[8] The car also received a minor facelift (with a "frowny" rather than the smiling grille seen on the turquoise four-door in the infobox being the most obvious difference) and a new chassis code: K22.

In September 1974, along with a minor facelift consisting of a new grille and bumpers adjusted to allow for the fitment of larger license plates, a "Wagon" version (K26) appeared.

This received four permanent seats, but was no longer registerable as a commercial vehicle and had a considerably lower max load.

This was necessitated by Japanese commercial vehicle regulation which require the floor to be completely flat when the rear seat is folded.

Because the Rex's engine was mounted in the rear, the cargo floor was rather high, meaning that more head room would be required before a seat could be installed.

The Wagon continued in production until the SEEC-T version was introduced in December, but it lost most of its market with the availability of a four-seater Van.

[11] The equipment levels were also reshuffled, with the B-type replacing the Standard and then rising from the AI via the AIG and AII to the AIIG on top.

It retained the earlier bodywork (albeit broadened by 10 cm and with a lengthened bonnet for an overall length of 3,185 mm or 125.4 in) receiving a 490 cc version of the same engine.

[6] The Rex 5 (K23, K43 in the Van version) engine was still of two cylinders and an overhead cam design, and retained the SEEC-T emissions control system.

This version (called the Subaru 500 in the export) was short-lived, replaced by the bigger Rex 550 exactly one year after being introduced.

The Rex 550, introduced in May 1977, featured the SEEC-T equipped watercooled, two-cylinder, four-stroke 544 cc EK23 series engine.

As usual, the Vans received a lower powered version of the engine, with 28 PS (21 kW) at 6000 rpm but the same exact torque figures.

Subaru made much of the "Multi-Use Lever", which combined the headlight, turn signal, and windshield washer functions.

[15] In March 1978 the Swingback version was added, a two-door sedan which received a larger, opening rear window.

In March 1979, the Rex underwent a very minor facelift, the most visible results being new rims and slightly differing bumpers and a small spoiler in front.

[4] Then, in response to the very low priced Suzuki Alto, a decontented version of the Van called "Family Rex" was added in October 1979.

In August 1981, the second-generation Subaru Rex became front-wheel drive, with all-new bodywork and independent suspension all around.

These cars were 9 cm longer than their domestic counterparts, due to bigger bumpers, and received 12-inch wheels (rather than the ten-inch units used for most models in Japan).

The passenger version was called simply "Rex" and was originally only available with five doors; its chassis codes are KN1 (FF) or KN2 (4WD).

"Twin Viscous" full-time 4WD with a limited slip differential for the rear axle was made available in February 1987.

A supercharged version with an intercooler and electronic fuel injection was added to the options list March 1988 as a response to the success of the Alto Works and Mira TR-XX.

The Fiori derivative (sold as such from summer 1989) was also equipped with pink and blue pinstriping from the factory, and a two-year, 50,000 km warranty was offered when new.

This engine, producing 42 PS (31 kW) at 6,000 rpm, was also used in those European markets that received the Rex and in New Zealand's Ace.