CUSCO is a Japanese automotive parts company, specializing in car suspension parts. They are most famous for their

coilover A coilover is an automobile suspension device. The name coilover is an abbreviation of "coil-over shock absorber". Description Coilovers are found on many vehicles, from RC cars to normal passenger cars, race cars and 4x4 vehicles. They are ...

suspensions, and are a large presence in the Japanese

automotive aftermarket The automotive aftermarket is the secondary market of the automotive industry, concerned with the manufacturing, remanufacturing, distribution, retailing, and installation of all vehicle parts, chemicals, equipment, and accessories, ''after'' the ...

in the domestic Japanese market and around the globe. A notable product of CUSCO is the "E-CON", a coilover suspension set with electronically controlled dampers. Cusco sponsored a high performance, RWD mid-engined two-door version of the Subaru WRX STI for professional racing.

Foreign Expansion and Auto History

Cusco have had a history of providing parts for Rallycross races, and even having a Rallycross car represent them in a race. An example would be when they sponsored Subaru. Carrosser is actually the only brand in Japan that has participated in all of the events at the All Japanese Championships.

Brands

The company is divided into 4 separate brands each having a purpose to the company. These brands are Cusco, Vacanza, Carrosser, and Safety21. Each brand plays a part in manufacturing and selling parts for a type of car. Some parts are tested on the track in racing events, and all products are tested in the laboratory.

Cusco

Cusco is the main brand, responsible for selling generic and racing gears.

Vacanza

Vacanza manufactures

kits and parts for

minivans Minivan (sometimes called simply as van) is a North American car classification for vehicles designed to transport passengers in the rear seating row(s), with reconfigurable seats in two or three rows. The equivalent classification in Europe i ...

, SUVs (Sports Utility Vehicles), and

station wagons A station wagon ( US, also wagon) or estate car ( UK, also estate), is an automotive body-style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door ( ...

. Designed by Carrosser.

Carrosser

The design philosophy of both Cusco and Vacanza lie in the Carrosser brand. Given authority from the JAF (Japanese Automotive Federation) Carrosser is the competition brand of the company. They participate in all the races of the All Japan Championship, and have gotten sponsorship from Japanese automaker Subaru

Safety21

This brand is specifically put into place to manufacture the safety equipment in performance cars. This includes

roll cage A roll cage is a specially engineered and constructed frame built in (or sometimes around, in which case it is known as an exo cage) the passenger compartment of a vehicle to protect its occupants from being injured or killed in an accident, pa ...

s, bars and guards. They are place through extensive tests both in the laboratory and on the track, to provide the best body and rigidity,

Super GT/JGTC

From 1997 until 2008, Cusco Racing participated in the GT300 class of JGTC (renamed Super GT in 2005) with a Subaru Impreza WRX STI. Cusco Racing made their JGTC debut at the 1997 season finale at Sugo. in the GT300 class, the team achieved three pole positions and two race wins, one of which in 2008 saw the Subaru Impreza become the first AWD vehicle to take victory in the championships history.

Complete Super GT results

( key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap)

References

Auto parts suppliers of Japan Automotive companies established in 1977 Companies based in Gunma Prefecture Japanese brands 1977 establishments in Japan {{Japan-company-stub

Company Information