult car. Its rise to the Olympus of rally and national fame began more than 20 years ago, in the early 90s, when Subaru began collaborating with the British company Prodrive and took part in the WRC World Rally Championship with a new model. As you noticed, the word was missing from the model name Impreza, and now it's just a Subaru WRX STI. Although, as before, it is built on the basis of a civilian sedan. Along with part of the name, the “unnecessary modifications” are also gone - now the STI is available only in a sedan body and only with a manual transmission. Along with the new body, the charged sedan received a completely new design. Smooth lines gave way to straight and sharper ones, and the front of the car became more menacing.

In the fourth Subaru generation The WRX STI has become a little more civilian, but only for those who fully understand what the previous generations of STI are. For everyone else, this is a powerful, tough and hurricane car. And in the hands of an experienced driver, it is also an excellent tool for victories on the track, because the WRX STI is now actively performing on the asphalt of the legendary Nurburgring track, but believe me, gravel is still no stranger to it, and, as before, the STI remains an excellent “workpiece” for tuning lovers.

To summarize, we can say that in the absence of a main competitor, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, Subaru felt much freer and we hope it will delight us with new products more often.

The history of the Subaru automobile brand began in 1917, when a young engineer, Chikuhi Nakajima, decided to open his own research laboratory in Nakagama. Fifteen years later, this laboratory was transformed into the aircraft manufacturing concern Nakajima Aircraft Company, whose aircraft turned out to be extremely in demand during the Second World War.

The defeated Japan of the post-war years was subjected to antitrust laws of the US occupation authorities, as a result of which Nakajima Aircraft was renamed Fuji Sangye Limited, and its activities changed dramatically: the company began to deal with motor boats, buses, carriages and gasoline engines. The Rabbit scooter, released in 1946, heralded the beginning of the automotive production in the history of the company.

In 1954, Subaru developed a prototype of the R-1 passenger car (Subaru 1500). It was then that the monocoque body structure was first implemented in the Japanese automotive industry. Despite high level comfort and excellent driving performance Subaru, this model did not go into production due to financial problems with its production and sales, although it became the basis for the creation of the Subaru 360 and Subaru 1000 cars.

Japan in the late 50s was exhausted by the war; there was not enough fuel and raw materials for the development of its automobile industry. Then the government of the country adopted a law abolishing taxes on passenger cars up to 360 cm in length and with fuel consumption of less than 3.4 liters per 100 km. In response to changes in legislation, the Japanese automaker released the Subaru 360 model in 1958, which fully complied with the established requirements. The new product was a success on the market and even outstripped its rivals in many ways. Thanks to her, the FHI concern took a strong position, and its sales began to grow.

Inspired by the success of the Subaru 360, the company released new model with larger dimensions. We are talking about the Subaru 1000, dated 1965, the first Japanese production car with front-wheel drive and a flat-four engine producing 55 horsepower. It was with him that the history of the famous Subaru boxer engines began. Subaru's excellent technical characteristics and avant-garde design were the reasons for considerable sales. Then the management of the Japanese concern decided to start exporting cars to the USA and European countries.

Early 70's the lineup Subaru added the world's first all-wheel drive passenger car, the Subaru Leone, thanks to which the company occupied a niche free from more powerful competitors. Abroad, this model caused a real boom in sales.

The successor to the Subaru Leone was the Subaru Legacy, presented at the Chicago International Auto Show in 1987. It, like its predecessor, was equipped with all-wheel drive, but this time the manufacturers completely switched to 4WD, abandoning the switchable rear wheel drive.

The beginning of Subaru's brilliant path in rally and circuit championships happened in 1990, when the company began to cooperate with the British company Prodrive. The British helped prepare Subaru cars for racing competitions.

In the mid-90s, Subaru followed the general trend and released its Subaru Sambar EV.

In 1997, the company came out of the assembly line Subaru Forester- something between an SUV and a station wagon.

Today, the FHI concern is engaged not only in the production of cars, but also in other industries.

Subaru lineup

Subaru's lineup includes small medium and middle class, all-wheel drive SUVs and Subaru BRZ sports coupes. Distinctive features of Subaru products include such proprietary developments as all-wheel drive, boxer engines, and monocoque body structure. originality appearance, excellent driving characteristics of Subaru make Subaru passenger cars in demand on the Russian market.

Subaru cost

The cost of a Subaru depends on the model and its modifications. For example, the most inexpensive car of this brand can be called a small-class Subaru XV in basic configuration for half a million rubles. The price of a Subaru can exceed two million if we are talking about a sedan or hatchback

Subaru is an automobile brand of a large industrial concern Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. Automotive is not FHI's only area of ​​expertise; Besides these, FHI is involved in aviation technology, railway transport, shipbuilding, etc. The history of the concern, thanks to which the Subaru brand was born, began in 1917.

A young engineer and aviation enthusiast, Chikuhei Nakajima, opened The Aircraft Research Laboratory in Nakagame City this year. Aviation at that time did not exist in Japan as such, but thanks to the First World War, which demonstrated its capabilities, Nakajima’s laboratory, in particular, opened. In 1931, the laboratory became an aircraft manufacturing company called Nakajima Aircraft Co., Ltd, and Nakajima's aircraft were in great demand during World War II until 1945. In defeated Japan, the American occupation authorities applied antitrust and prohibition laws to Nakajima Aircraft, the company was renamed Fuji Sangye Ltd., and since Japan could not have an army at that time, the company began working on motor boats, carriages, buses and gasoline engines - it had to be applied achievements and talents in these areas. There was no automobile production as such yet; its forerunner can be considered the Rabbit motor scooter released in 1946, the creation of which used aircraft spare parts left over from the war.

In 1950, Fuji Sangyo split into 12 independent events, some of which ceased to exist after some time. But already in 1953, the five strongest of the separated companies came together again and merged into Fuji Heavy Industries. Later a sixth joined them. The corporation, headquartered in Hiroshima, began producing jet airplanes, chainsaws, Rabbit scooters and diesel buses and gradually achieved greater and greater success. In 1954, a prototype of a passenger car was created - the P-1 (Subaru 1500), in which a monocoque body structure was implemented for the first time in the Japanese automotive industry. With all its excellent driving performance and comfort, the car did not go into production due to financial difficulties associated with its production and sales. But later he played a significant role in the development of models and.

By the way, the name Subaru was born thanks to the president of FHI, Kenji Kita. When the P-1 was created, Kita announced a competition for the best name for it. He believed that japanese car must have a Japanese name. But none of the proposed names won the competition, and in the end Kita came up with the name himself - it turned out to be the word Subaru. On Japanese it means "to unite, to gather together", and is also the name of the constellation Pleiades (part of the constellation Taurus). Without a telescope, you can see six stars in the Pleiades (in fact, there are more than 200 of them), and it was through the merger of six companies that the Fuji Heavy Industries concern was formed.

Subaru's real automobile debut took place only in 1958. In war-exhausted Japan, when there was a shortage of raw materials and fuel for mechanical engineering, the government, in order to stimulate its own industry, passed a law according to which passenger cars up to 360 cm in length and with gasoline consumption of less than 3.4 liters per 100 km were practically not taxed. FHI was the first company to produce a car that met these requirements - the Subaru 360. It was only 3 m long and was equipped with a 2-cylinder two-stroke engine with a capacity of 358 cc and a power of 16 hp. In addition, it had a modern design using plastic and aluminum and an independent rear suspension. The engine was located at the rear. The car turned out to be very successful, in many ways it overtook its competitors and allowed the FHI concern to gain a foothold in the automobile market, even despite the fact that at first its sales were quite low - in the first year of production, only 604 copies were sold. But already in the next year, 1959, 5111 such cars were produced, and two years later - more than 22 thousand. Subaru became the leading manufacturer of cars of this class in Japan, and the 360 ​​acquired new body types - a station wagon and a coupe with a soft roof.

In 1961, a division was founded, the focus of which was delivery vans and pickups. Inspired by the success of the Subaru 360, in 1965 the company decided to enter the larger car market and released the Subaru 1000. It was the first Japanese production car with front-wheel drive, with a 997 cc 4-cylinder boxer engine producing 55 hp. . (the history of Subaru boxer engines began with this model), with an avant-garde look at that time, which became the standard for many imitations. Looking at increasing sales in the domestic market, the concern's management decided to make an attempt to export its cars to Europe and the USA. Subaru of America, Inc. was founded in Philadelphia. The 360 ​​model was chosen for the American market, but an attempt to export it ended in failure. But on the Japanese market the car never ceased to be popular, as did the R-2 model that replaced it in 1969. And at the same time, the Subaru 1000 was replaced by a modernized version of it - the Subaru FF, with an increased engine capacity.

But soon (in 1971) the Subaru FF was replaced by a model - the world's first all-wheel drive passenger car, which aroused great interest among both specialists and ordinary buyers. Thanks to this car, Subaru occupied the niche of all-wheel drive cars, free from more powerful competitors. And in 1972, the R-2 was replaced by the Rex model with a 356 cc, 2-cylinder, water-cooled engine. In 1974, the Leone, shown abroad, began to experience a real sales boom - within two years, 100,000 cars were sold, of which 30,000 were sold in the United States. In 1975, exports amounted to 26.9%. In 1977, export of the model to the USA began. Subaru car production, meanwhile, was gradually increasing - in 1979 it amounted to 150,000 cars, and in 1980 - 202,000.

1982 - Subaru begins producing turbocharged engines. In 1983, a model was introduced - a minibus with all-wheel drive. The 5 millionth Subaru vehicle left the factory. 1984 - the appearance of the Justy model, which for the first time in the world was equipped with an electronically controlled ECVT variator. Production of Subaru 4WD vehicles reached 1 million. About 250,000 cars were produced annually, of which slightly more than half were exported. And in 1985, Subaru released a luxury sports car - Alcyone (XT), which had a 6-cylinder boxer engine producing 145 hp. and a host of cutting-edge features and functions. In 1987, a joint venture with Isuzu Motors, Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., opened in the United States. In the same year, a “follower” Leone appeared, designed to replace it in the lineup - Legacy, the history of which continues to this day. Legacy was shown at the Chicago International Auto Show. It, like the Leone, was equipped with all-wheel drive; but, unlike Leone, here the manufacturers abandoned the switchable rear-wheel drive and completely switched to 4WD. In 1989, in Arizona, on the Legacy Proving Ground track, he set 2 world and 13 national records. He covered 100,000 km at an average speed of 223.345 km/h and covered this distance in 19 days of continuous driving on the track with stops only for refueling, changing consumables and, of course, pilots. At the same time, the Legacy Station Wagon, in standard configuration (for the Japanese domestic market, with a 2.0 twin turbo engine), set a speed record for production station wagons - 249.981 km/h - on a highway in the vicinity of Salt Lake City. In addition, in the USA, the Subaru-Isuzu Automotive company began production, and at the Tokyo Motor Show a gran turismo class car was exhibited - an all-wheel drive sports coupe with such an avant-garde design that it is not outdated to this day.

Since 1990, the history of Subaru began new period- cooperation with the British company Prodrive. The concern decided to participate in motorsport, and Prodrive began preparing Subaru cars for competition. Already in the same year, Legacy won the Safari Rally in group “N”. Thus began the brilliant path of Subaru in rally and circuit championships, where cars of this brand won victories more than once. And in the “civilian” industry, Subaru in 1990 released a purely small-class city car - Vivio. It was equipped with a 658 cc engine and the already famous CVT. There was also a “sports” modification of this car, which accelerated to 100 km/h in just 5.4 seconds thanks to a 102 hp biturbo engine. (with the same volume). In a rally car built on the basis of this Vivio, driver Colin McRae successfully competed at the Safari Rally.

1992 - another new product appears on the market - the Impreza, which has become a legendary car due to its constant participation in rallies and is equipped with a whole range of engines - from 1.6 liters to a 2-liter turbocharged one. Impreza has become a real benchmark for other automakers to follow. In 1993, a new generation Legacy appeared; in the same year, a car of this model won one of the WRC stages for the first time - a rally in New Zealand. In 1994, a trial batch of the Outback model appeared in the United States - a new class car, a passenger sports station wagon with the capabilities of an SUV. At the same time, Subaru followed a trend common to all automakers by creating an electric car in 1995 - the Subaru Sambar EV, and in 1996 the Outback went into production. In the same year, a bumper recycling system was developed and launched. 1997 is the year of the appearance of another model from Subaru - Forester, which caused a lot of difficulties for the classifiers. This car was very difficult to attribute to any of the categories already known at that time; it was a cross between a station wagon and an SUV. Moreover, other automakers began to reference and imitate it; This is how Subaru created the "reference car". The Forester was equipped with a 2-liter boxer engine and a 5-speed transmission. In 1998, the Vivio was replaced by the Pleo model, and the third generation Legacy appeared. The Legacy Station Wagon set a new world speed record for station wagons and, together with the Pleo, became the "new car of the year" in Japan. 1999 was the year of alliances - business agreements were signed with General Motors and Suzuki Motor Corporation.

In 2000, the Impreza received the title of Car of the Year in Japan. At the 2002 Detroit Auto Show, the Baja pickup truck, based on the Outback, was shown. Today, Subaru produces its cars in 9 factories, 5 of which are in Japan, and sells them in 100 countries. About half a million Subaru cars are produced every year; To some this may seem like a small number, but do not forget that the Fuji Heavy Industries concern, in addition to cars, is also involved in other industries. Distinctive features of Subaru can confidently be called such proprietary developments, now used all over the world, as all-wheel drive (which still remains a Subaru trademark), boxer engines and monocoque body structure. And, of course, high quality and the extraordinary nature of the cars, which demonstrate excellent performance both in everyday use and in motorsport.

Subaru is a brand under which Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) produces passenger cars and trucks, engines and components. The automaker is known for its widespread use of the boxer engine, which is installed on almost all models of the brand. The brand was named after the Pleiades star cluster in the constellation Taurus.

Fuji Heavy Industries began operations as an Aeronautical Research Laboratory under the name Nakajima Aircraft. It was founded by Chikuhei Nakajima in 1917. Now in its place in Gunma Prefecture the main production facilities of Subaru are located. In the 1930s, the company was already a major aircraft manufacturer in Japan, and during World War II, one of the main suppliers to the Japanese army. At the end of the war, the company was renamed Fuji Sangyo Co, Ltd. and reorganized: now the production of aircraft was finished.

The post-war Japanese market needed inexpensive vehicles, and Fuji Sangyo Co began development in this direction. In 1946, the first Rabbit scooter in Japan appeared with a 2-horsepower engine and spare parts from aircraft.

In 1950, Fuji Sangyo was divided into 12 small corporations. Some of them gradually ceased to exist, others, on the contrary, developed successfully. Soon six companies merged into the Fuji Heavy Industries concern, which exists to this day. They made jet planes, chainsaws, Rabbit scooters and diesel buses.

Early 50's CEO Fuji Heavy Industries Kenji Kita wanted to create a new automobile manufacturing company and soon led the design of the first prototype, called the P-1. The following year it appeared as the Subaru 1500. The car received independent front wheel suspension using an arched transverse beam and a coil spring. At the rear there was a suspension with a three-leaf spring. It was equipped with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine from Peugeot, developing 55 hp. at 4400 rpm. It was the only rear-wheel drive, front-engine Subaru until the BRZ was introduced in 2012. A total of 20 copies of the model were assembled, six of which were given to taxi companies.

Subaru 1500 (1954)

Despite the existence of the Subaru 1500, the first Subaru car is considered to be the Subaru 360, released in 1958. It became incredibly popular, and because of its resemblance to a beetle, it was nicknamed “Ladybug”. Over the 12-year production history, 392,000 units of the model were sold.

Subaru 360 was developed according to the creation plan " people's car", supported by the Japanese government. According to the document, the company was supposed to build a four-seater car costing up to 150,000 yen ($417), developing up to 100 km/h.

The model received a monocoque body, a fiberglass roof panel and hinged rear doors. It was originally equipped with a 356 cc transversely mounted rear inline 2-cylinder engine producing 16 hp. The engine was coupled with a three-speed gearbox manual transmission gears and allowed the car to accelerate to 96 km/h. In 1961, the engine power was increased to 18 hp, and by the end of production Subaru engine The 360 ​​produced 25 hp.

The machine was produced in several versions. A station wagon, a convertible and two sports modifications were produced. Now this model is of interest to collectors.

Subaru 360 (1958-1971)

In 1961, the Subaru Sambar appeared, using independent suspension on all four wheels, a rear-wheel drive system and a rear-mounted engine from the Subaru 360. To use the car for camping, bunk beds were placed in the cabin. This was a variation of the 360 ​​model that was capable of carrying small loads and was often used for commercial purposes.

On May 14, 1966, the legendary Subaru 1000 entered the market, the brand's first front-wheel drive car, as well as the first production version with a boxer engine. Since the early 60s, the company has been looking for ways to launch a Subaru 1500 prototype into series. Engineers created a car codenamed A-5, which was equipped with a 1500 cc four-cylinder engine. cm and system front wheel drive. However, FHI did not have enough resources to put it into production.

Development of a comfortable front-engine car continued. The company wanted to increase interior space by implementing front-wheel drive, thereby eliminating the centrally mounted drive shaft connected to the rear wheels. In addition, the brand intended to use independent suspension on all four wheels. In 1963, Subaru launched a project called the A-4 with a smaller, 923 cc engine, which later became the people's favorite Subaru 1000. To ensure a quiet ride, reduce vibration and maintain a compact size, a water cooling system was used.

Initially, the car was equipped with a 55-horsepower engine. In 1968, the 1000 SS modification was released, the engine of which developed 67 hp. at 6600 rpm. Its maximum speed increased from 135 to 150 km/h.

Subaru 1000 (1966-1969)

In 1969, the successor to the 360 ​​model, the Subaru R-2, was released. A compact, stylish, well-balanced car with a spacious interior has become a real bestseller and one of the best representatives of Japanese kei cars. It appeared about a year before the Honda Life, Daihatsu Fellow Max and Suzuki Fronte. The car was introduced on February 8, 1969. A month later, the company had already received 25,000 orders for this model.

Initially it was equipped with a two-cylinder air-cooled engine. In the early 1970s, the Japanese government passed an emissions reduction law that prompted Subaru and other automakers to modernize their power units. On October 7, 1971, a model with a water-cooled two-stroke engine was introduced.

In 1971, Subaru introduced its top-of-the-line model, which remained the flagship until the introduction of the Legacy in 1989. The Leone replaced the Subaru 1000 and was the predecessor to the Impreza. It was the first passenger car with four-wheel drive. His debut took place before the winter Olympic Games in Sapporo to demonstrate impressive endurance in adverse weather conditions.

The Subaru Leone was originally equipped with a 1.2- or 1.4-liter inline-four carbureted 1,100 cc engine. cm. The smaller motor was later removed from the line.

Subaru Leone (1971-1994)

On July 15, 1972, the Subaru R-2's replacement, the Rex, was introduced. It was largely based on the 360. Specifically, it used an air-cooled two-stroke engine. First, a model with a two-door sedan body entered the market, later a four-door sedan and a minivan with three doors appeared. The model was distinguished by predictability on the road, good handling, efficiency and comfort. Under the hood was a 358 cc, two-cylinder, water-cooled engine that produced 31 hp. at 8000 rpm. In 1976, Japanese authorities introduced new rules for kei cars, so Subaru equipped the Rex with a larger engine: its displacement was 490 cc. cm.

In October 1983, the company introduced the unique Domingo minibus. With its compact dimensions, it accommodated seven passengers and made it possible to change the “ambience” in the cabin with the help of reclining and swiveling seats.

The following year, the Subaru Justy appears, which in 1987 was the first to receive the Subaru ECVT CVT. In 1985, the Subaru Alcyone appeared with the smallest drag coefficient in the world among production cars at that time: 0.29. This impressive result was achieved thanks to its thoughtful appearance with pronounced wedge-shaped shapes.

1989 is the year the epoch-making Legacy appeared. The model allowed the car company to enter the two-liter car segment and compete on equal terms with the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. Top specs rivaled Alfa Romeo 159, Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series. It is the only car in its class to offer all-wheel drive and a boxer engine as standard. The model remained the flagship of the Subaru line for a long time and conquered the world thanks to its excellent handling, maneuverability and comfort.

Subaru Legacy (1989)

In the 1990s, Subaru expanded its lineup with the introduction of several successful vehicles. One of them is the Forester compact crossover, built on the Impreza platform. Thanks to its excellent off-road qualities, reliability and endurance, it has become one of the favorite cars all over the world, including in Russia.

The appearance of the brand in our country occurred long before the opening of the official representative office. After all, Subaru cars feel great in harsh climatic conditions and are able to reach high speeds on bad roads, while maintaining handling at the proper level. This is what determined the warm attitude of Russian buyers towards the brand’s models. Sales were so stable that the Japanese automaker even planned to build a car production plant in the Kaliningrad region. However, in 2013, this decision was canceled, focusing on developing the dealer network deeper into the country.

In 2012, the brand introduced one of the most impressive cars to date, developed jointly with Toyota. It was a Subaru BRZ with a boxer engine and rear wheel drive.

Subaru continues to develop and produce high quality vehicles, embodying advanced technologies. One of the company’s areas of work is reducing the amount of waste during production, as well as the development of hybrid and electric transmissions.

Subaru

First President of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI) - Kenji Kita Mr. Kita was an ardent supporter of the passenger car industry and was passionate about everything related to the company's first prototype passenger car, the P-1, created in 1954.
He held a competition to choose names for the car, but nothing that was proposed touched his soul. After much thought and discussion, Mr. Kita settled on Subaru.

Subaru (pointing the way or gathering together) is a cluster of stars in the constellation Taurus. Six stars can be seen in the night sky with the naked eye, and about 250 more if you use a telescope. In the West they are called the Pleiades. In Japan, this name is consonant with Mitsuraboshi - "Six Stars", often found in old Japanese documents and literature. It is also noteworthy that the FHI company was formed as a result of the merger of exactly six companies, once again confirming the validity of the name Subaru.

History of development

FHI is the successor to Nakajima Aircraft, which was originally established as an Aeronautical Research Laboratory. The laboratory, founded in 1917 by Chikuhei Nakajima (1884-1949) in Gunma Prefecture (approximately 70 km north of Tokyo), is now the location of Subaru's main modern production base.
Nakajima was the eldest son of a farmer in Gunma Prefecture. At the age of 19, he entered the Naval Academy, and there he was caught by the news of the first successful flight of an airplane, carried out in the United States by the Wright Brothers. Nakajima wanted to participate in the process of creating aircraft for the Japanese military. After leaving the army, he founded the Aeronautical Research Laboratory. Soon the laboratory became known as Nakajima Aircraft Co., Ltd. This renaming emphasized the fact that the company was on par with the leading aircraft manufacturers in Japan.
By the end of World War II, in 1945, aircraft production had stopped.

The company was able to make a new start under a different name - Fuji Sangyo Co., ltd. We had to start with a thorough search for consumers of the high technologies that were used in the aviation industry.
In February 1954, FHI announced its own passenger car prototype called the P-1, later called the Subaru 1500.
This a car showed excellent driving qualities thanks to its suspension. But sales were delayed due to difficulties in finding financing for plant equipment and organizing a car sales network.

This car was of great importance in the further development of the Subaru 360 and Subaru 1000 models.
In 1958, on March 3, a car appeared on the market and immediately made people fall in love with it: the Subaru 360. Thanks to its beetle-like appearance, the Subaru 360 began to be affectionately called the Ladybug. At that time, Japanese car manufacturers were working on developing a minicar under the People's Car Plan, which was supported by the Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry. It was necessary to create a small and affordable car that would nevertheless have good characteristics. Few automakers have taken on this challenge. The Subaru 360 was designed exactly according to this concept. Throughout its 11 years of production, the Subaru 360 was extremely popular. In May 1970, production of the car was completed.

Subaru Leone was born in June 1971, and after it, in September 1972, a version appeared - Subaru Leone 4WD Station Wagon with all-wheel drive.
When the car was introduced to the market, it was offered exclusively for snowy or mountainous terrain. But the car confidently expanded its circle of admirers. Original system all-wheel drive Subaru (4WD) allowed the car to become the best-selling all-wheel drive passenger car.

In October 1983, the Subaru Domingo single-volume minibus debuted. This car allowed not only to accommodate seven passengers in a fairly compact body, but also to transform the seats in various ways using swivel and reclining seats, first developed in Japan.

The World Rally Championship (WRC) is an automobile competition in which commercially based vehicles compete against each other. The creators of Subaru decided to participate in the competition to demonstrate its high potential four-wheel drive vehicle. In addition, participation in a competition of this class made it possible to collect and analyze data on the behavior of the car in difficult conditions and take the results into account when creating mass-produced cars.
The creators of Subaru have always taken the issue of car handling very seriously. The company's engineers carried out tests in all conditions on special roads and public roads at the vehicle design stage. The data collected after passing these tests was thoroughly studied and used to improve technical characteristics car.

In 1989, from January 2 to January 21, the first-generation Subaru Legacy set a 100,000-kilometer world speed record at the Arizona Test Center, located on the outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona. The car covered a distance of 100,000 kilometers in 447 hours 44 minutes and 9.887 seconds with an average speed of 223.345 km/h, setting a new world speed record.

As part of the 81st Geneva Motor Show, which was held in March 2011, Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the manufacturer of Subaru cars, presented a concept car for the first time in Europe