Subaru is such an important name today, it’s hard to imagine a world without it. The Subaru legacy all started back in the early 1950s (not the Legacy, that came later), around the same time Peanuts, the Today show, and Catcher in the Rye got their start. Not only did the new automaker change the way Americans thought about driving, but it created an entirely new culture in America that we’re all part of today. The cars have been through a lot of changes through the years, but Subaru becomes more of an American icon with each passing year. We thought it would be fun to go through each decade and look at some highlights of Subaru’s journey from the beginning until now. From old-school cool to Subie chic, here we go!
1950s
Fuji Heavy Industries was created as an aircraft manufacturing, sales and maintenance company in 1953 through investments from five companies: Fuji Kogyo, Fuji Jidosha, Omiya Fuji Kogyo, Utsunomiya Sharyo and Tokyo Fuji Sangyo. In 1954, the prototype 4-wheel passenger vehicle P-1 was completed. It was named the Subaru 1500 the following year.
1960s
In 1966, the Subaru 1000 was released as FHI’s first compact passenger car powered by the boxer engine. It offered driving stability, a comfortable interior, and technical features like no one had ever seen before.
1970s
The Subaru Leone rolled onto the scene in the summer of 1971, followed by the Subaru Leone 4WD Station Wagon the following year. Until that point, four-wheel drive was limited to off-road vehicles. Subaru always was breaking traditions and exceeding expectations.
1980s
Back in 1984, we were all introduced to the first generation Subaru Justy. In 1987, the Justy was fitted with an advanced automatic transmission system, which also happened to be the world’s first electro-continuously variable transmission called the Subaru ECVT.
1990s
Ah, the 90s. The golden era. In 1992, the Subaru Impreza was launched. It featured a compact body with sporty curves, and it was offered in two versions: a 4-door Sedan and a Sports Wagon. The fantastic driving performance paired with a fresh take on the station wagon genre made the Impreza a popular choice. In 1997, the Forester made its debut. The Forester was the perfect combination of an SUV and a passenger car, making it another highly sought-after Subie.
2000s
In 2006, Subaru’s 2.5-liter, Horizontally-Opposed boxer engine with a turbocharger was voted “International Engine of the Year”. The award granted to the engine, which was being used by the Impreza and Forester models at the time, marked the first time a Horizontally Opposed engine was selected in the prestigious annual awards.
Today
In 2017, the all-new 3-row midsize SUV named the Ascent was unveiled at the 2017 New York International Auto Show. This is a move that Subie nation has been anticipating, but it blew everyone’s expectations out of the water. Keep an eye out for it to arrive on our lot here at Adventure Subaru very soon!
A lot has happened in America since the 1950s, but one thing remains the same. America loves Subaru—so tune in, because we might be updating you on the next 60+ years circa 2078.
If you want to check out the modern lineup of Subaru vehicles in person, stop by Adventure Subaru in Fayetteville and we’ll give you the grand tour. You can fill out our contact form here.
