Wednesday 30th November 2011

Official: Subaru BRZ updated info

Subaru confirms official details but keeps schtum on the pric

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There's a clear pecking order in the whole Toyobaru saga and it's obvious Toyota is wearing the trousers. Subaru has finally released more official information about the BRZ though, promising 'pure handling delight' against Toyota's 'more passion, more fun'.

Much the same but with added WR Blue

You will, by now, have probably read up on the GT 86 and noted the 200hp power output and 7.0 seconds 0-62mph headline performance figures from the Subaru developed D-4S 2.0-litre flat-four. And whatever STI may or may not have up its sleeves for now the BRZ is towing the party line with identical numbers. Subaru has revealed a kerb weight of 1,220kg though, vaguely attributing this as a 'reference value' without any further information as to whether this includes the driver and/or fluids. As previously stated though, that's within the ballpark of a Renaultsport Clio 200 and with a similar power output too.

Initial reports suggested the Toyota would weigh in at around £28,000, though nothing official has yet been released. Suffice to say, initial reaction on the PH message boards has not been overly delighted at that news, Subaru still reluctant to stick its head above the parapet and confirm a number.

And after whetting our appetites with all this talk of pure handling delight and such it's going to be a while until we actually get to sample it, with neither car expected on sale before June/July next year. Can't come soon enough.

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Previously on PistonHeads: Having buddied up on the development of the BRZ and GT 86 Toyota and Subaru are now engaged in a PR war as both cars approach their official debuts at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Our story on the Toyota GT 86(nee FT-86) has obviously got PHers fired up and though press day isn't officially until tomorrow there was no way Subaru was going to let Toyota steal all the glory. Hence the appearance overnight of some suspiciously official looking BRZ pictures and accompanying info.

Subaru looks a bit neater than the Toyota

Initial reaction to the GT 86 seems to be 'love the idea, hate the price', the originally mooted £20Kish price point engorged to closer to £30K by Toyota. Will Subaru manage to price any more competitively or have the two agreed a pact that'll prevent one from undercutting the other? We'll have to wait and see but don't get your hopes up.

Of the two you'd have to say Subaru is very much the junior partner, though it will be the one actually building both versions. It remains very much a minnow compared with Toyota and though mechanically and physically near-identical it's clear the BRZ is something of the underdog.

We Brits love an underdog though and we're pretty partial to Subarus too. So does the BRZ promise any more than its Toyota equivalent? Not for now, though the STI concept shown just weeks ago at LAsuggests Subaru might have some tricks up its sleeve in terms of hotter versions. For now though it seems the BRZ will match the GT 86's 200hp, seven-second 0-62mph time and the rest. Which isn't surprising considering the two are mechanically identical. Subaru seems to be putting the weight at 1,220kg - on a par with a Renaultsport Clio 200 meaning a comparable power to weight ratio. But, of course, rear-wheel drive.

And the looks? Well, also pretty much identical, though Subaru's cleaner press shots help tone down the GT 86's chintzier overtones.

We'll be bringing you more info and pictures on both cars as the week progresses too so stay tuned.

[JameshGT]

Me Likey

[mattsrallye]

Definitely prefer the styling of this to the GT-86, but then that might just be because it's not in a weird orangey-brown colour! Fingers crossed for a more 'reasonable' price-tag...

[Codswallop]

Subaru in 'they've designed a better looking car than someone else' shocker! Lookes better than the GT86 with the more toned down bumper and lack of rear spoiler.

[AntiguaBill]

mattsrallye said:

Definitely prefer the styling of this to the GT-86, but then that might just be because it's not in a weird orangey-brown colour! Fingers crossed for a more 'reasonable' price-tag...

EH? It's exactly the same! Look again.

[daveknott5]

Like it more than the Toyota - though wish it had the squarer tail lights from the STI concept. These jewel like Japanese rear lights are so last decade.

If Subaru manage to keep the price close to £20k they'll have a sure fire winner. I'd much rather have one of these than an MX5. If it's close to £30k though - sorry - that's just too much

[garycat]

It seems to have a high bonnet line over the front wheels, considering that it uses a flat-4 engine and there is no intercooler on top of the engine like an Impreza has.

[chazwozza]

Looks like a Peugeot. In good way though

[mattsrallye]

AntiguaBill said:

mattsrallye said:

Definitely prefer the styling of this to the GT-86, but then that might just be because it's not in a weird orangey-brown colour! Fingers crossed for a more 'reasonable' price-tag...

EH? It's exactly the same! Look again.

Granted, but without the fussy little spoilers and other details. And it's not brown.

[uncle tez]

Not sure about it myself. It needs lowering straight away

[AntiguaBill]

mattsrallye said:

Granted, but without the fussy little spoilers and other details. And it's not brown.

Yeah, okay, the grille and the tail lights might be slightly different, but otherwise, it does look identical - even the wheels, which they could so easily have changed?!

...and I do agree, such tiny differences do some how make it look better.

[Dan Trent]

Just to clarify - the fixed spoiler on the LA concept reflected the fact that particular car was an STI design study. So this is the 'regular' car, sans wing.

Cheers!

Dan

[AndyCzech]

Looks very sharp.

Can’t wait for the 300bhp turbo conversion.

[FQH]

Less fussy without the silly wing and with a cleaner front end.
Would much rather drive a subaru than a toyota...

[Don't Lift]

Looks like a Peugeot in a rubbish way but it might just be from that particular angle.

[blearyeyedboy]

garycat said:

It seems to have a high bonnet line over the front wheels, considering that it uses a flat-4 engine and there is no intercooler on top of the engine like an Impreza has.

It doesn't have an intercooler yet...

[DanDC5]

Proof the Toyota just needs it's rear spoiler removing.

[LeighW]

garycat said:

It seems to have a high bonnet line over the front wheels, considering that it uses a flat-4 engine and there is no intercooler on top of the engine like an Impreza has.

Probably more to do with meeting pedestrian safety regs than engine clearance at a guess.

[JohnGoodridge]

Like this - from the front it puts me in mind of a modern day T200 Celica, as it's a bit softer than the GT86.

All very confusing.

[loudlashadjuster]

At least they've not pictured it in that awful crappy orangey-brown so beloved of manufacturers' press departments these days, sticking to everyone's favourite - white!

I'm sure Toyota would've dodged much of the flak aimed at the GT86 shots if they'd chosen another colour.

[Big E 118]

Looks ok, how are this and the Toyota going to compare to the 370Z? Similar price, similar layout, a lot less power. The 370Z wasn't exactly a big seller in the UK, are these two models going to prove people are now buying style over performance?