Subaru Baja
Manufacturer	Subaru-Isuzu Automotive, Inc.
Parent company	Fuji Heavy Industries
Production	2003–2006
Assembly	Lafayette, Indiana
Class	Mid-size pickup truck
Body style(s)	4-door pickup truck
Layout	Four wheel drive
Engine(s)	2.5L 165 hp H4 2.5L 210 hp H4
Transmission(s)	4-speed automatic 5-speed manual
Wheelbase	104.3 in
Length	193.3 in
Width	70.1 in
Height	65.1 in
Related	Subaru Legacy
Similar	Ford Explorer Sport Trac

Formally introduced in 2002 as a 2003 model, the Subaru Baja combined the handling and passenger carrying characteristics of a car, the open-bed versatility of a truck -- and to a lesser degree, the load carrying capacity of a truck. The unibody design borrowed heavily from existing mechanicals, structure and sheetmetal of the Legacy and Outback wagons. Production began on July 18, 2002 at the Lafayette, Indiana factory (Subaru of Indiana, Inc., aka SIA) once shared with Isuzu. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 430 pixelsFull resolution (2047 × 1100 pixel, file size: 190 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Subaru Baja Metadata This file contains... Automakers, also known as carmakers, automobile manufacturers, motor manufacturers, or the automobile industry are companies that design and manufacture automobiles. ... Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. ... A descendant of the Nakajima Aircraft Company (est. ... Lafayette (IPA: ) is a city in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, 63 miles (101 km) northwest of Indianapolis. ... It has been suggested that Vehicle size class be merged into this article or section. ... A mid-size car, frequently referred to as an intermediate, is an automobile with a size between that of a compact and a full-size or standard-size car. ... Mazda B-Series compact pickup truck with extended cabin and home-made wooden rack. ... Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. ... Mazda B-Series compact pickup truck with extended cabin and home-made wooden rack. ... In automobile design layout is the place where both the engine and driven wheels are. ... Four wheel drive or 4x4, is a type of four wheeled vehicle drivetrain configuration that enables all four wheels to receive power from the engine simultaneously in order to provide maximum traction. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Internal combustion engine. ... The liter (spelled liter in American English and litre in Commonwealth English) is a unit of volume. ... hp, see HP (disambiguation) The horsepower (hp) is the name of several non-metric units of power. ... A flat-4 is a four cylinder internal combustion engine where the cylinders are arranged in a flat configuration, also referred to as horizontally opposed. ... A flat-4 is a four cylinder internal combustion engine where the cylinders are arranged in a flat configuration, also referred to as horizontally opposed. ... In mechanics, a transmission or gearbox is the system of gears and/or the hydraulic system (called variously hydrodynamic, fluid or automatic transmission) that transmits mechanical power from a prime mover—such as an engine or electric motor—to a typically rotary output device at a lower angular momentum but... An automatic transmission is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves, thus freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually. ... A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift, straight drive, or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in automotive applications. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Subaru Legacy station wagon (third generation) US-spec Subaru Legacy The Subaru Legacy is a mid-size car introduced by the Japanese manufacturer Subaru in February 1989 as a larger, upscale companion to the companys Leone/Loyale (which was known, in some countries, by its trim level only, Subaru... See also Ford Explorer for the SUV on which the Sport Trac is based The Ford Explorer Sport Trac is a mid-size sport utility vehicle with a pickup truck bed sold mostly in North America. ... Monocoque (French for single shell) or unibody is a construction technique that uses the external skin of an object to support some or most of the load on the structure. ... Subaru Legacy station wagon (third generation) US-spec Subaru Legacy The Subaru Legacy is a mid-size car introduced by the Japanese manufacturer Subaru in February 1989 as a larger, upscale companion to the companys Leone/Loyale (which was known, in some countries, by its trim level only, Subaru... See also the smaller Impreza-based Subaru Outback Sport The Subaru Outback is a mid-size car produced by Japanese automaker Subaru since 1996. ... Isuzu Motors Ltd. ...

In a package 6 inches (150 mm) longer than an Outback, the Baja featured a four-door passenger compartment along with a 41 inch (1040 mm) open bed and drop-down tailgate. A system marketed as the Switchback allowed the rear passenger seat to fold down and a small thru-hatch to fold inward, allowing an extended length of 75 inches (1900 mm) to the end of the open tailgate. Standard roof rails with cross bars provided further load capability. Two distinctive chrome flying buttresses behind the passenger compartment (called Sports Bars) provided structural reinforcement for the open bed.

Competing against the larger Chevy Avalanche and Ford Sport-trac, the Baja received a cool market reception. Loyalists blamed the dearth of dedicated advertising, late arrival of a turbo-charged model, heavy pricing, ungainly styled lower-body plastic cladding and an unusual yellow-and-silver introductory color scheme – all of which may have discouraged broad appeal. The Chevrolet Avalanche is a four-door, six-seat Chevrolet pickup truck with a somewhat SUV_like flavor. ... See also Ford Explorer for the SUV on which the Sport Trac is based The Ford Explorer Sport Trac is a mid-size sport utility vehicle with a pickup truck bed sold mostly in North America. ...

30,000 were sold over four and a half years. Subaru discontinued Baja production in April of 2006.

Design History

Working with technical support from Subaru Japan, a special team led by Peter Tenn, Subaru senior designer, penned the Baja in the United States. The Baja followed closely Subaru's ST-X (Sport Truck X-perimental) concept vehicle presented at the 2000 North American International Auto Show, and also designed by a special Subaru America design team. The ST-X offered a greater complement of features than the production Baja (power rear window, under floor storage compartment, tailgate cupholders), but nevertheless set the production groundwork for an Outback-based, four-door, car-truck hybrid recalling Subaru's earlier BRAT as well as the iconic Ford Ranchero and Chevy El Camino. The Subaru BRAT (an acronym for Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter) was a pickup version of the Subaru 1600 from the 1970s. ... The Ford Ranchero was a car/pickup truck combination vehicle produced between 1957 and 1979 based on full-size, compact and intermediate automobiles by the Ford Motor Company for the North American market. ... The Chevrolet El Camino, (El Camino, Spanish for The Road) A car built by Chevrolet in the United States, was produced in response to the success of the rival Ford Ranchero. ...

Trivia

• Subaru "stock-piled" an inventory of 2006 models before discontinuing production in April 2006, and dealers continue to sell 2006 models as late as May 2007.

• Subaru marketed the Baja in the USA, Canada and Chile. As late as May, 2007, both the US website continues to market the Baja, the Subaru Chile website pulled the Baja model in April, 2007.

• In an ill-timed coincidence, production of the reasonably fuel-efficient Baja came to end in April 2006, just as fuel prices increased dramatically and fuel economy became a higher priority in the marketplace.

• The history of the Baja rests heavily on the economics of three Japanese companies, their various levels of market success in the US, and their respective success at sharing production facilities on US soil. Subaru and Isuzu had formed a joint venture, Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., on March 17, 1987 to share production facilities at a new plant in Lafayette, Indiana. When Isuzu suffered dwindling sales, Subaru bought out Isuzu's interest in 2002, renamed their facility Subaru of Indiana, Inc., and continued to produce the Isuzu Axiom and Rodeo through July 2004. From 2004 through 2006, Subaru had the entire assembly plant to themselves. With increased per vehicle capitol costs, Subaru brainstormed the Baja (and later the Tribeca) to maximize use of their assembly lines. Despite reaching fewer than half its projected sales, the Baja's future wasn't immediately threatened; it borrowed heavily from its Outback and Legacy siblings and required little special accommodation at the under-utilized plant. However, Toyota and Subaru announced in March of 2006 a collaborative agreement. Toyota would invest over $200 million, the plant would remain Subaru-owned and retain the SIA moniker, and Subaru would manufacture up to 100,000 Camrys per year under contract to Toyota, absorbing the unused capacity at SIA. Subaru consolidated its own production onto fewer assembly lines, partly by squeezing the Baja out of the lineup. The first Toyota Camry rolled off the Lafayette assembly line on April 20th, 2007 -- one year after the last Baja was manufactured. The baja likes it when you ride it naked.

Baja model year variations

• 2003 The initial model featured leather seats, power driver's seat, and sunroof. A lower priced Sport model, equipped with cloth interior and manual seats followed later in the production year, also without color-keyed exterior door handles and mirrors, 4 beam headlamps, leather shift and steering wheel, front door puddle lights or an illuminated ignition key ring. Colors: Silverstone Metallic monochrome, Regatta Red over Silverstone Metallic, Baja Yellow over Silverstone Metallic, Black Granite Pearl over Silverstone Metallic, Mystic Blue Pearl monochrome, Sport model only.

• 2004 offered a new 2.5 L Turbo model with cloth or leather interior and manual or automatic Sportshift transmissions, a large hood scoop and color-matched exterior door handles and side mirrors. All models received increased ground clearance. 2004 Colors: Mystic Blue pearl monochrome, Monterey Silver Metallic (medium gray) over Silverstone, Black Granite Pearl over Silverstone, Black Granite Pearl over Onyx Pearl, Regetta Red Pearl over Silverstone, SilverStone Metallic monochrome, White Frost pearl over Silverstone, Baja Yellow over Silverstone metallic.

• 2005 All models were given a raised ride height, a power outlet in the center console, rear seatback net pocket, and Turbo models with leather offered a new tonneau bed cover. 2005 Colors: Mystic Blue pearl monochrome, Monterey Silver Metallic medium gray) over Silverstone metallic, Black Granite Pearl over silverstone metallic, Black Granite Pearl over Onyx Pearl, Regetta Red Pearl over Silverstone, Silverstone metallic monochrome, White Frost pearl over Silverstone, Baja Yellow over Silverstone metallic.

• 2006 The Turbo received an optional package that included leather trimmed upholstery, heated seats, special alloy wheels, a hard bed cover, and the sport-mode automatic transmission. All models received an enhanced security system. 2006 colors: Atlantic Blue Pearl, Brilliant Silver Metallic and Obsidian Black Pearl (all monochrome).

A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift, straight drive, or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in automotive applications. ... Semi-automatic transmission, or also known as clutchless manual transmission, automated manual transmission, e-gear, or paddle shift gearbox is a system which uses electronic sensors, processors and actuators to do gear shifts on the command of the driver. ...

External links

• Subaru of America Web site
• Subaru Baja Owners Forums
• BAJA sub-forum at NASIOC