Subaru
Sambar STI
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Subaru Sambar STI //
From where
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From where !?
Origin
The art of imitation
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The art of imitation //
Building on ashes
Imitation is more than just a sincere form of flattery
After the Second World War, Japan had to face a defeat and one of the most terrifying episodes in history. A paradigm shift that required high industrialization if it did not want to be plunged into misery.
After a humiliating and traumatic occupation, Japan was forced to accept and include parts of a Western culture, from which it had always renounced, trying to distance it while maintaining its own ideals, remaining faithful to its ideals of pride. A transition to a new era that was a hard blow to national pride, but that some were able to take advantage of to start new businesses.
There was no other alternative. Japan and its people needed to rise from the ashes that had been imposed on them if they wanted to remain a power. Not everything was lost. There was still hope
A paradigm shift
Although it is tragic, what happens during and after a great war tends to be great industrialization. There is no other option.
In a devastated Japan, the need for mobility was similar to that of the rest of the Western countries, with a large amount of the population barely having the purchasing power for a motorcycle.
After the cessation of war activity, and given that the largest Japanese industrial companies were dedicated to aeronautical purposes (as was the case of Subaru, along with other now well-known automobile and motorcycle companies), they saw the opportunity to continue providing a service to his new nation by carrying out a new business activity in The Business World of Automation.
Those who knew how to see what was happening in the rest of the world and how they offered solutions to the problems of modern life in terms of mobility, were able to take advantage of the opportunity to copy and improve what was out there.
A new era for car design
Subaru originally started as Nakajima Aircraft Company making some of the planes that were used by Japan during WW2, but Its journey as an automobile manufacturer with the launch of the Subaru 360 in 1958.
Designed by engineer Shinroku Momose, Subaru was able to innovate in several areas such as the use of components. and its ability to create such a compact means of transportation.
Being not a conventional size car, it enter in the Kei Car category, a special type of segment that at that time had less atributed to them by being less than 12 feet in length and comsume no more than 69 milles per gallon.
In its design you can see a clear inspiration in Western cars, a constant that will be seen in Japanese design for several years.
Japan had a high demand for mobility after the Second World War, a need parallel to what was seen in Europe filled with iconic models such as the small Fiat 500.
Small cars were the bastions that founded the new cities. Low consumption, accessibility and cost, functional design and post-war innovations were the ingredients of the new mass icons.
Everything was 100% focused on functionality. Just and necessary to offer the maximum possible
Focusing on simplicity and efficiency of design, the 360 was highly inspired by models such as the Volkswagen Beatle or the Fiat 500, so the engine was located on the rear axle, delivering power directly to the rear wheels without the need for any components that could add complexity.
This same parallelism is then reflected when developing a mobility solution for a greater number of people or goods transportation while maintaining a compact and efficient profile.
Subaru 360 - The “Ladybug”
Released on 1958, the little car gradually gained a great following.
Being very popular in his country of origin, gaining the nickname of the “ladybug”, in a very similar to the Beatle, the Subaru 360 was also the first model sold by the company in USA.
For a period, it was the cheapest import into USA, however in America it did not have much success, due to how different it was compared to the rest of the alternatives on the market, being the same as a Beatle but worse in practically everything and leading only in price.
Utility Expansion
Sharing components such as the boxer engine of the Subaru 360, Subaru also saw an opportunity by entering the kei pick-up segment.
These small-sized kei vans and pick ups were highly optimized to take advantage of every inch.
The Subaru Sambar meant a lot for many business and various industries, taking full advantage of all the cargo area that could flow through traffic in the city given its small size.
It was also widely used by individuals due to the advantages of being under kei regulations benefits. For those families with several members or those who carried out outdoor activities, it meant a magnificent means of transportation with which to exploit their freedom.
The Subaru Sambar meant a lot for many business and various industries, taking full advantage of all the cargo area that could flow through traffic in the city given its small size.
The Subaru sambar platform was widely used by families with several members or by those looking to do all kinds of outdoor activities and needed more cargo space for their equipment or needs.
From where
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From where !?
Legacy
Inspiration
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Inspiration //
Building a herritage
Adding value trough the use of 4x4 technology.
In 1972 Subaru introduced to their lineup Full Time All-Wheel Drive. The aim was to give to their users the ultimate freedom. Subaru vehicles could now conquer all.
Nowdays it is Symmetrical All Wheel Drive. The combination of Symetrical All Wheel Drive and the use of powerfull boxer engines made the Subaru lineup one of the most capable vehicles.
The king of snow, dirt, mud and asphalt.
WRX and STI
Subaru shaped its identity around a marketing strategy based around the most technical and complicated tracks in the motorsport world. Continuously participating in rally competitions in order to advertise their 4wd system caused the shape of 4-door vehicles to change competition after competition, improving everything in its path.
In this way, to compete they required a base model, which would later be highly modified from a conventional 4-door from their line of vehicles, to compete thinking about defeating their opponents, and in the same way, putting a version on the market. more domesticated car for the most passionate driving enthusiasts.
World Rally Blue
Subaru = Blue and gold
In 1993 subaru decided to sign a sponsorship deal with State Express 555, a cigarette brand that came in dark blue packaging with a gold stripe.
After this decision, Subaru chained a series of key victories in its history, giving the 555 livery legendary status.
Although this sponsorship ended for Subaru, the blue color and the gold wheels were like red for Ferrari. As the seasons passed, the color continued becoming part of the brand identity.
For my model, I was notably inspired by the rounded details of the 2001 Subaru Impreza, nicknamed the "bugeye", quite similar, especially in the area of headlights, to the original Subaru Sambar.
Subaru STI
These 3 letters stand for Subaru Tecnica International, which is essentially a name to describe Subaru’s own motorsports program that started in the world of rally and continued expanding from there.
Having this badge implies sportiness and having it makes any vehicle of the brand more desirable.
The reason behind that statment is that the inclusion of "STI" on a Subaru model, indicates that the vehicle has been modified and tuned by this division to offer superior performance and improved driving capabilities.
Attempting to solve
Modern times EGO
Understanding the problem
Efficiency is key.
In a way, I consider that with the passage of time the function, the real usefulness of things has been lost and they have been transformed into others. In the end, what dictates the funtion is the problem you are trying to solve. That's where a good designer starts a project.
Mine is based on space management in utility vehicles, such as pickups (taking into account that my other priority is also maximizing the fun and sensations that occur when driving).
Here are a series of examples that compare the difference between an American pickup truck and a Japanese kei class.
One of these car is Expensive, Inpractical and Dangerous
On the right we can see two pickups, one American and another within the Japanese kei category.
Despite their difference in size, in terms of dimensions of the useful cargo space bed it is practically the same, however, in the Japanese pick-up, 70% of the vehicle total space is intended to fulfill its function in a useful way, maximizing the space. On the other hand, in the other pick-up approximately 40% is used.
I am greatly fascinated by the wonders that cars intended for use in the city are capable of doing with space, especially the cars that fall within the kei category, with their distinctive adorable Japanese-style aesthetic, but especially because of how, with their size, they are capable of accommodating 4 people and some cargo relatively well.
Brands have used as a marketing method the myth that trucks and SUV models are safer because when you sit higher, your field of vision is greater compared to other vehicles, alluding to the hearts of those buyers who prioritize safety. first of all
The feeling of superiority or security that these vehicles can provide to their drivers, with such high handling, and large sizes of both bodywork and displacement, makes them not really buy what they would really need, but rather they acquire what has become a status symbol. Not everyone even has the space to store this type of vehicle, let's not even talk about their prices.
However, the reality is much more tragic. In the current environment, it is the case that pick-up models, especially the American ones, have very large engines to move the tons they weigh, engines that require very long hoods that make vision even more difficult. This sadly acts as a death trap for children or small animals, which, if they find themselves in the dead spots of these vehicles, run the risk of suffering a tragic accident, something that according to statistics should make us think. . Its weight and aerodynamic profile also do not help it make a positive contribution in terms of consumption. In addition, their large sizes also imply a higher center of gravity, consequently making these vehicles more unstable and added to the inertia they may have, it becomes a force that is difficult to stop easily. Not to mention the visual pollution they cause when parking, since their size takes up the entire street.
These types of vehicles also fall into a different category, therefore their emissions tests and crash tests are much more permissive, since at the time the United States considered them essential to carry out a large part of their economic activities.
Old solutions for nowdays problematics
Let's be honest. There is no planet B, and ours is already contaminated enough to negate the damage that we humans have caused to our home. Going quickly from point A to point B has also quickly left a carbon footprint for which we must be responsible and for which we increasingly see results to be ashamed of.
Little by little, but firmly, measures are being taken at a global level where the cessation of use and/or restrictions are dated in the short and long term regarding the use of engines and technologies that contribute to the deterioration of the planet, works of engineering that motor sport purists have enjoyed so much.
Evolution of transportation using pick-ups
In recent years there has been a constant in the world of transportation design. The bigger the better. However at some point it got out of hand.
The pick up has its origin in carriages and it is related with farmers and the use that they gave to this transport, where the package was distributed in such a way that the horses were in front acting as driving force, then a small space for the driver and just behind him a straight and long bed, intended for cargo that occasionally had fences so that the load did not fall out.
With the arrival of the first mass production automobiles, and as it could not be otherwise, it was the pioneer Henry Ford with his Ford model T who offered a modified version of the model T for users who wanted it. It was an instant boom and the something has continued to evolve since it is a basic need of the human being.
As we move forward in time, what has changed within the formula has been the space of the engine and the massagers, making them more and more comfortable and easy to use.
However, some questions also arise: how much is really enough? Or Do so many people really need that kind of vehicle for the real activity they do?
Money talks
But little can be done. Year after year the same phenomenon occurs, in the United States the best-selling vehicle is usually a pickup truck.
Pick-ups, the vehicle that is practically a national pride and is part of its historical heritage, are always among the 3 best-selling vehicles in the country.
I'm not saying that the Japanese truck is perfect, but it is an option that should be taken more into account.
All told, there are situations where a vehicle the size of a large pickup truck, with high off-road capacity linked to a high-power engine may make sense, but there is not as much honest demand as there is for the supply that exists.
It's really necessary?
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Size Do Matters
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It's really necessary? / Size Do Matters /
From where
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From where !?
The Concept
The art of imitation
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The art of imitation //
The nature of this mobility solution has its origins in the 60s, but it is in the 90s and early 2000s where my concept takes real and deep inspiration. Technology is an important part of the design, but always from a passionate youth perspective. The real important thing is not how advanced the technology is, but how useful it is and how easy it is to enjoy, like a toy or a video game console. Rounded simple shapes everywhere.
The place where the concept develops its action is both in the urban environment and outside it, a useful and small vehicle capable of maneuvering in narrow environments, but with very wide versatility, which allows its owner to go out and enjoy a ride with a vehicle with great response when traveling through a mountain pass or "touge" as they are called in Japan.
Powertrain
The heart of the machine
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The heart of the machine //
The hearth of the machine
The way a vehicle is propelled is very important. The original model had a two-cylinder two-stroke engine with a displacement of approximately 356 cc.
The engine was in the back and the hood was curiously the rear bumper, so maintenance was much easier.
Today there are much more attractive and environmentally more efficient solutions.
4x4 as standard
Toyota GR Yaris is a special homologation special vehicle that was developed to meet the homologation requirements of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) to participate in the World Rally Championship (WRC) category.
Toyota produced a limited number of units to meet homologation requirements, thus allowing the vehicle to compete in the WRC category. However, given the positive public reception due to its appeal among motorsport enthusiasts and sports car fans, Toyota also decided to offer the GR Yaris for sale to the general public, albeit in a limited quantity.
Toyota GR Yaris H2
Toyota, without neglecting the development of the solid-state battery, also continues to bet on hydrogen in all its facets.
in which the Japanese manufacturer has reinforced its commitment to the development of hydrogen propulsion systems as an alternative to total electrification.
This technology offers 261 hp, almost zero exhaust emissions without the need for electrification, but preserving the things that racing car fans like most: speed and noise, so it is an initiative to value.
EV platforms
In the case of electric vehicles, it makes sense to invest heavily in a platform that gives rise to different types of chassis and volumes thanks to the modularity it allows, like the one that they use in canoo.
Instant torque, less noise pollution and environmental impact and regenerative braking are some of the advantages.
Subaru on sportive EVs
With the recent presentation of the Subaru Sport Mobility Concept, Subaru has shown its vision of the electric car and what its design could be like.
Among its features there is a very interesting detail and it is the presence of materials that resemble forged carbon, which may simply be recycled material that resembles its texture. In Subaru's words, the driver “controls all four wheels at will.” They also say that the pilot will ride in a very low position, which guarantees “excellent visibility” and “driving calmly.”
Toyota and Subaru. Sharing dreams
In 2019, Toyota and Subaru reached an agreement that made sports car lovers very happy. They joined forces to jointly develop two sports cars, the Toyota GT86 and the Subaru BRZ and both shared a Boxer engine signed by Subaru and rear-wheel drive and other technoligies. The goal of these cars is simple. Offer the greatest driving pleasure for the pilot, without sacrificing the pocketbook.
To this day this fraternity continues and although the base is the same, both companies share the essence but adapt the chassis to the brand's design language.
The Wolf in Lamb´s Skin
In 2020, Toyota launches a car that is a delight. On the outside a normal car but on the inside a soul that seeks to conquer the rally stages.
On the left the conventional model and on the right the GR. They look the same but they only share headlights, door mirrors, rear light clusters and the shark fin antenna on the roof on the outside. Inside the hood they have nothing to do with each other. The yaris GR has one of the most compact three-cylinder engines capable of offering figures starting at 300hp and has been seen reaching figures of up to 700.
The secret is how it was conceived. From the beginning it was imagined as a homologation model, therefore the most brutal model was first developed and then decaffeinated. It is not a common practice, but it does result in dream machines and it is literally what I aim for with the Subaru Sambar.
Toyota GR Yaris H2
The Subaru boxer engine may be the most coherent combustion option, due to its flat shape which makes its point of gravity lower and does not take up space from the bed, in addition to the fact that it is well tested by the STI division in several races both in the world of rally and circuit competition
Ergonomics
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Ergonomics /
Package
Powetrain
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Powetrain //
In the Subaru Sambar the size of the cabin is very limited so the comfort of the passengers is also limited, restricting the target audience.
In this version the cabin extends back and a little above, allowing more space for passengers, along with the installation of a bucket seat. Additionally, the wheels are larger and wider for greater traction.
The pilot has a relatively comfortable space and extra space behind the seat to store things. In the back the battery, under the bed there is space for the battery
Pick up and Van
