Subaru UK celebrating 40 Winters of Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive
Subaru UK has announced they are celebrating four decades of All-Wheel Drive history; including passenger vehicles, World Rally Championship victories and turbocharged kei cars. Subaru’s unique All-Wheel Drive system has also featured on the brand’s concept cars over the years.
Subaru UK is this month celebrating the 40th anniversary of its antidote to hazardous winter driving conditions – the Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system – which has allowed Subaru owners to go almost anywhere since its introduction in 1972.
The technology was first offered as a part-time option on the estate derivative of the Subaru Leone, but was subsequently rolled-out across the Japanese brand’s entire range. Today, permanent Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive is standard fit across all Subaru models in the UK range, with the exception of the rear-wheel drive BRZ sports car.
“Looking back over the last 40 years, it’s clear that Subaru’s commitment to All-Wheel Drive has produced some of the most capable, best handling and safest all-terrain cars,” comments Haydn Davies, Marketing Director at Subaru UK.
In their latest press release, they have compiled 40 facts to mark the 40th anniversary of their All-Wheel Drive. Here are a few highlights:
40 facts for 40 Winters of All-Wheel Drive
1972: The Subaru Leone becomes the brand’s first All-Wheel Drive model, as part-time All-Wheel Drive is introduced to the estate derivative. The Leone has already been on sale as a coupe and saloon since 1971.
1977: Subaru UK is named the official distributor of the marque in Britain. In the same year, it is reported that foreign-manufactured cars are outselling British-built ones for the first time in the UK’s history.
1978: The Leone-based Subaru BRAT– Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter – is launched as an All-Wheel Drive pick-up.
1979: The second-generation Subaru Leone goes on sale globally, featuring a part-time, dual-range All-Wheel Drive system on all models with a manual transmission.
1980: Subaru’s involvement in the World Rally Championship begins, as Noriyuki Koseki, founder of Subaru Tecnica International (STI), enters three versions of the Subaru Leone into Group A in the 1980 Safari Rally of Africa.
1983: The world’s first four-wheel drive kei car (the special vehicle category created by the Japanese government to encourage consumers into smaller cars through lower tax and insurance) is launched – the All-Wheel Drive Subaru Rex. A turbocharger is made available as an option for the 544cc engine three months later. Throughout its life, the Rex is badged the Subaru Mini Jumbo, 600 and 700 in Europe.
1984: The third-generation Subaru Leone is launched, available with part-time All-Wheel Drive and pneumatic ride height-adjustable suspension.
1986: Part-time All-Wheel-Drive makes a return on the third-generation Subaru Rex. Margaret Thatcher officially opens the M25 London Orbital motorway.
1988: Having been on sale for a year, the Subaru Justy gets its own All-Wheel Drive system to help keep owners of the new city car moving in tough conditions.
1989: The all-new Subaru Legacy is launched, offering All-Wheel Drive as an option across the model range. The Legacy quickly becomes one of Subaru’s most popular vehicles.
1994: The second-generation Legacy is introduced with permanent All-Wheel Drive standard across the model range in the same year as the first UK National Lottery takes place.
1994: Subaru introduces the ‘STI’ brand to its passenger cars – models are upgraded from standard WRX derivatives, often featuring blueprinted performance-tuned engines, transmissions and suspension set-ups.
1998: At the same time as the launch of the latest Legacy, Subaru also introduces a new Outback model – no longer a derivative of the Legacy range, but a vehicle in its own right. Permanent All-Wheel Drive and a raised ride height highlight the Outback’s potential to go anywhere.
2006: The Subaru B9 Tribeca mid-sized SUV is launched in the UK.
2012: Subaru launches the XV into the highly-competitive compact crossover market. Only a few months after its launch, the XV is already winning plaudits for its ability to tackle harsh conditions and tough terrains.
To view all 40 Subaru facts and for more details on all of Subaru's vehicle range, please click here.
Subaru UK is this month celebrating the 40th anniversary of its antidote to hazardous winter driving conditions – the Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system – which has allowed Subaru owners to go almost anywhere since its introduction in 1972.
The technology was first offered as a part-time option on the estate derivative of the Subaru Leone, but was subsequently rolled-out across the Japanese brand’s entire range. Today, permanent Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive is standard fit across all Subaru models in the UK range, with the exception of the rear-wheel drive BRZ sports car.
“Looking back over the last 40 years, it’s clear that Subaru’s commitment to All-Wheel Drive has produced some of the most capable, best handling and safest all-terrain cars,” comments Haydn Davies, Marketing Director at Subaru UK.
In their latest press release, they have compiled 40 facts to mark the 40th anniversary of their All-Wheel Drive. Here are a few highlights:
40 facts for 40 Winters of All-Wheel Drive
1972: The Subaru Leone becomes the brand’s first All-Wheel Drive model, as part-time All-Wheel Drive is introduced to the estate derivative. The Leone has already been on sale as a coupe and saloon since 1971.
1977: Subaru UK is named the official distributor of the marque in Britain. In the same year, it is reported that foreign-manufactured cars are outselling British-built ones for the first time in the UK’s history.
1978: The Leone-based Subaru BRAT– Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter – is launched as an All-Wheel Drive pick-up.
1979: The second-generation Subaru Leone goes on sale globally, featuring a part-time, dual-range All-Wheel Drive system on all models with a manual transmission.
1980: Subaru’s involvement in the World Rally Championship begins, as Noriyuki Koseki, founder of Subaru Tecnica International (STI), enters three versions of the Subaru Leone into Group A in the 1980 Safari Rally of Africa.
1983: The world’s first four-wheel drive kei car (the special vehicle category created by the Japanese government to encourage consumers into smaller cars through lower tax and insurance) is launched – the All-Wheel Drive Subaru Rex. A turbocharger is made available as an option for the 544cc engine three months later. Throughout its life, the Rex is badged the Subaru Mini Jumbo, 600 and 700 in Europe.
1984: The third-generation Subaru Leone is launched, available with part-time All-Wheel Drive and pneumatic ride height-adjustable suspension.
1986: Part-time All-Wheel-Drive makes a return on the third-generation Subaru Rex. Margaret Thatcher officially opens the M25 London Orbital motorway.
1988: Having been on sale for a year, the Subaru Justy gets its own All-Wheel Drive system to help keep owners of the new city car moving in tough conditions.
1989: The all-new Subaru Legacy is launched, offering All-Wheel Drive as an option across the model range. The Legacy quickly becomes one of Subaru’s most popular vehicles.
1994: The second-generation Legacy is introduced with permanent All-Wheel Drive standard across the model range in the same year as the first UK National Lottery takes place.
1994: Subaru introduces the ‘STI’ brand to its passenger cars – models are upgraded from standard WRX derivatives, often featuring blueprinted performance-tuned engines, transmissions and suspension set-ups.
1998: At the same time as the launch of the latest Legacy, Subaru also introduces a new Outback model – no longer a derivative of the Legacy range, but a vehicle in its own right. Permanent All-Wheel Drive and a raised ride height highlight the Outback’s potential to go anywhere.
2006: The Subaru B9 Tribeca mid-sized SUV is launched in the UK.
2012: Subaru launches the XV into the highly-competitive compact crossover market. Only a few months after its launch, the XV is already winning plaudits for its ability to tackle harsh conditions and tough terrains.
To view all 40 Subaru facts and for more details on all of Subaru's vehicle range, please click here.
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