For those who haven't figured it out . . .
The Impreza-based WRC car, which spawned the WRX, was introduced for the 1993 season. Backing came from the eastern European cigarette 555. Those are the same brand that was the "other" part of the zipper on the 1999 BAR F1 cars . . . (along with the Lucky Strike).
Though the 555 brand was illegal to be displayed in most of western Europe, it was shown in certain eastern European and other nations. As they couldn't put 555 on the car, they made a variation of the Subaru logo or a rather coy rendition of shapes that mimicked 555.
They became more "Subaru" over time.
That is the "Pig" car, by the way . . . I am VERY glad Subaru abandoned that "design feature!"
The color scheme became SO famous and associated with Subaru (and also the "555" wasn't really seen that much, so less general association baggage between the blue and yellow and the Subaru. The scheme more and more became Subaru's own scheme. Now, Subaru has adopted elements of it into the corporate branding.
In essence, the 555-sponsored (but "Subaru" decaled) blue/yellow WRC cars became so associated with the Subaru brand and were so successful for 15 years that their "aura" just "flowed over" into the road/street examples, even non-WRXs or even Imprezas. Many now believe that blue and yellow IS the Subaru colors. In essence, they have become such.
This is the rare example of when a sponsorship changes a brands popular image and the sponsor's color scheme BECOMES the manufacturer's brand scheme.
I find that VERY interesting! (As should be obvious.)
