Subaru R2
Encyclopedia
For the late 1960s Subaru R-2, please see Subaru R-2
The Subaru R2 was announced in Japan on December 8, 2003, and the R2 name was inspired by the Subaru R-2
, the kei car
model that was produced between 1969 and 1972.
The R2's exterior reflects influence from Andreas Zapatinas
, who worked at Alfa Romeo
before moving to Subaru. The R2 is the first production Subaru
to sport a new family look, including the aviation-inspired "spread wings grille" that is also used by Tribeca
and Impreza
The R2's exterior dimensions are largely similar to its predecessor, the Subaru Pleo
, but unlike the squarish Pleo, the R2 is deliberately rounded, less space efficient form.
Three variations of the 4-cylinder, 658 cc engine are available:
Unlike other Subaru models which used Boxer engine, the R2 chooses to use inline engine
.
The two lower engines are available with either a manual transmission or a CVT
. The supercharged engine is coupled to a sportshift version of the CVT ("7 speed iCVT"). Both front wheel drive and all wheel drive are available.
Initially, the R2 was available in 11 colors and 3 trim levels (one for each engine variation).
On January 4, 2005, the Subaru R1
was introduced, a 2-door version of the R2 with a shorter body and wheelbase.
In 2006, the R2 got a facelift that is similar design to Subaru Legacy
's grille, removing Tribeca
-style front grille.
The Subaru R2 is also a playable secret car in Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune.
The R2 was discontinued in March 2010.
Subaru R-2
The Subaru R-2 was a kei car manufactured by Subaru from 1969 to 1972. The R-2 was a full model change of the popular Subaru 360, but with an updated appearance and increased interior space...
The Subaru R2 was announced in Japan on December 8, 2003, and the R2 name was inspired by the Subaru R-2
Subaru R-2
The Subaru R-2 was a kei car manufactured by Subaru from 1969 to 1972. The R-2 was a full model change of the popular Subaru 360, but with an updated appearance and increased interior space...
, the kei car
Kei car
Kei cars, K-cars, or , are a Japanese category of small vehicles, including passenger cars, vans, and pickup trucks. They are designed to comply with Japanese government tax and insurance regulations, and in most rural areas are exempted from the requirement to certify that adequate parking is...
model that was produced between 1969 and 1972.
The R2's exterior reflects influence from Andreas Zapatinas
Andreas Zapatinas
Andreas Zapatinas is a Greek automobile designer, born in Athens in 1957.Zapatinas studied at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, and graduated in 1986. He worked at Fiat Centro Stile from 1988 until 1994, where he met Chris Bangle. He was chief exterior designer of the Fiat...
, who worked at Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of cars. Founded as A.L.F.A. on June 24, 1910, in Milan, the company has been involved in car racing since 1911, and has a reputation for building expensive sports cars...
before moving to Subaru. The R2 is the first production Subaru
Subaru
; is the automobile manufacturing division of Japanese transportation conglomerate Fuji Heavy Industries .Subaru is internationally known for their use of the boxer engine layout popularized in cars by the Volkswagen Beetle and Porsche 911, in most of their vehicles above 1500 cc as well as...
to sport a new family look, including the aviation-inspired "spread wings grille" that is also used by Tribeca
Subaru Tribeca
The Subaru Tribeca is a mid-size crossover SUV sold since 2005 by Subaru, the automobile manufacturing division of Japanese transportation conglomerate Fuji Heavy Industries . Released in some markets as the Subaru B9 Tribeca, the name "Tribeca" derives from the TriBeCa neighborhood of New York City...
and Impreza
Subaru Impreza
Introduced in November 1993, the Impreza was offered in either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive versions and as a four-door sedan/saloon or five-door station wagon/estate. According to a Motor Trend article written March 1992 on page 26, the name of Subaru's new compact was, initially, to be...
The R2's exterior dimensions are largely similar to its predecessor, the Subaru Pleo
Subaru Pleo
The second-generation Pleo first went on sale in Japan on April 20, 2010. Due to Subaru's corporate investment by Toyota, this second generation is manufactured by Daihatsu instead of Subaru, and is a rebadged Daihatsu Mira.-External links:*...
, but unlike the squarish Pleo, the R2 is deliberately rounded, less space efficient form.
Three variations of the 4-cylinder, 658 cc engine are available:
- SOHC
- DOHC AVCS (variable valve timingVariable valve timingIn internal combustion engines, variable valve timing , also known as Variable valve actuation , is a generalized term used to describe any mechanism or method that can alter the shape or timing of a valve lift event within an internal combustion engine...
) - DOHC with superchargerSuperchargerA supercharger is an air compressor used for forced induction of an internal combustion engine.The greater mass flow-rate provides more oxygen to support combustion than would be available in a naturally aspirated engine, which allows more fuel to be burned and more work to be done per cycle,...
and intercoolerIntercoolerAn intercooler , or charge air cooler, is an air-to-air or air-to-liquid heat exchange device used on turbocharged and supercharged internal combustion engines to improve their volumetric efficiency by increasing intake air charge density through nearly isobaric cooling, which removes...
(R2 STiSubaru Tecnica International, or STi, is Fuji Heavy Industries' motorsports division. STi, along with Prodrive of the UK specializes in the preparation of a variety of vehicles for the Subaru World Rally Team which competed in the World Rally Championship...
)
Unlike other Subaru models which used Boxer engine, the R2 chooses to use inline engine
Straight engine
Usually found in four- and six-cylinder configurations, the straight engine, or inline engine is an internal-combustion engine with all cylinders aligned in one row, with no offset...
.
The two lower engines are available with either a manual transmission or a CVT
Continuously variable transmission
A continuously variable transmission is a transmission that can change steplessly through an infinite number of effective gear ratios between maximum and minimum values. This contrasts with other mechanical transmissions that offer a fixed number of gear ratios...
. The supercharged engine is coupled to a sportshift version of the CVT ("7 speed iCVT"). Both front wheel drive and all wheel drive are available.
Initially, the R2 was available in 11 colors and 3 trim levels (one for each engine variation).
On January 4, 2005, the Subaru R1
Subaru R1
The Subaru R1 was introduced by the Japanese carmaker Subaru on January 4, 2005. It was designed to fit within the Japanese kei car tax bracket.The R1 is a two-door version of the Subaru R2, but with a shorter body and wheelbase...
was introduced, a 2-door version of the R2 with a shorter body and wheelbase.
In 2006, the R2 got a facelift that is similar design to Subaru Legacy
Subaru Legacy
The Subaru Legacy is a mid-size car built by the Japanese company Fuji Heavy Industries, and manufactured by its division Subaru since 1989, and is available as a sedan or wagon. Part of the original design goals for the Legacy model was to provide Subaru a vehicle in which they could compete in...
's grille, removing Tribeca
Subaru Tribeca
The Subaru Tribeca is a mid-size crossover SUV sold since 2005 by Subaru, the automobile manufacturing division of Japanese transportation conglomerate Fuji Heavy Industries . Released in some markets as the Subaru B9 Tribeca, the name "Tribeca" derives from the TriBeCa neighborhood of New York City...
-style front grille.
The Subaru R2 is also a playable secret car in Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune.
The R2 was discontinued in March 2010.