Subaru, A Different Manufacturer For Adventurous Customers
The automotive industry works with an ‘ all to a Fuenteovejuna ‘. They are all rivals, yes, but they all seek the same goal by taking the same path. However, a few manufacturers are reluctant to be just another sheep in the herd, most notably Mazda and Subaru.
As a manufacturer Subaru stands out in the world of rallying, where the Japanese brand obtained a fame that still accompanies it.
Counterflow
As a good Japanese manufacturer, designs and developments are made mainly taking into account local tastes and needs, although lately the most important markets – Europe and the United States – have gained relevance. Despite everything, the latest releases maintain that technical difference that their rivals do not have.
We speak first of the boxer type engines. This configuration is one of the oldest, and currently outside of Subaru it is only maintained in the Porsche 718, 911 and Toyota GT86, a clone of a Subaru. They are engines whose manufacturing cost is slightly higher than a conventional one, but it has many advantages.
The main advantage of a boxer engine is the extra stability it provides. By being parallel to the ground, it helps to reduce the vehicle’s center of gravity. It also highlights how smooth and serene its operation is since it produces less vibrations.
Another defining feature of Subaru is the use of all-wheel drive in all of its cars except for the BRZ. The power of the engine and the finished level do not matter, and it is that the all-wheel drive is always available.
The only thing that Subaru has followed the same path as the rest of the manufacturers is the turbocharging of its engines. At least the Japanese integrate them into large-capacity engines and not into tight little blocks of three cylinders and dubious long-term reliability.
Rally Adventure
Almost certainly, most mortals know Subaru from his time in the World Rally Championship or WRC, as they wish to call it. The arrival of the Japanese manufacturer occurred in the last moments of Group B, with a Legacy RS Turbo preparation that did not stand out at all.
This two-door saloon led to the Legacy Group A, which they would maintain until 1993 with their sights set on releasing the long-awaited and famous Impreza Group A in the most prepared and successful way possible throughout the season. Additionally, blue and yellow livery was introduced that year with State Express 555 as a sponsor.
The car was born well, so for the following season – the first complete one for the Impreza -, it started as a favorite although it ended up being overtaken by Toyota. However, the Subaru guys rallied and achieved both titles in 1995 and only the team titles in 1996 and 1997.
After these successes, they would not obtain more titles until 2001 and 2003, already with the WRC specification Impreza and always in the team classification. Since then, the unstoppable success of Citroën relegated them to the second row until after the 2008 season they decided to retire due to the economic crisis.
Present
Currently, the Subaru range for the Spanish market consists of seven models. The oldest of all is a collaboration between brands, including Toyota, with whom they developed the BRZ / GT86 duo in 2011. The rest, high-quality models focused on the most sought-after segments.
Unfortunately, ignorance of the brand and a network of dealerships smaller than that of their rivals relegates them to a testimonial position. At least the SUV fever helps them maintain a decent level of sales with the Forester and XV, a compact SUV derived from the current Impreza.
