By kei-cars to crossovers: as the Subaru car changed the world car industry
Technologies / / December 19, 2019
Subaru - is the Japanese name for the Pleiades star cluster in the constellation Taurus. In it is more than 200 stars, but without a telescope can be seen, only six of the brightest. This is the name chosen Kenji China - the first president of the concern Fuji Heavy Industries, which appeared due to the merger of six companies. The literal translation of the word in Japanese - "showing the way" or "get together".
History of the brand started in 1917, with the aircraft company Nakajima Aircraft. It is in this sector concentrated the latest technologies, many of which Subaru has used in the automobile industry.
Subaru - the world's largest producer of cars with all-wheel drive.
Horizontally opposed engine operates more stably and silently than in-line or V-shaped. It has a low level of vibration, so the design does not need extra balance. Due to this, the motor becomes easier, and the engine's center of gravity is shifted lower. No wonder the icon of the sports automobile Porsche 911 used was a boxer engine.
Subaru symmetrical all-wheel drive is designed so that the torque always acts on all four wheels. This system allows you to confidently drive a car on the roads with different surface and in difficult weather conditions.
Subaru engineers have honed detail, working on aerodynamics, power and safety, and looking at other brands, has always tried to offer outstanding technical solutions. Therefore, many of the invention affected the global automotive industry as a whole. Tells how it was.
The history of the evolution of Subaru
- 1958 - Subaru Subaru car produces 360 K-car category.
K-car - Japanese light car. Taxes miniature cars were low and did not need to park a special certificate, for the rest of the transport. In 1958, the Japanese government established the following criteria for the category: no more than 3 meters in length, 1.3 meters wide and 2 meters in height, the maximum volume of the engine - 360 cc. Subaru 360 - the first kei car, which became commercially successful in the Japanese market - two years sales of this model increased from 5 111 to 22 thousand cars, and almost immediately began to be exported to the United States and Australia.
- 1966 - the debut of Subaru 1000, Japan's first mass front-wheel cars.
It is with this car began the history of the Subaru Boxer engine. No other car to Subaru 1000 leading the front wheels is not combined with a horizontally-opposed engine. The appearance of the vehicle was innovative for its time, it was called a standard passenger car.
- 1971 - goes Subaru Leone, the world's first serial-wheel drive car with a monocoque body instead of the frame.
Prior to this, all-wheel drive was the only large frame SUVs. Leone combined cross-wheel-drive passenger cars and dimensions. And all this - in the segment of budget cars. Leone was created for the Japanese electricity company. Heavy snow broke off the wire, so the organization needed a light, but off-road vehicles. Leone could freely get to located in remote, snow-covered ground power lines. In addition, the machine has become popular among fans of skiing, as it is easy driving out of the snow drifts and climbed into the mountains. With the release of this model in the world began to develop passenger-wheel drive.
- 1977 - the North American market has a pick-up Subaru BRAT.
The first all-wheel drive pick-up - it is well managed at least on a dirt road in the woods, even in the beach sand. For this he fell in love with the young 80s BRAT in America has become a symbol of entertainment and activities. The machine is based on the model of Leone, but two seats carried from the cabin into the open trunk. That helped retain cars in the category of passenger cars, not-legkovozov trucks - an important nuance, which allowed to pay less taxes.
- 1984 - Subaru Justy creates. A modification of this model, released in 1987, became the first production car with an electronically-controlled CVT.
With the CVT unsuccessfully experimented with different companies. Subaru managed to get the first mechanism to work correctly with the help of e-governance. ECVT transmission debuted on the Subaru Justy. With it, the transmission vary smoothly, and the motor operates at its most efficient speed range. Now the variable speed electronically controlled very common in the world.
- 1985 - released by the luxury sports car Alcyone.
Alcyone - the most bright star of the Pleiades constellation. The wedge-shaped body and a flattened shape Alcyone is not just a tribute to the design. They helped model reach least at the time of air resistance coefficient in the world - 0,29 Cd. Such aerodynamics allowed to develop high machine speeds with lower fuel consumption.
- 1989 - four-wheel drive Subaru Legacy sets a new speed record on a distance of 100 000 kilometers.
Before leaving on sale Legacy-wheel drive car has set a new world record average speed of 100 000 km - 223.345 km / h. An incredible achievement, and by today's standards. The distance was passed for 447 hours, 44 minutes and 9.887 seconds. In 1993, racer Colin McRae won a stage of the World Rally Championship in New Zealand, piloting a Subaru Legacy RS, it was the first victory for Subaru in the WRC championship.
- 1992 - leaves legendary model Impreza.
The racing version of the Impreza Subaru gave the team a lot of victories on the rally tracks. Cars of this model won World Rally Championship three years in a row from 1995 to 1997. The first champion of the brand in 1995 was the Colin McRae. Famous racer Richard Burns Impreza piloted from 1999 to 2001 and during that time managed to win eight world championship competitions and one title. Another pilot teams - Petter Solberg - won 13 stages of the rally from 2002 to 2005, and in 2003 - the world champion. After withdrawing from the production Mitsubishi Evolution Subaru WRX STI was the only one in the class - present "The Last Samurai." This car can "give a light" on the race track and on rally tracks. A 2017 Subaru WRX with an increased capacity of up to 600 hp established new speed record Nurnburgring, traveling track 6 minutes 57.5 seconds.
- 1995 - left-terrain wagon Subaru Outback.
Outback was created as an urban family car, but due to significant ground clearance - 213 mm from the current, fifth generation - on-road and is not inferior to the SUV. With it you can easily travel to the nature and not to be afraid of the high curbs in the city.
- 1997 - Subaru released the first generation of the crossover Subaru Forester.
Automotive journalists have not been able to carry this machine to any one class. Forester combines the comfort of the family station wagon and SUV patency. The model became so successful that by 2017, Subaru has madeSUBARU CORPORATION Fact Book 2017 more than three million cars Forester. The fifth generation of the crossover remains a worldwide bestseller.
- 2011 - released a compact crossover Subaru XV.
It is the youngest and most stylish car company that has retained all the traditional advantages: high ground clearance and permanent four-wheel drive. subaru XV includes the three most popular cars of the brand in Russia with the Forester and Outback.
Modern vehicles Subaru new generation horizontally opposed engines that provide high power, low fuel consumption and lower emissions of gases into the atmosphere. Permanent all-wheel drive and a large (even by the standards of off-road vehicles) ground clearance allowing safe to travel outside the city. Subaru car is extremely reliable - 97% of cars built in the last 10 years are still on the roads.
Breakthrough technology manufacturer of security literally save lives - the company has many years' projectDedicated people who survived the terrible accident thanks to Subaru security. All Subaru cars received top marks for Japanese, European and American safety standards.
The new generation Forester
In September 2018 Subaru presented the fifth generation Forester. It is a powerful crossover, which moves smoothly and easily maneuvered - manufacturer remains true to its tradition of combining the best qualities of the different categories of cars. A range of assistance EyeSight driver is considered one of the best in the world.
subaru Forester I became most modern crossover 2018.
Forester has incorporated technologies that Subaru has developed throughout its long history.
- Horizontally-Opposed engine subaru Boxer: Engine runs smoothly and has a low level of vibration.
- Permanent all-wheel drive SAWD: The machine keeps a perfect balance to the ground, gravel or any other surfaces.
- traffic on the road system X-mode: Even novice drivers will be able to easily manage Forester in difficult road conditions.
- Safety system RABProtecting against collisions when reversing. If, when parking, you risk just about to enter into the wall - the car will stop itself and prevent accidents.
- Driver assistance system EyeSightWhich analyzes the way and gives a person driving tips. If you close the passenger goes silent, which is activated to indicate a hazard or obstacle. And even able to urgently stop the car to prevent an accident if necessary. The adaptive cruise control allows you to safely move in traffic, and not only on the track, as most systems.
- System Subaru Intelligent Drive It analyzes your driving style and adapts to her steering movements and smooth gas pedal - to give each driver individually balance between power and agility.
You can switch modes manually driving. In an embodiment of Sport accelerator pedal becomes extremely sensitive to the slightest touch. Sport Sharp provides the fastest possible acceleration - you will feel the power of an SUV. And Intelligent mode is designed for smooth movements in the traffic flow and economical fuel consumption - ideal for traffic jams.
If you like modern powerful machines - can themselves feel how fast the car picks up speed, with confidence, but moves smoothly in traffic. The Subaru dealer showrooms already possible to take a test drive of the new Forester and other brand models.
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