Subaru Leone

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Subaru Leone

Manufacturer	Subaru
Parent company	Fuji Heavy Industries
Production	1971-1994
Successor	Subaru Impreza
Class	Subcompact
Body style	4-door sedan 4-door station wagon 2-door coupe 3-door coupe 3-door hatchback 3-door pickup truck
Layout	FF layout Four-wheel drive Full time 4WD
Similar	Mazda 323 Mitsubishi Mirage Toyota Corolla

First generation

Production	1972-1978
Engine	1400cc H4 1600cc H4
Transmission	4-speed manual 5-speed manual 3-speed automatic

Second generation

Production	1978-1984
Engine	1600cc H4 1800cc H4
Transmission	3-speed automatic 4-speed manual 5-speed manual

Third generation

Production	1984-1994
Engine	1800cc H4 1600cc H4 (EDM)
Transmission	3-speed automatic 5-speed manual
Wheelbase	2470 mm (97.2 in) (sedan) 2465 mm (97 in) (wagon) 2460 mm (96.9 in) (wagon)
Length	4435 mm (174.6 in) (sedan) 4490 mm (176.8 in) (wagon)
Width	1660 mm (65.4 in)
Height	1335 mm (52.5 in) (sedan) 1345 mm (53 in) (wagon) 1395 mm (54.9 in)(wagon)

The Subaru Leone was a subcompact car produced by the Japanese car manufacturer Subaru from 1971 to 1994. It was released as a replacement to the Subaru FF-1. All Leones were powered by a flat engine developed by Subaru. Although released in Japan and some export markets as the Leone, in others (including at least the United Kingdom and United States), it was instead named with the trim level designation, which included: DL, GL, GLF, GL-10, and RX; sometimes the engine size would also form part of the name. This means the car is often referred to simply as the Subaru GL.

1 1st Generation
2 2nd Generation
3 3rd Generation
4 In Popular Culture
5 References
6 External Links

[edit] 1st Generation

The first generation of the Leone was released in June 1971 as a front-wheel drive coupé. In September 1972, the four-wheel drive (4WD) station wagon was released. Until then, four-wheel drive had been limited to mainly off-road vehicles for special use. Subaru broke that pattern by introducing a mass-produced four-wheel drive passenger car. Throughout the years, the Leone would see the introduction of a four-door hardtop sedan, a four-door sedan, and a four-wheel drive station wagon.

The first-generation Leones were equipped with either a 1400cc or 1600cc, flat-4, carbureted, OHV, pushrod engine. They were available with a 4-speed manual transmission, 5-speed manual transmission or a 3-speed automatic transmission. Some early models had drum brakes in the front, however later they were all equipped with disc brakes in the front. All models had rear drum brakes.

The Leone was first brought to the United States of America in 1972. The 4WD station wagon did not make it to the U.S. until 1974, released as a 1975 model.

1977 saw the introduction of the Subaru BRAT which is based off of the Leone platform, just as a two-seater with a pickup truck bed.

[edit] 2nd Generation

In April 1977, the Leone saw a major revamp. This generation was released with offerings in a two-door coupe, four-door sedan, station wagon, as well as a three-door hatchback. This generation of the Leone was not released to the United States until 1980.

New to this generation included a four-speed 4WD transmission with both high- and low-range gearing. 4WD automatic transmissions were also now offered, allowing the driver to engage 4WD with a simple click of a button.

The 1400cc engine size was dropped from the lineup, and a new 1800cc engine was added. In 1983 and 1984, a turbocharger with multi-port fuel injection option was added.

The 2nd generation hatchback and BRAT were made alongside the 3rd generation offerings until 1988 for the BRAT, and 1989 for the hatchback. All other 2nd generation models were discontinued by 1985.

[edit] 3rd Generation

In July 1981, the Leone saw another major revamp. This generation was released with offerings in a three-door coupe, four-door sedan, as well as a station wagon. This generation of the Leone made its way to the United States in 1985.

In Europe, the range was 1.6 DL, 1.6 GL, 1.8 DL and 1.8 GL 4wd. The saloon versions were offered up until 1992, then the range was reduced to estates only in 1993. The 1.8-litre versions were phased out in 1991.

In North America, the 1600cc engine was dropped completely from the lineup.

A new 1800 SOHC engine was offered instead of the old pushrod 1800 engine. The engine was available with a carburetor, single point fuel injection, multi-port fuel injection, or multi-port fuel injection with a turbocharger for fuel delivery.

Later models in the generation saw the option of a full-time 4WD manual transmission as well as a full-time 4WD four-speed electronically-controlled automatic transmission.

In 1990, the Leone name was dropped, and instead the car was named Loyale (in the United States and Canada). In 1994, the Loyale was discontinued in favor of the Impreza.

[edit] In Popular Culture

In the South Park Episode Casa Bonita, two 3rd generation Loyale sedans can be seen in a junkyard. "Suntofu" (a parody of "Subaru") is written on the cars front doors.