This was Subaru’s upscale U.S.-market trim name for the early-1980s Leone-based compact cars, introduced for the 1983 model year and continued through the end of the 1989 model year. It appeared across several body styles during that run, including sedans, wagons, hatchbacks, and coupe variants, and it sat near the top of the mainstream lineup before Subaru launched the Legacy and reorganized its North American naming strategy.
In its earliest years, the badge signaled a more heavily equipped version of Subaru’s small, efficient compact cars, often associated with the brand’s then-new turbocharged and technology-rich offerings. As the decade went on, it became especially familiar on the later EA82 generation, where it was used for well-appointed front- and four-wheel-drive cars that emphasized comfort features, distinctive interior trim, and the brand’s practical all-weather appeal. In enthusiast circles, this era is remembered for the combination of modest size, available turbo power, and Subaru’s signature drivetrain packaging, which made these cars stand out among economy imports of the time.
The nameplate did not return after 1989. Instead, Subaru moved into the Legacy era in 1989, and the older compact lineup was phased out or renamed as the company’s product range evolved. Because of that, this badge represents one continuous historical production run rather than a revived name used in separate eras.