In the old days, Subaru used to make weird, quirky cars—and driving one was a reflection on the owner. In 1968, during the VW Beetle heyday, the Subaru 360 was introduced with a buzzy 2-cylinder, 2-stroke engine. In the 1970s Subaru introduced a car-based pickup truck called the BRAT—a tiny Japanese version of the El Camino. They also invented the modern ‘Crossover’ when they added a 4WD system to the Leone Station Wagon, creating the first mass-produced 4WD passenger car.
In the early 1980s, Subaru designed and built a ‘halo car’ to show the world what it could really do. The Subaru XT was an AWD sports coupe with wedge styling, turbocharged power and air-suspension. It looked like a low-rez polygon, or a folded paper model of a Honda Prelude. The XT was sold from 1985 to 1991, when it was replaced by the SVX. The grandfather of the Demaras Racing family—Hundred Dollar Bill—actually owned an XT Turbo and an XT6 and got the family hooked on the brand.
The era of oddball cars from Subaru is long gone. They now primarily sell SUVs and Crossovers like the Forester, Outback and Crosstrek. Automotive website The Autopian recently ran an article bemoaning the loss of originality in Subarus lineup, and hypothesized that a rebodied Outback paying tribute to the retro Subaru XT could bring the ‘zing’ back into the Japanese brand’s offerings.
Starting with a pencil tracing of the existing vehicle, all that black plastic was stripped off. A flat-four engine would allow the hood to be sloped down to mimic the old XT sports car, and improve visibility. Even the old pop-up headlights could be added. No more Ford f150 front end styling.
A recessed cut between the front and rear lights along the side, and flush door handles like the original XT. The black glass cargo section also copies the floating canopy style of the original car. This retro ’80s sports car SUV might be a little too weird for regular buyers, but that’s the whole point. A Subaru should be weird, and built to stay that way.
I’d like to have a 360. I remember the Brat well too.
You only THIINK you want a Subaru 360! So tiny, two-stroke engine, questionable safety … even for that era.
The BRAT is just so cool, though.