Subaru: Yes we make ugly cars but that’s about to change!
30 October 2002, 11:22 PM
#1
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Ireland
Posts: 245
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Found this on I-Club which in turn came from Autoweek.
From AutoNews...you need to be a registrant to view...so no links
DESIGN: Subaru knows that engineering isn't enough anymore. So it hired a Greek designer of Italian sports cars to redefine the brand.
By Yuzo Yamaguchi
Automotive News / October 28, 2002
Until this year, Fuji Heavy Industries - the parent company of Subaru - had never had a vice president in charge of design.
At Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., the folks designing Subaru cars have taken a hard look in the mirror. They aren't satisfied.
"To be honest, our design has not been so good," said Kiyoshi Sugimoto, chief general manager of Subaru's design department. "If we don't admit this, we could be headed in the wrong direction."
Sugimoto knows what distinguishes Subarus: all-wheel drive. And he's quick to point out there is nothing wrong with that. "Our products had featured their engineering strength for a long time," he said.
But engineering is not enough. A reputation for lackluster styling stubbornly clings to the performance-oriented brand, and the company realizes that style-conscious buyers may have shunned Subarus for flashier models.
Now, at the insistence of Fuji President Kyoji Takenaka, the maker of Subarus is charting a new course. Takenaka has set in motion a modest expansion of Subaru's lineup, which will move it beyond its niches of sport wagons, station wagons and low-volume rally cars. And he wants to revise Subaru's image...
Rest of long article here;
http://forums.i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?s=6c7493b6f0b9232b26d3632a2197d944& threadid=266857
From AutoNews...you need to be a registrant to view...so no links
DESIGN: Subaru knows that engineering isn't enough anymore. So it hired a Greek designer of Italian sports cars to redefine the brand.
By Yuzo Yamaguchi
Automotive News / October 28, 2002
Until this year, Fuji Heavy Industries - the parent company of Subaru - had never had a vice president in charge of design.
At Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., the folks designing Subaru cars have taken a hard look in the mirror. They aren't satisfied.
"To be honest, our design has not been so good," said Kiyoshi Sugimoto, chief general manager of Subaru's design department. "If we don't admit this, we could be headed in the wrong direction."
Sugimoto knows what distinguishes Subarus: all-wheel drive. And he's quick to point out there is nothing wrong with that. "Our products had featured their engineering strength for a long time," he said.
But engineering is not enough. A reputation for lackluster styling stubbornly clings to the performance-oriented brand, and the company realizes that style-conscious buyers may have shunned Subarus for flashier models.
Now, at the insistence of Fuji President Kyoji Takenaka, the maker of Subarus is charting a new course. Takenaka has set in motion a modest expansion of Subaru's lineup, which will move it beyond its niches of sport wagons, station wagons and low-volume rally cars. And he wants to revise Subaru's image...
Rest of long article here;
http://forums.i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?s=6c7493b6f0b9232b26d3632a2197d944& threadid=266857
30 October 2002, 11:29 PM
#2
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: In a house
Posts: 5,153
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So is it safe to say that the MY04 would look more or less like a Lexus? God what the hell are they thinking? I say bring back the original designerof the classic scoobs and strap them to the drawing board till they come up with a good design.
31 October 2002, 09:32 AM
#7
Yes, but by then it would've been all tooled up & too late to change the MY03.
But the thought does occur...
GREEK designer
WTF has a Greek ever designed since the Parthenon? 
Not re-knowned for automotive design, thats for sure!
(No offence to any Greek members of the board & I'm prepared to be put right, OK George? - now wearing Spartan helmet just in case
)
But the thought does occur...
GREEK designer
WTF has a Greek ever designed since the Parthenon?
Not re-knowned for automotive design, thats for sure!
(No offence to any Greek members of the board & I'm prepared to be put right, OK George? - now wearing Spartan helmet just in case
)Trending Topics
31 October 2002, 11:02 AM
#9
Scooby Regular
Join Date: May 1999
Posts: 7,901
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes, but what did he actually design at Alfa?
156 was done before he got there
166 was done before he got there
147 was largely completed before he got there, IIRC
Prior to Alfa he was at Seat.
156 was done before he got there
166 was done before he got there
147 was largely completed before he got there, IIRC
Prior to Alfa he was at Seat.
31 October 2002, 11:49 AM
#10
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Apr 1999
Posts: 1,335
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Apparently he worked on the Fiat Barchetta, Coupe, Bravo/Brava and the Alfa 147. He also did interior design for BMW.
As one press site said, "The man who designed some of the world's best-looking cars has been hired to fix one of the world's ugliest."
Another biography.
I also have a picture of a Scooby in a lake if you want it.
[Edited by DavidRB - 10/31/2002 11:50:01 AM]
As one press site said, "The man who designed some of the world's best-looking cars has been hired to fix one of the world's ugliest."
Another biography.
I also have a picture of a Scooby in a lake if you want it.
[Edited by DavidRB - 10/31/2002 11:50:01 AM]
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ossett2k2
Engine Management and ECU Remapping
15
23 September 2015 09:11 AM