What was the Subaru XT called in Japan?
The Subaru XT, a sporty coupe produced by the Japanese automaker Subaru, was known by a different name in its home market of Japan. In Japan, the Subaru XT was called the "Alcyone XT".
The Alcyone XT in Japan
The Subaru XT, introduced in 1985, was Subaru's first foray into the sports coupe market. In Japan, the model was given the name "Alcyone XT", after the brightest star in the Pleiades star cluster. This naming convention was part of Subaru's practice of naming its vehicles after astronomical objects, a tradition that continues to this day.
The Alcyone XT shared the same underlying platform and mechanical components as the Subaru XT sold in other markets, but featured unique styling and design elements tailored for the Japanese domestic market. This included details like the front grille, headlights, and interior trim.
Reasons for the Different Name
There are a few key reasons why the Subaru XT was marketed under the "Alcyone XT" name in Japan:
- Branding and Naming Conventions: Subaru has a long-standing tradition of naming its vehicles after astronomical objects, which is more culturally relevant and appealing to Japanese consumers.
- Market Differentiation: Using a distinct name for the Japanese market allowed Subaru to differentiate the model and create a unique identity, rather than simply selling the "Subaru XT" globally.
- Localization: The Alcyone XT featured design and styling elements tailored specifically for the Japanese domestic market, so a unique name helped reinforce its local identity.
By using the Alcyone XT name in Japan, Subaru was able to better connect the model to its brand heritage and cater to the preferences of its home market customers.
What is the name of the Subaru XT in Japan?
Alcyone
The XT was launched initially as the XT in North America, Alcyone in Japan and Vortex in Australia and New Zealand.
What is the Subaru XT called in Japan?
Alcyone
The XT was launched initially as the XT in North America, Alcyone in Japan and Vortex in Australia and New Zealand.
What is a cringe car in Japanese?
Itasha
Itasha. In Japan, an itasha (痛車, literally "painful" or "cringeworthy" + "car") is a car decorated with images of characters from anime, manga, or video games (especially bishōjo games or eroge).
What does Kei mean in Japanese cars?
light vehicle
Kei car is the smallest category of Japanese expressway-legal motor vehicles. The term kei is a shortening of kei-jidōsha, (kanji: 軽自動車), which translates to English as “light vehicle” (pronounced [keːdʑidoːɕa]).
What was the Subaru Brat called in Japan?
The Subaru BRAT in the U.S. and Abroad
Outside of the U.S., it was known as the 284, Brumby, Shifter, MV, and Targa. Ironically, it was never sold in its home market of Japan since there was no real demand. It was launched in 1978 with one engine option, a 1.6-liter H-4.
Why did Subaru get rid of Forester XT?
Subaru Corp says they axed the Forester 2.0XT because sportiness does not rely on power alone to achieve it, the new SGP offers improved driving performance, and standard Eyesight across their entire lineup is more important than having a 2.0XT with a 6-speed manual gearbox.
What was Subaru originally called?
Fuji Heavy Industries
The Subaru origin story starts in Japan. Our history begins under the moniker Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI), known for expertise in aircraft manufacturing.
What does XT mean for Subaru?
But we got our hands on an Outback Touring XT—Touring is a top trim, and XT means it has the available turbocharged engine. Some of the upgrades made to the Limited were already available for the Touring XT, so we figured it was time for some more seat time and new test numbers.
What is Subaru called in Japan?
Subaru is the Japanese name for the Pleiades star cluster. It and the six-star logo are a metaphor: they refer to the companies that merged to form Subaru's parent company, then known as Fuji Heavy Industries, in the 1950s. (FHI renamed itself Subaru Corporation in 2017.)
What was the Subaru SVX called in Japan?
Subaru Alcyone SVX
Subaru introduced the SVX in the United States in July 1991 (as a 1992 model) and also brought the car to the Japanese market in September 1991 as the Subaru Alcyone SVX.
