New Subaru BRZ a reality
Subaru has given us a new BRZ. Nile Bijoux finds out if it is what we’ve been hankering for.
Subaru has finally unveiled the second generation of BRZ sports car. But does it tick the boxes left by the original?
The new car is a complete redesign. There are angular front headlights that look a little like the ones found on the Nissan Z Proto from a few months ago, a smily grille that could be at home on a third-generation MX-5 and a rear end reminiscent of the Honda S660 sports kei car.
It looks good too, though there is a slight awkwardness there that’s hard to quantify. It’ll look better in the metal though, as these things typically do. Plus, raging keyboard warriors will be relieved to hear that all the vents are functional.
Subaru has given the new BRZ a new interior too, with a horizontal theme incorporating a new 8.0-inch touchscreen running Subaru’s latest Starlink infotainment system, a new
7.0-inch digital dash behind the steering wheel with a circular rev counter that changes to a linear graph in Track mode for better legibility.
Under the bonnet is a new
2.4-litre flat four engine. That means more power, though the numbers aren’t astronomical.
Figure on 170kW and 249Nm, increases of 11 per cent and 15 per cent respectively versus the old 2.0-litre unit.
For some people that’s a good thing, it keeps the whole ‘‘purity of driving’’ idea alive and well. The new engine is revvy too, with a redline of 7500rpm which should be fun, but for others the power bump isn’t quite enough.
There were many calls for the BRZ and Toyota 86 twins to go turbo during the first generation but they weren’t heeded.
We’ll have to wait and see if that was the right decision, although there’s always room for a BRZ STi using the 194kW/ 360Nm 2.4-litre turbocharged unit found in the North American Ascent.
What is the right decision, however, is the move to retain the manual transmission and resist the urge to go automatic only, despite the latter being objectively faster and easier to live with.
The BRZ and 86 were always ‘‘driver’s cars’’ first and foremost so the do-it-yourself shifter is a welcome sight, even if it won’t be a seller.
Under the car is a similar platform to the old model but with a few tweaks.
Subaru has made the new coupe stiffer and more responsive through a 60 per cent increase in front axle rigidity and an overall rigidity boost of 50 per cent.
The centre of gravity is lower than before, a feat in itself considering how low the old one was, while Macpherson strut front suspension and doublewishbone rear suspension carries over from before.
Other tech additions include Eyesight active safety coming as standard, though only on automatic models.
As for local availability, we’re yet to hear from Subaru New Zealand. We should also be seeing Toyota’s version, the second-generation 86, in the near future.