Subaru Pleo 9, 1998, replacing the Vivio, when Japanese regulations dictated a size change in the kei car tax bracket, and every kei car model from every make was redesigned as a result. The commercial for the Pleo’s launch featured a hip hop remix for the aria "Un bel dì vedremo" from the opera "Madama Butterfly" by Italian composer Giacomo Puccini as its background music. In June 1999, Subaru launched a luxurious edition of the Pleo, called the Nesta. In October, a sporty edition was launched, called the LS. In December, an Le edition was launched. In May 2000, Subaru launched a
Giacomo Puccini named Ferdinando Fontana. Puccini and Fontana agreed to collaborate on an opera, for which Fontana would provide the libretto. The work, "Le Villi", was entered into a competition sponsored by the Sozogno music publishing company in 1883 (the same competition in which Pietro Mascagni's "Cavalleria rusticana" was the winner in 1889). Although it did not win, "Le Villi" was later staged at the Teatro Dal Verme, premiering on 31 May 1884. G. Ricordi & Co. music publishers assisted with the premier by printing the libretto without charge. Fellow students from the Milan Conservatory formed a large part of the orchestra.