The Subaru SRD-1 (Subaru Research and Design) was a luxury sports wagon concept car that was never put into production.

Subaru SRD-1
Overview
Production1989 (concept)
Body and chassis
ClassConcept car
Body style5-door station wagon
LayoutF4
Powertrain
Engine3.3 L EG flat-6
Dimensions
Wheelbase114.4 in (2,906 mm)
Length177.6 in (4,511 mm)
Width78.2 in (1,986 mm)
Height51.6 in (1,311 mm)
Curb weight3,300 lb (1,500 kg)

Design

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SRD-1 was the first concept car from Subaru Research and Design in Cypress, California.[1]

The styling was described as having "a very short nose and long passenger compartment designed to provide plenty of room for people and cargo" at the 1990 Chicago Auto Show.[2] According to the double-sided color placard, the SRD-1 was "an innovative dream wagon concept for the '90s and beyond". The same placard stated that Subaru developed the car because the company "has long been recognized as having the most popular line of import station wagons in the US" and that "to strengthen this leadership position, Subaru Research & Design developed the SRD-1, a family station wagon concept car, with characteristic attention to the future needs of the mature wagon users in the latter half of [the] 1990s".[1]

Technical

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It was supplied with a 3.3-liter DOHC 24-valve horizontally opposed 6-cylinder engine and full-time 4-wheel drive with electronically controlled center differential.

Subaru Research and Development, Inc.

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Subaru Research and Design (SRD) was founded in California in 1986. The headquarters were moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1998, and the company was renamed Subaru Research and Development, Inc. later that year.[3] The move facilitated SRD's primary mission of supporting emission testing and certification of Subaru vehicles at the EPA National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory in Ann Arbor.[4] Other concepts proposed by SRD included:

  • SRD-II, a one-seat lightweight vehicle designed to ease gridlock by catering to the single-driver market in southern California which would win a 1994 Discover magazine award.[5]
  • SHARC, the "Subaru Highway Automated Response Concept" electric autonomous police vehicle, which won the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show Design Challenge.[6][7]
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References

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  1. ^ a b Schreiber, Ronnie (19 April 2013). "The Encyclopedia of Obscure Concept and Show Cars: Part Five - Pontiac to Volvo". The Truth About Cars [blog]. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  2. ^ "Looking Back at 1990s". The Chicago Auto Show. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  3. ^ "Subaru Research & Development, Inc" (Press release). Vocus PR. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  4. ^ "Eco Research". Subaru Qatar. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  5. ^ Gore, Al (October 1994). "1994 Discover Awards". Discover. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  6. ^ "2012 LA Auto Show Design Challenge - Police". Government Fleet. 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  7. ^ Johnson, Davey G. (3 December 2012). "Subaru SHARC Concept wins LA Auto Show Design Challenge: Future police vehicle don't need no stinking badge". AutoWeek. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  8. ^ "1989 Subaru SRD-1". Internet Movie Car Database. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
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