Must be getting closer. I also saw a small Subaru junkyard with an SVX and some mini cars.
From the Ota train station, get one of the many waiting cabs.
At the factory they have a shiny new visitor center.
The English-speaking guide greeted us and we went in to watch a hilariously narrated video. It was dubbed in English that wasn’t 100% correct, but totally understandable. The video has a cartoon Subaru 360 character, which for some reason talks like the Shmenges
( http://youtube.com/watch?v=NmTiGS8YGjw& ... ed&search= http://youtube.com/watch?v=l0ZGFmybO-Y& ... ed&search= ). “And now the car takes an air bath before going into the paint shop.”
“Before the Subaru 360, cars were too expensive for the people.”
It took some effort not to laugh, as the video went through each area of operations.
There was also some stuff about FHI working on the Boeing 777 and a Japanese space shuttle.
After that we met a factory manager who gave us a short ride to the factory building in a new Traviq like this:
Cameras weren’t allowed in the actual factory, but trust me it was impressive.
We entered a catwalk in the huge factory where the coils of sheet steel are unloaded. Then they go into tugboat sized stamping/pressing machines to be shaped into body panels. A lot of it was automated, such as the robot transporters to move completed panels.
The panels are spot welded together by robots, with Impreza, Forester and Legacy being constructed simultaneously on the same line. I saw a Forester roof being welded on. There are over 1000 “lobots” in the plant, according to our guide. It was very noisy, so it was difficult to hear our guide, even with radio earpieces. And she had a pretty thick accent, but earnestly tried very hard.
The paint shop can’t be visited due to bringing dust in. I’m sure they could prevent that, but not including it made the tour more streamlined.
Engines and transmissions are assembled and tested in another plant. They’re joined by hand before going into the cars.
The wheels come down a line, all different styles all mixed up. They end up arriving at the right car because each car has a tracking device taped on the roof, synchronizing parts to meet it.
They make about one car per minute. After a car is complete, a worker drives it (fast!) onto some dyno rollers. A panel rises up behind it to collect exhaust, the rollers rise to meet the wheels, and the driver plugs a hanging cable in. Engine info is displayed on a monitor. I watched a new Legacy B4 as the worker gunned it and went up past 100mph. There are multiple stations like this in two lines, none of the cars are strapped down, just little side rollers to correct sideways motion. After the test another worker checks the underside. There is another dynamic course test I didn’t get to see, to check handling and noise. I want that job!
Then we went back to the visitor center and I got my camera. In the lobby there was a B4 drive train.
Big H6 on the wall. There was also a wing from a FHI aircraft and a robot Subaru built to clean the floor. It uses the elevator too.
Timeline
360 in the historical showroom
The other side of the showroom, where they had a Brat with Colorado plates.
BF with bumpy corner lights
B9 Scrambler and R1e concepts
this is a replica
here’s what was on the windshield, a visit from Chris Atkinson
Hulman Trophy Forester. It averaged 180.082 km/h for 24 hours, beating a Chevy pick up’s 165.5 km/h record.
The Legacy that set a speed record for 2 liter turbo production cars at 270.532 km/h. World’s fastest wagon.
There was a display about how much solar power the plant uses, about 2.0 kW that day.
There were also displays about recycling and environmentally friendly stuff.
Here’s half a bugeye WRX to show use of space.
To the last room, with the pioneering axle design and a 1000 Sports Sedan among others.
A post-war rabbit scooter made from surplus aircraft parts
full size 360 “clay” model
I want clear belt covers
I-4 and ECVT
H6
Outside there’s an FHI T1 trainer and friends
Similar to one of Dave’s pictures some of you might remember from his visit thread.
The employee lot looks like a used Subie dealer. Apparently almost everyone drives one. My guide had an XT with an H6, which seems old for Japan.
Legacy B4 stretch limo I spotted at a dealership on the cab ride back, this is my only pic though.
If you want to visit, you must make arrangements in advance. Specify if you want an English-speaking guide. I don’t think you can just show up and expect a tour.
I have more pics of individual stuff in the showroom. I also took a lot of other pictures, including cars on the streets and SuperAutobacs. I’ll put some pics of a Subie showroom in Tokyo here later.
Here's the gallery for all the above pics if the hot links break.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/awd_addict ... 942049928/
