Fuchu

Fuchu is a Japanese company, known for their Wankel based engines.

History

Fuchu was founded in 1920 as a cork making factory, and after several factory acquisitions, it started producing cars in 1931. During the Second World War, Fuchu produced weapons to the Japanese military as well as military vehicles. Actual full car production with the Fuchu name started in 1960.

Inspired by a now defunct West German company, Fuchu decided to create their own take of the rotary engine, naming it FRW (Fuchu Rotary Wankel). This very same company decided to be a partner to Fuchu, and this led to the cars being sold internationally. Many praised the FRW engine for being powerful and lightweight, leading to a lot of popularity and high sales figures.

In 1970, Fuchu made its official debut inside the USA, and created many USDM cars with their FRW engine due to high demand. But the 1973 oil crisis put a damper into their expansion plans and the company refocused their efforts to make the FRW engines more desirable for sport cars than common ones. This seemed to work as the new lineup from the RS series, called RS7, launched in 1978 and sold very well until its discontinuation in 2012 with the RS8 model.

In 1974, Dearborn had invested in the company, acquiring a 24.5% stake in 1979, upped to a 33.4% in 1995. This led Fuchu cars to be rebadged as Dearborn ones as well many engines being used inside of Dearborn cars. In turn, Fuchu helped Dearborn to sell their cars in Asian markets that Dearborn couldn’t get into. The world financial crisis in 2008 caused a lot of downturns and Dearborn looked to sell their investments in Fuchu, doing so in 2015.

In that same year, Koromo and Fuchu announced a ‘strategic relationship’ between them, allowing them to use technologies from each other.

Fuchu’s market presence has since retracted to a select number, being mostly Asian countries, and the USA. The company’s new focus is for Hybrid and EVs, but hasn’t been truly successful due to the aggressive competition.

TRK

TRK stands for Track Racing Spec. Created in 1967, originally a separate group outside of Fuchu, they were an independent racing team that modified Fuchu cars. Using several Fuchu cars, they raced and won multiple editions of the 24H GrinVits, as well the local JGT competitions.

Fuchu acquired the company in 1999, turning them into an aftermarket parts company for Fuchu cars, and in 2003, they started offering factory-tuned versions of their cars. The first car offered was the Latitude in 2003.

Featured Vehicles In Project Redline

Regular

Latitude TRK (2022)

The fourth generation Latitude launched in 2019 but it managed to get a TRK version in 2022, with a small refresh on its looks. A great supermini and sedan, the Latitude is Fuchu’s main car, sold in domestic and international markets in high numbers. The TRK version improved on it slightly, offering a more aggressive look to the vehicle.

It is powered by a 2.5L inline-4 in either 6-speed manual or automatic, in a F4 configuration.

Himiko TRK (2024)

Named as the successor of older British and Italian roadsters, the very Japanese Himiko refuses to die off. With one million units sold lifetime, the 2024 TRK trim of the Himiko shows that it can sell another million with ease.

Powering this roadster is a 2.0L inline-4 in either 6-speed manual or automatic, in a F4 configuration.

RS7V Finale (2002)

A great farewell to a one-time classic, the RS7V lineup by Fuchu had many generations and refreshes but the Finale trim brings the entire lineup to a great wrap-up. With over twenty years and three generations, the RS7V is a car to behold, with its exclusive FRW engine. This particular trim was Japanese only, based on the third generation of the RS7V.

Powering this coupé is the amazing 1.3L FRW Twin-turbocharged rotary engine, with a 5-speed manual, using a FR layout.

RS8V Finale (2012)

Another great farewell, this time to an engine that made Fuchu very popular. The RS8V Finale is the Japanese only trim of the RS8V, where a thousand were made initially, but eventually turned into three thousand due to high demand. Additionally this was the last vehicle made using the FRW engine.

Powering this 4 door coupé is the second version of the previous 1.3L FRW rotary engine, with a 6-speed manual, using a FR layout.

Custom

AT Hiko RS7V (1995)

AT Hiko’s take on the RS7V will always be remembered as the car that did what others couldn’t do. The tuning company took the already excellent RS7V and made it even better, with a custom look that has still no match to this day. Once you get ahold of the AT Hiko RS7V, you’ll be seeing purple.

Himiko TRK Competition (2020)

Fuchu proudly holds a competition every year with the Himiko and the 2020’s edition couldn’t be any different. The TRK Competition is a factory-tuned version of the car, made specifically to compete in the Himiko Cup, with many changes to the base car, such as no roof and the addition of a 8-bars rollcage.

RS7V Misato Tuning (1995)

The most iconic version of the RS7V ever made by a legendary tuning company, Misato Tuning. Chances are that when you think of a RS7V, you’re thinking of this one. With its traditional light blue color, the car is a street icon that makes any car fan want one.

RS8V TRK (2012)

Fuchu stopped selling the RS8V in 2012, but for a limited time, owners could send their cars to the company and turn their Finale trim into the final TRK trim for the vehicle. This version had new bodywork and a tuned engine for more performance, as well as a new set of wheels in collaboration with PRA.