The Subaru 360 was the first automobile mass produced by Fuji Heavy Industries' Subaru division.

The Subaru 360 was the first automobile mass produced by Fuji Heavy Industries' Subaru division. A number of innovative features were used to design a very small and inexpensive car to address government plans to produce a small "people's car" with an engine no larger than 360cc when most in Japan could not afford a car. The body size and the engine capacity were designed to match within Japan's kei car regulation. Nicknamed the "ladybug" in Japan, it was one of Japan's most popular cars, and among the smallest cars in the world to attract a significant following. It was a significant a step up from microcars such as the BMW Isetta as the first kei car that had four wheels and room for 4 passengers. 392,000 units were produced in Japan from 1958 to 1971. Production ended for the 360 and was replaced by the Subaru R-2.

The car's name was derived from the size of the 356 cc engine. In 1961 the 360 saw a competitor called the Mitsubishi 360, the Daihatsu Fellow in 1966, and the Suzuki Fronte in 1967.

The 360 was named for the size of its very small air-cooled, 2-stroke inline 2-cylinder 356 cc engine mounted transversely at the rear. By contrast, most conventional automobiles at the time used water-cooled four-stroke engines with 4 or more cylinders mounted in the front.


Manufacturer: Subaru
Production: 1958–1971
Predecessor: Subaru 1500
Successor: Subaru R-2
Class: city car/kei car
Engine: 356cc EK31 straight-twin
Engine: 356cc EK32 straight-twin
Engine: 423cc EK51 straight-twin
Wheelbase: 70.9 in (1800 mm)
Length: 117.7 in (2990 mm)
Width: 51.2 in (1300 mm)
Height: 54.3 in (1380 mm)
Curb weight: 900 lb (408.2 kg)
Related: Subaru Sambar