Subaru

Origin of the name

Subaru is the name of a star cluster of the constellation of the bull called Pléïades. Six of stars of this cluster are visible with the naked eye but approximately 250 can be distinguished using a telescope. The first president of the group “Fuji Heavy Industries”, Kenja Kita, had the idea to call this new automobile mark Subaru because Fuji Heavy Industries repurchased 6 of the 12 companies of the group Nakajima Aircraft during its dissolution. Kita thus saw with through the name Subaru the ideal symbol to express the unification of these 6 companies within Fuji Heavy company.

History

Subaru is a division with whole share of the Japanese company Fuji Heavy Industries. General Motors, which had 20% of the capital, has renvendu its shares with Toyota in 2005.

In February 1954, “Fuji Heavy Industries” announces an automobile prototype called P1, baptized Subaru the 1500 year following during its launching. The car was equipped with the first Japanese monocoque structure. The 1500 cumulated qualities but unfortunately the sales had to be suspended because of the difficulties of supply equipment and especially because of the deficiencies of the distribution network. Nevertheless it provided an excellent base for the development the following years (as from 1956) 360 and 1000. This year was the starting point of the Subaru mark.

1956 : Creation of the Subaru mark.
1972: Subaru becomes holder of the integral transmission with 3 differentials. The four driving wheels become an argument in term of active safety.
1994: Subaru (Japanese car manufacturer of small size) lance in the United Kingdom a new car, Impreza. Many models were then available, with engines of 1,6l, 1,8l and 2,0 liters, and the choice of a traditional transmission to the nose gear wheels (traction) or of a permanent transmission to the four wheels (integral).
1996: The versions “traction” 1.6 and 1.8 liters never were well sold and are quickly withdrawn from the catalog. The models 2,0 GL, 2,0 Sport and 2000 Turbo are preserved.

Subaru decided to produce Impreza in 1994 to engage in championship of the world of the rallys. At the time it was necessary to market at least 2.500 specimens of a vehicle to be able to claim with this competition. In other words Subaru developed a genuine racing racing car accessible to very simple driver: four-cylinder motor flat turbocompressé, 2l of cubic capacity, 16 valves and obviously an integral transmission (50/50) permanent. A myth was born because of the special character from the engine flat known as “boxer”. Few automobile marks propose such an architecture-engine, Porsche is one of the rare examples with its famous 6 cylinders flat. The engines flat lower the center of gravity of the car and get a very particular sonority.

Engine ragor, center of gravity lowered, integral transmission are the three weapons which made it possible Subaru to gain with its Impreza 3 times the title manufacturer into 1995,1996 and 1997 and 3 times the pilot title in 1995 (Colin McRae), 2001 (Richard Burns) and 2003 (Petter Solberg). Successes of Subaru in rallys obviously had effects on the sales of Impreza which represent more than 50% of the sales of Subaru (one will always intend to say “Hold a sub! ” instead of " Hold, Impreza"). Impreza has phagocyte the other models of the mark (Legacy, Forester, Outback…) so much so that we arrived at an equation quite simple Subaru = Impreza.

Impreza 2 liters turbocompressée

The history of Impreza begins in 1994.

the Turbo WP (1994-2000):

At that time the sporting version names Turbo WP. In 1994 it has of 211 cv to 6000 tr/min and 27m.kg with 4800 tr/min for an empty weight of 1235kg. The Turbo WP will be produced until 2000.

Between 1994 and 2000 its engine will undergo modifications which will carry in 1999 its power with 217 cv to 5600tr/min and a couple of 29,7 m.kg with 4000 tr/min. It is with this model that Subaru made it possible these happy customers to feel at the wheel of Impreza WRC of rally. Nonglad to propose an effective car, Subaru also proposes a price ratio/performance clashing (155 000 francs of the time for a car able to cut down the 1000 m in less than 27 seconds). Obviously the Turbo WP was not free from defects, its character understeer in particular was décrié a long time. In 2000 Subaru decides to stop the production of the WP Turbo and built an entirely new model, the WRX.

the WRX

In October 2000, Subaru launches the WRX. The evolutions compared to the Turbo WP are intended to improve its approval and its effectiveness and to solve the problem of under turn. - engine: the flat furnace turbo 2l compressed is preserved but in order to meet the standards of depollution euro 3, this engine was worked over again. Turbo and air-to-air heat exchanger their increased proportions saw (1 cv additional and 2Nm is gained, that is to say 218 cv DIN and 29,6 Nm, which is only one thin profit due to the addition of a third catalyst).

- frame/body entirely re-examined, the length increases by 6 cm and the width of 4 cm (version 4 doors). The weight increases by 120 kg compared to the turbo WP is 1.365 kg because of the increase in the face of the car on the one hand, but also because of the increased rigidity from the hull which increases by 185% in inflection and 250% in torsion.

In short the WRX is more rigorous in road behavior (the understeer character disappeared) and the flat furnace gained of availability with low mode and in discretion. Unfortunately for some the brutal character if attaching was also gummed…

Characteristics of the products

Subaru are distinguished from the other cars by their original power unit. Subaru for the majority are driven by driving “boxer”, the cylinders are horizontally opposite, to four or six cylinders connected to an integral transmission with constant catch. The models with manual box have a central differential with visco-coupler whereas the system of the automatic box consists of a clutch multidisk with electronic control.

Associated a long time with a rather dull image, because of the first more famous models for their durability than for their performance, Subaru project very an other image thanks to the many victories of the mark in Championship of the world of the rallys. Subaru currently sold in Europe and North America all are equipped with a integral Transmission, speciality of the mark since the years 1970. Many engines of the range are equipped with Turbocompresseur.

Subaru models

Old models

Subaru 360, first model of the mark, mini car.
Subaru Leone Truck, half-compartment, station-wagon and elevated station-wagon sold in the years 1980, initiating of the success of Subaru in the United States.
Subaru Alcyone/XT Crossed equipped with one 4 cylinders boxer turbocompressé sold as from 1985. replaced by the SVX.
Subaru Alcyone/SVX, crossed been driven by a six-cylinder motor flat sold in the years 1990.
Subaru Vivio, town
Subaru Domingo or Sambar, microvan of 3,52 m been driven by an engine 3 cylinders 1.1L. Known under the name of Vanilla in France or Libero in Germany.
Subaru Baja, half pickup, half truck, based on the platform of Outback II (Legacy) with a suspension sport, sometimes a turbo engine, a séquencielle gear box and an extensible bucket of pickup inside the cockpit.
Subaru Traviq, monospace compact, cousin of the first generation of the Opel Zafira, only diffused in Japan.

Current models

Subaru R1/R2, town respectively born in 2004 and 2003, only sold in Japan.
Subaru Pleo, town impetus in 1998, only sold in Japan.
Subaru Stella, town impetus in 2006, only sold in Japan.
Subaru Sambar, related with old the Subaru Vanilla, only sold in Japan.
Subaru G3X Justy, cousin of the Suzuki Ignis, manufactured in Hungary (stopped production).
Subaru Impreza, compact truck; base model used in WRC. Last renewal: autumn 2007.
Subaru Legacy, family model available in the station-wagon and the station-wagon all-way (then called “outback”).
Subaru Outback, alternative all-ways of the station-wagon of Legacy.
Subaru Forester, All-way.
Subaru B9 Tribeca, SUV of big size, firstly intended for the United States but also diffused in Europe.

Subaru Formulates 1 of them

In 1990, Subaru, which has just taken the control of 51% of the shares of the stable Coloni wishes to engage in Formule 1 to show its technical know-how in high level competition. However, Subaru is not able to develop an engine of F1 as of the entâme of the championship and sub-contract Flat 12 with Motori Moderni while waiting to develop its own V12 for the current of the season. Following the disastrous results of the beginning of the season (eight non-préqualifications in as much of GP), Subaru, conscious of being misled and not wanting to ruin its sporting reputation in becoming, throws sponge at the end of some GP.

Subaru F12 (1990)

12 cylinders flat with 180°
4 camshafts at the head
5 valves by cylinders
direct injection.
Rolled: 3.500 Cm3
Length: 668 mm
Stable having run Subaru: Coloni (1990)

Statistical data

Simple: Subaru

Random links: