Publication: Motor Fan
Format: Test Drive Report
Date: December 1971
Author: Hiroshi Hoshijima

Moving Away from the Overly Earnest Image

Limiting output to 80 horsepower, the same as the 1300G, is a sensible decision in terms of usability. However, there is now less to single out as particularly noteworthy from a mechanical standpoint.

An Unusual First Impression

From the moment I first laid eyes on the Leone at its unveiling, I was left with a rather curious impression.

Publication: Motor Fan
Format: Test Drive Report
Date: December 1971
Author: Eizo Ikeda

For Those Who Enjoy the Everyday Mood

This is a Subaru of a different character from the design philosophy of the ff-1. On good roads, its handling approaches neutrality; on rough surfaces, it demands a more deliberate degree of control from the driver.

Styling: A 2+2 Approach

When I first saw the much-anticipated Subaru Leone Coupe in person, my impression was that it had come rather too close to other cars in the same class. In the process, something of Fuji Heavy Industries’ traditional “aircraft manufacturer” atmosphere seemed to have been lost. From the original Subaru 360 through to the front-wheel-drive 1300G, there had been a consistent spirit of advancing small-car technology across every model. Backed by a strong foundation in aircraft engineering, the confidence and ambition of Subaru’s technical team has long held a special appeal for devoted fans of the marque.

Publication: Car Graphic
Format: Road Impression
Date: December 1971
Author: Shotaro Kobayashi

Road testing the Subaru Leone Coupe 1400GSR

The Subaru Leone Coupe is more than a simple two-door adaptation of the current FF-1 sedan. Significant changes have been made to both the engine and chassis, and from behind the wheel it gives the impression of being an entirely different car. As with the 1300G sedan, the Leone 1400 engine is available in two states of tune. The sporting versions are the GS and GSR, the latter of which comes standard with radial tires and servo-assisted brakes. Priced at 719,000 yen, 25,000 yen more than the GS, the GSR is the model we tested this time.

Publication: Auto Sport
Format: Road Test
Date: December 1971
Author: Yoshio Takaoka

An FF Coupe Through the Autumn Roads of Inner Kinugawa

No matter how many winding passes we crossed, all we could see was mountain after mountain in full autumn colors. Into these remote Okukinu forest roads we brought Subaru’s newly introduced hot model, the Leone GSR, to explore the full driving character of this front-wheel-drive coupe.