Subaru showcased its BRZ sports coupe in the LA motorshow. The car is essentially a thinly disguised production version of Subaru new sports car. The BRZ is co-developed with Toyota FT86 and both cars are expected to bow in at Tokyo Motorshow in mass-production form.
The main difference with the Toyota FT86 is limited to different bumper design for both front and rear. The headlamp is shared, however, the rear light is different from FT86 as it is more boxy in appearance. The LA showcar also gets a massive rear wing. Both FT86 and BRZ has been tested by several journalist and all are single-voiced in praising the accessible fun handling of both.
Below is the press release by Subaru.
Styling
• By installing the Boxer engine as low as possible, the low hood and sleek roofline together compose a sophisticated form. This is also blended with STI performance touches for a Subaru sporting profile.
• A hexagonal lower front grille, hawk eye headlights and fin-shaped fog lamps make the front face instantly recognizable as Subaru.
• STI-made lower front spoiler and rear wing magnify down-force and aerodynamics performance. They allow stable straight driving and excellent handling at high speeds.
• The rear design with bold rear fender flares, large rear-diffuser, and twin dual tailpipes intensifies the STI performance feel.
• A carbon-fiber roof, already installed in a WRX STI model and highly acclaimed, has been employed by the concept car. With it, extra weight reduction and an even lower center of gravity were achieved, contributing considerably to the ultimate handling performance this concept model aims to offer.
• The lively exterior color “WR Blue Pearl II” is a new generation of the iconic WR blue paint scheme that emphasizes the racing image.
Engine
• The Boxer engine has inherent qualities of light weight, compactness, low center of gravity, and high rigidity – all pointing toward its great potential as a sports car engine. Taking full advantage of these features, a 2.0-liter horizontally-opposed four-cylinder direct fuel-injection gasoline engine has been developed exclusively for BRZ.
• The engine has been designed with a square bore and stroke of 86 X 86 mm. Combined with Toyota’s D-4S direct injection technology (fuel injection system), high output and high environmental standards were both attained, both expected of a new generation sports car.
Chassis and Body
• Compared with other Subaru models, the engine in SUBARU BRZ CONCEPT - STI - sits an impressive 120 mm lower and is positioned 240 mm closer to the center of the chassis. As a result, this car has achieved one of the lowest possible center of gravity in cars on the market today.
• By incorporating lightweight parts such as a carbon-fiber roof, the overall weight has been reduced. Subaru has also succeeded in attaining a body structure that is both lightweight and highly rigid in a striking balance. The concept car is the embodiment of pure driving enjoyment only obtainable with a “Boxer sports car”.
• Its unique handling performance has been remarkably refined by adopting STI’s lightweight 18-inch alloy wheels with performance tires and STI tuned suspension with excellent lateral stiffness.
• Brembo brakes enhance braking performance.
Major Specifications
Overall Length × Width × Height (mm): 4,230 × 1,800 × 1,280
Wheelbase (mm): 2,570
Engine Type: 2.0-liter direct fuel injection naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder
Horizontally-Opposed Boxer engine
Tires: 215/45R18 (Front), 225/45R18 (Rear)
Small gallery of Subaru BRZ Concept STi can be found below.