Subaru Baja

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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	All wheel drive
Engine(s)	2.5L 165 hp (123 kW) H4 2.5L 210 hp (157 kW) H4
Transmission(s)	4-speed automatic 5-speed manual
Wheelbase	104.3 in (2649 mm)
Length	193.1 in (4905 mm)
Width	70.1 in (1781 mm)
Height	64.2 in (1631 mm) (2003-04) 65.1 in (1654 mm) (2005-06)
Related	Subaru Legacy

The Baja (pronounced ba-ha) is light utility vehicle manufactured from 2002-2006 by Subaru. The Baja combined the handling and passenger carrying characteristics of a car with the open-bed versatility, and to a lesser degree, load capacity of a pickup 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 Automotive, Inc., aka SIA) once shared with Isuzu.

Notably, the Baja recalled an earlier Subaru vehicle, the BRAT — a two-door open bed, car-based pickup marketed in the US from 1978-1987.

In a package 6 in (152 mm) longer than an Outback, the Baja featured a four-door passenger compartment along with a 41 in (1041 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. The Baja's open bed featured an integrated bed liner, a dual-illumination bed light and four tie-down hooks. Standard roof rails with cross bars provided additional load capacity. Two distinctive chrome flying buttresses behind the passenger compartment (called Sports Bars) provided structural reinforcement for the open bed, and a swing down license plate accommodated the plate's visibility when the tailgate is down. The Baja had a tow rating of 2400 lb (1089 kg).

Competing against the larger Chevy Avalanche and Ford Explorer 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.

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

1 Design
2 Production Notes
3 Variations by Model Year
4 Paint Colors by Model Year
5 External links

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.

Subaru formally introduced the Baja in 2002 as a 2003 model.

Subaru "stock-piled" an inventory of 2006 models before discontinuing production in April 2006, and dealers continued to sell 2006 models as late as September 2007. The Baja was removed from the Subaru USA website on July 31, 2007.

Subaru marketed the Baja in the USA, Canada and Chile. 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 (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. After Isuzu suffered severely dwindling sales by 2002, Subaru dissolved their joint agreement with Isuzu, renamed the facility Subaru of Indiana, Inc., and continued to produce the Isuzu Axiom, Isuzu Rodeo and Honda Passport 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 20, 2007 -- one year after the last Baja was manufactured.

The 2.5 Litre Turbo Boxer engine (EJ255), an option from 2004 onward, is shared with the Forester XT 2004 to present. That engine has also powered the 2005 onward Subaru Legacy GT, 2006 onward Subaru Impreza WRX, and 2005 onward Subaru Outback XT. This is not the EJ257 found in the WRX STi, as believed by Motor Trend shown here: [[1]]. Also, the 5-speed Manual gearbox was retained in the Turbo models, with the option of an automatic, further contradicting the Motor Trend article.

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.

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 (8.4").

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.

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.

2003:

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:

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:

Atlantic Blue Pearl (monochrome)
Regal 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