Wednesday 24th August 2011

New Subaru Coupe To Be Called 'BRZ'

Text-speak or car model name? You decide...

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Subaru's teaser site for the new car

Subaru has announced that it will call its new rear-drive coupe, which is being developed jointly with Toyota, the BRZ.

This, Subaru tells us, stands for 'Boxer engine', 'Rear-wheel drive' and 'Zenith', and the car is set to go on sale in spring 2012. Before that, we'll see a 'concept' version at the Frankfurt show (which we hope has a little more in the way of bodywork than the car we saw at Geneva).

That concept, in a move that makes it sound more like one of those endearingly random legends you on Japanese T shirts than anything automotive, will be called the "Subaru BRZ Prologue-Boxer Sports Car Architecture II." Snappy.

But then Fuji Heavy Industries, Subaru's parent company, never has quite understood how to do marketing: they proudly describe the current Impreza, at its launch, as a 'sports casual' car... Bless 'em...

[R66STU]

Zenith ? whats that.. ? they should have gone with Boxer engine', 'Rear-wheel drive' and 'Animal' BRA

[RevOne]

You would think that Subaru, who are going joint in this project with Toyota, would not have used an acronym so similar to that of a PAST Toyota (Levin BZR) to name their car....

[tertius]

R66STU said:

Zenith ? whats that.. ? they should have gone with Boxer engine', 'Rear-wheel drive' and 'Animal' BRA

Well, they do make rather good watches ... I guess that wasn't what they were referring to.

[thewheelman]

I know Zenith means above, but, still, not the most original of names, or the most inspiring.

[OwenK]

So much of this car's success is going to hinge on its looks. If it all goes a bit odd-looking like many recent Subarus then I think it will absolutely tank.
They need to remember that the old ones looked great because they looked like they didn't care how ugly they were!

[chilled901]

I believe this is the first car to be named after a noise making instrument (the vuvuzela). Brzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Bad Sir Culation]

chilled901 said:

I believe this is the first car to be named after a noise making instrument (the vuvuzela). Brzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Not sure about that, don't forget the Honda Accord-ion.....

Oh no......

[CliveM]

Or (slightly off topic) the Honda Concerto....

[cookie1600]

So what will this one end up being called in the take-away car parks of Essex then?

A bruizer? (sic)
A breezer?
A brazziere? (sic)

[Richair]

Just another Jap car with a three letter name, Honda have been doing it for years! Nowt wrong with that, I could get used to referring to the 'BRZ'

[AWG]

cookie1600 said:

So what will this one end up being called in the take-away car parks of Essex then?

A bruizer? (sic)
A breezer?
A brazziere? (sic)

lol I believve we will call it A Bruiser!

[AWG]

OwenK said:

So much of this car's success is going to hinge on its looks. If it all goes a bit odd-looking like many recent Subarus then I think it will absolutely tank.
They need to remember that the old ones looked great because they looked like they didn't care how ugly they were!

Couldn't agree more, I own a Blobeye scoob but believe the version 5 classics were some of their best looking models!

[Ali_T]

Why not: Boxer engine, Underpowered, Mediocre styling?

OT: BRZ is a rubbish name. Is it one less good than Honda's CRZ?

[bobberz]

Article said:

This, Subaru tells us, stands for 'Boxer engine', 'Rear-wheel drive' and 'Zenith'

Will it be using carburettors, then?

[visual123]

I read 'BAZ' at first.

[Raitzi]

I hope it wont be as ugly as the prototype shown previously. Toyota looks however good.

[Black S2K]

chilled901 said:

I believe this is the first car to be named after a noise making instrument (the vuvuzela). Brzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Onomatopoeic of the boxer engine's noise.

BTW - I spectacularly misread 'vuvuzela' & wondered WTF you were on about! I suppose it's also onomatopaeic of a...oh, never mind.

[LuS1fer]

Whether it's BR Zed or BR Zee, it's CRAP.

[Niffty951]

What I want it to be:-

- The first proper turbo RWD sports car to come out of Japan since the now legends of the 1990's.
- A 400hp turbo with the thrill/sound of the Subaru Boxer turbo and the reliability/engineering of a Toyota.
- A solid but light weight, not too fancy construction to allow great handling for a normal price.
- A price range to compete with the Golf Gti, Ford ST

What it will be:-

A faffy 200hp ish car advertising low tax brackets, an all plastic interior, 1500+kg, Subaru reliability and a price tag just higher than you can justify for the quality compared to other alternatives

I refuse to get my hopes up again!

[chilled901]

Black S2K said:

Onomatopoeic of the boxer engine's noise.

BTW - I spectacularly misread 'vuvuzela' & wondered WTF you were on about! I suppose it's also onomatopaeic of a...oh, never mind.

Actually, that would be more fitting for a Honda with an aftermarket exhaust.