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" In case you didn&amp;#039;t know it, Subaru-- the Japanese manufacturer most easily identified by its suburbanite wagon &amp;#039;utes, spoilered rally racing machines, and platform-sharing rear wheel-drive 2+2 sports cars-- came from humbler (but equally diverse) origins. Long before they built Foresters, WRX STis, and BRZs, Subaru was responsible for the Rabbit S-1, a 135cc, 2 horsepower two-wheeler. Built under the Fuji nameplate, this scooter started production in June, 1946, pre-dating Piaggio&amp;#039;s iconic Vespa. Like its Italian counterpart, the lil&amp;#039; scoot&amp;#039; was intended to pull a war-torn country up by its boot straps, and also became one of the first scooters to feature a semi-automatic transmission. While Subie&amp;#039;s early scooters looked crude in comparison to Vespa&amp;#039;s jaunty designs, the later models took on a less wonky appearance:      Subaru&amp;#039;s four-wheeled roots also happen to have much in common with Fiat&amp;#039;s famously cute Cinquecento. The first production car to hail from Subaru was the tiny 360, which started production in 1958. Incorporating unibody construction, torsion bar suspension, finned drum brakes, and a 16 horsepower engine capable of 52 mph, the 360 earned the nickname &amp;quot;Ladybug&amp;quot; in Japan and eventually sold 6,500 units in the U.S., spinning off into van, convertible, sedan, and pickup truck variants.       They may not have been global gamechangers or icons of design, but Subaru&amp;#039;s early vehicles suggest there&amp;#039;s more history to the underdog brand than most car enthusiasts give them credit for. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a3035/subarus-early-scooters-and-cars/>