What engine did the Subaru 360 have?
The Subaru 360 was powered by a small, air-cooled two-stroke engine of 356cc displacement, configured as a horizontally opposed two-cylinder (flat-twin) and mounted in the rear to drive the rear wheels.
Engine design and specifications
These key specifications show how the engine was packaged for affordability, light weight, and urban use.
- Engine type: air-cooled, two-stroke, two-cylinder boxer (flat-twin).
- Displacement: 356 cc (0.356 L).
- Layout: rear-mounted, driving the rear wheels.
- Power output: approximately 16.5 PS (DIN) at around 4,200 rpm (roughly 16 hp in common terms).
- Carburetion: single carburetor (typical of base models).
- Cooling: air-cooled, simple cooling system suited to a tiny, lightweight car.
These technical characteristics contributed to the Subaru 360’s lightweight, affordable packaging and made it a practical city car in its era.
Historical context and impact
How the engine shaped Subaru’s early lineup
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Japan’s kei-car regulations encouraged tiny, economical powertrains. The 356cc two-stroke flat-twin met those goals by delivering basic mobility at a low cost, while keeping production relatively simple.
- Market role: The engine powered one of Japan’s earliest mass-market microcars, designed for urban commuting and affordability.
- Trade-offs of a two-stroke design: The engine offered light weight and simplicity at the expense of higher emissions and smoke compared with contemporary four-stroke engines.
- Engineering legacy: The flat-twin, rear-mounted layout helped establish Subaru’s identity around compact, efficient powertrains and a distinctive boxer-engine philosophy that would echo in later models.
Overall, the Subaru 360’s powertrain reflected its era: a deliberately small, easy-to-manufacture engine that kept the car economical and approachable for a broad audience.
Summary
The engine behind the Subaru 360 is a 356cc air-cooled, two-stroke, flat-twin that powered one of the era’s most recognizable microcars, balancing simplicity and economy with modest performance.
