Cars

Toyota

2007-09-27T14:09:00.001-07:00

Toyota Motor Corporation (??????????, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki-gaisha?), or Toyota, is a Japanese multinational corporation and the world's largest automaker by revenue (USD $189.89 billion[7]), production, sales (first half 2007: 4.72 million[8]) and profit ($13.5 billion[9])in front of General Motors. Toyota owns and operates Toyota, Lexus, Scion, has a majority shareholding in Daihatsu Motors (a minicar manufacturer), Hino Motors (a manufacturer of commercial trucks) and has minority shareholdings in Fuji Heavy Industries (a manufacturer of Subaru brand cars), Isuzu Motors (the commercial truck manufacturer) and in Yamaha Motors the engine, motor cycle and marine craft manufacturer. The company includes 522 subsidiaries.[1]The company was founded in 1937 by Kiichiro Toyoda as a spinoff from his father's company Toyota Industries to create automobiles. It created, first as a department of Toyota Industries, its first product Type A engine in 1934 and its first passenger car (the Toyota AA) in 1936. It is headquartered in Toyota, Aichi and Bunkyo Tokyo, Japan. It also provides financial services through its division Toyota Financial Services and also creates robots besides automobiles.

Subaru

2007-09-27T14:08:00.001-07:00

For other uses, see Subaru (disambiguation).Subaru (スバル, Subaru?) is the automobile manufacturing division of Japan-based Fuji Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (FHI).Subaru is known for their use of boxer engines in their vehicles and full-time AWD, as well as their turbocharged performance vehicles, such as the Subaru Impreza WRX.Fuji Heavy Industries, and in turn, Subaru are currently affiliates of Toyota Motor Corporation, with them owning 8.7% of FHI.Modified versions of the Impreza WRX and WRX STi have been competing successfully in car rallies and the World Rally Championship for many years (World Champion drivers include: Colin McRae, Richard Burns and Petter Solberg). The Subaru World Rally Championship cars are prepared and run by Prodrive, the highly successful British Motorsport team. Several endurance records were set in the early and mid-nineties by the Legacy.Popular nicknames (especially among owners) for the Subaru brand name are "Scooby" and "Scooby-Doo" in the UK, and "Subie" and "subie-Doo" in the U.S. The Impreza WRX model is often referred to as the "Rex."

Ferrari

2007-09-27T14:04:00.000-07:00

Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello and Modena, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929 as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street legal vehicles in 1947 as Ferrari S.p.A.. Ferrari's cars are among the most desirable of vehicles to own and drive, and are one of the ultimate status symbols of wealth in the world. Throughout its history, the company has been noted for its continued participation in racing, especially in Formula One, where it has largely enjoyed great success, especially during the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, late 1990s, and 2000s.

Finally, after years of financial struggles, Enzo Ferrari sold the company's sports car division to the Fiat group in 1969 in order to help ensure continued financial backing for the foreseeable future. Enzo Ferrari himself retained control of the racing division until his death in 1988 at the age of 90.Ferrari also has an internally managed merchandising line that licenses a wide range of products bearing the Ferrari brand, including eyewear, pens, pencils, perfume, clothing, high-tech bicycles, cell phones, and even laptop computers. Financial Times named Ferrari number one on its 2007 list of the 100 Best Workplaces in Europe.