This Subaru nameplate was introduced in Japan in 2012 as a jointly developed rear-wheel-drive sports coupe created with Toyota. Subaru positioned it as a driver-focused car built around the company’s boxer-engine packaging and an unusually low center of gravity, with the name itself reflecting the car’s mechanical layout and performance intent. The first-generation model established the formula that made the car notable among enthusiasts: compact dimensions, a front-engine/rear-drive configuration, and an emphasis on balance and steering feel rather than outright power. Subaru launched the vehicle in Japan in March 2012, and the model quickly became an important halo sports car for the brand.
In 2020 and 2021, Subaru unveiled the all-new second generation, showing that the nameplate had evolved rather than being replaced by a different model. The redesign kept the same basic mission but brought a fresh body, a more refined chassis, and updated safety and driver-assistance technology. Subaru described the new car as a further step in its joint development program with Toyota, continuing the shared project that began with the original launch.
Across both generations, the nameplate has been associated with accessible enthusiast driving, a pure sports-car layout, and Subaru’s boxer-engine identity. It has also become significant as one of Subaru’s best-known modern performance cars and a rare model in the brand’s recent history to focus on a traditional coupe driving experience rather than all-wheel drive.