Subaru Brat.
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Of all cars that would be considered for a “comeback from the dead,” the Subaru Brat must have been last on many people’s lists.
And yet, here we are. There is now a rumor of the compact Subaru pickup returning as a Subaru version of the upcoming Toyota Compact EV pickup.
That pick up was previewed a few months ago as a silhouette teaser. Joined by Toyota’s future new 3-row EV SUVs. It was also previewed by the EPU concept in 2023. (muddle image). The EPU and the silhouette teaser don’t actually seem to show the same car and have different proportions, so who knows what the production EV will really look like?
The cool little Subaru Brat was produced from 1977 to 1994, through 2 generations. Although the last year available in the US was 1987.
Just like the current Forester is a modified Impreza, the Brat was also based on a car, the Subaru Leone. The small car-based pickup was competing against compact pickup trucks from Toyota, Nissan, and Mazda back then.
It also had jump seats in the rear cab. Something the competition didn’t offer. Which allowed the Brat to be classified as a car in the US. Since all imported light trucks were (and are) saddled with a 24% “Chicken tax”. Curiously, the Brad was never sold in Japan.
I can’t see the cool plastic jump seats returning anytime soon in the new Subaru Brat.
Years later, Subaru felt the need for another car-based pickup. The Baja was produced for just 4 years, from 2004 to 2006.
This time it was based on the Legacy, just like the Outback. Which means it was basically an Outback pickup.
I think it was a fun idea but not many people thought the same thing. Subaru predicted around 24,000 sales a year. By the time they pulled the plug 4 1/2 years later, only 30,000 had been sold. I guess this was too weird even for Subaru buyers.
The next Brat will basically be a Toyota with a few changes. Just like the Subaru Soltera and the upcoming Trailseekrrs. Which are just Toyotas with Subaru faces. The illustration above shows a design that is more than just a Toyota EPU with a Subaru face. Which might be a stretch and quite unrealistic.
The Baja redux of the 2nd gen was supposed to be the rebirth of the fun purposeful little truck. What arrived however was so obviously an Outback that had gone way too far, and specialized their new AWD look I now call ‘Plastic Fantastic’. Subie hasn’t gotten over that idea that EVERYTHING must have plastic shapes everywhere. Well, I don’t think it’ll be electric, anyways. Not now. But yy guess is a third shot at a truck will still be overlarge and follow the same craptastic recipe we just saw in the upcoming Outback. So, right on qeue, here’s the Brat (unfortunately). When I see those old pics, it just makes me sad at what Subaru has become. The only original recipe is the Crosstrek. And, just like at the Colonel’s, its the only one to order.
Those plastic seats in the back of the Brat would never be allowed under current government mandated safety regulations.