Thursday 22nd September 2011

Subaru BRZ Set For LA Unveil

Subaru bit of Toyobaru coupe finally to see motor show lights in November

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Subaru looks set to reveal an actual concept version of its forthcoming BRZ rear-drive coupe at the LA motor show in mid-November. With actual body panels and everything.

Having sort of semi-promised that we might actually see the new rear-drive coupe at Frankfurt, only to reveal another ruddy Perspex - er - thing, it's nice that we might actually see the car in the metal at some point soon, especially since it's officially due to go on sale next year.

But perhaps the reason Subaru is delaying is that its car won't actually look all that different from the Toyota version (with which it is being jointly developed): apparently both cars share broadly similar sheet metal, save for a different 'face'.

Still, whatever it looks like, it will be nice to see finished, production versions of the 2.0-litre, six-speed manual, boxer-engined coupe. Whatever the badge on the nose...

[Hellbound]

Fiiiiiiinally....!

[hornetrider]

We'll see the second coming before Subaru and Toyota release these things on general sale.

[thewheelman]

Bring it on!

[Frimley111R]

Hellbound said:

Fiiiiiiinally....!

Finally what? Finally we'll see a prototype with body panels? Big deal.

[Stew2000]

I'm at the point of being bored with it. Just like the FT-86.

[mat205125]

I'm a little bored of the endless "nearly there!" media articles, and airbrushed doodles, but really looking forward to the car hitting the forecourts and magazine road tests in either Toyota or Subaru form.

The car would have been a media rock star if they had managed to work more secretly, and revealed the pair of cars without anyone getting wind of the partnership or concept.

[soad]

Stew2000 said:

I'm at the point of being bored with it. Just like the FT-86.

Me too, gets tiresome

[cookie1600]

Must be time for a mid-run, model freshen up now eh?

Or are we getting close to the final 150 'celebration' upgraded run-out models......

[kambites]

Ooh yuck! You can't use "unveil" as a noun!

[RichardR]

Maybe they could release the perspex-panelled one as a kind of luxury alternative to the Atom!

[jamespink]

Even if it ever makes it to launch, how is this going to be a better drivers car than the old model Subaru?

[Black S2K]

RichardR said:

Maybe they could release the perspex-panelled one as a kind of luxury alternative to the Atom!

They should do that just to wind everyone up! Just bond some legal-looking lights & wipers onto the mock-up...

[Black S2K]

Stew2000 said:

I'm at the point of being bored with it. Just like the FT-86.

Me three.

Actually, all of these prick-teaser type phtotos by the motor industry just put me right off. Makes the product seem really lame.

[Figo]

jamespink said:

Even if it ever makes it to launch, how is this going to be a better drivers car than the old model Subaru?

Because it's a different car..

[Mr Dave]

jamespink said:

Even if it ever makes it to launch, how is this going to be a better drivers car than the old model Subaru?

What old model Suabru

The justy, impreza, legacy, forrester or tribeca?

[Verde]

I guess that one relevant question, given the near-identical nature of the two beasties is, 'which one would you purchase?'. I.e. which do you think is likely the better car? The Toyotabaru? Or the Subota?
(sorry, just can't resist this childish name calling...)

[Jack4688]

I'd buy the scooby, Toyota just says to me 'dishwasher', but that's just my stupid opinion.... of a car that clearly isn't a corrolla (the Toyota that should make me think of a white good).

Anyway.... I personally feel they are in danger of over hyping it (or maybe the journalists and anxious fans are hyping it up themselves), but I know it'll still look and just be cool when it finally comes. Also if both companies and/or privateers go rallying with them then that'll add cool points!!

[bobberz]

hornetrider said:

We'll see the second coming before Subaru and Toyota release these things on general sale.

Most likely!

I was hoping the Scooby version would be given more individual styling; I can't imagine the shape of the FT-86 fitting in with the rest of Subaru's range. Given the styling of the rest of Subaru's range, that might be a good thing!

[IAJO]

Na 2ltr boxer. What's that going to make 150-200bhp and it will weigh 1300kg. Great for aftermarket tuning companies as they will be no lookers and not all that exciting.

[anonymous-user]

How low is that engine, looking good for handling.