Subaru Impreza
The name Subaru comes from a star cluster in the Pleiades. Literally translated in Japanese, this means get together. In Germany, the Pleiades are also called the seven stars, whereby the number of stars that can be seen depends on the location. In Japan, on the other hand, the six brightest stars of this constellation are referred to as Subaru and this is where the model for the logo comes from. Similar to the stars, the company has merged from six different car manufacturers.
The first Subaru goes into series production in 1958 and immediately becomes a bestseller. The lightweight small car 360 is affectionately referred to by the Japanese as the May beetle and is particularly impressive given its affordable price. The Subaru 1000, the first front-wheel drive model, went on sale in 1965. The car manufacturer Subaru expands and opens Subaru of America, Inc. in the USA in 1968 to boost exports. The 1980s are among the most successful decade for the Japanese automaker. Subaru presents the compact Justy, the compact 4WD van and the XT 4WD sports coupé, which was presented for the first time in the USA, to the public and reaped great applause for it.
Subaru only holds a small market share in Europe and also in Germany. That's why you rarely see a Subaru on Germany's roads. However, the manufacturer's image is very high, which also has something to do with the value stability and reliability of the used cars. The vehicles are always in the top ranks in the ADAC trade journals when it comes to durability, safety and customer satisfaction.
The automaker is a relatively small company compared to its competitors and consequently has a smaller budget for development costs. However, the company attaches particular importance to its own developments and has been pursuing the strategy of not entering into any cooperation for years. Almost all Subaru vehicles are manufactured with permanent four-wheel drive and boxer engines are installed in the models. These are of low height and ensure smooth and safe driving thanks to a good mass balance. Most of the vehicles are also equipped with hill start assist, so that the driver has a certain level of safety when starting off on a hill. The system still worked hydraulically in the early years, but was replaced by an electric one in production.
In the 1990s, the Subaru car brand even dominated the FIA World Rally Championship and convinced the competition of its strength. Subaru is now part of the "Fuji Heavy Industries" group, making it one of the largest manufacturers of means of transport in Japan. Fuji Heavy Industries also builds civil and military aircraft, as well as buses and locomotives.
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