Subaru

Fuji Heavy Industries was formed out of five companies in 1953, and in 1954 the engineering and transportation giant set up an automobile division. After the aborted P1, the 360 minicar became the first production Subaru in 1958, and 1966’s 1000 was the first Subaru to feature a horizontally opposed “boxer” engine design the brand would become known for. The 1972 Leone was the beginning of the brand’s preoccupation with “symmetrical” all-wheel drive, becoming a core selling point through popular models such as the Legacy (Liberty in Australia), Outback and Forester. Subaru’s name was made globally in the early ’90s with the Impreza, which in turbocharged form became a formidable competitor in rallying and associated with driving aces such as Colin McRae and Possum Bourne – and spawned a cult road-going model in the WRX (and the even faster STI – Subaru Technica International – version). Toyota’s partial stake in FHI saw the two brands produce rear-wheel-drive sports car twins in 2012, with Subaru’s adopting the BRZ name.