Subaru BRZ (2021) – With a naturally aspirated 230 horsepower engine

Such a vehicle could today be a UFO, especially in these days and the hunt for the smallest gram of CO₂. Europe is not the center of the world, there are still some pretty cool things happening elsewhere, especially on the side of Subaru, hardly visible on the Old Continent except in mountainous regions, but omnipresent in Asia and especially in the United States and Canada.

In the Subaru range, we had the right in France to the famous little BRZ, the technical cousin of the Toyota GT86. The recipe is as easy as pie since it is an “old-fashioned” sports car, that is to say a 2 + 2 coupé with a naturally aspirated engine, a manual gearbox (an automatic version is also available). ) and in propulsion. The charm operates immediately and despite relatively confidential sales in Europe, the BRZ / GT86 duo enjoys a lot of sympathy.

Evolution more than revolution under the hood

Today, Subaru is therefore revealing the second generation of its BRZ, which should subsequently give rise to a second generation of Toyota GT86. Good news, the recipe doesn’t really change, the car keeps an atmospheric four-cylinder, the displacement goes from 2.0 liters to 2.4 liters. Potency increases from 200 to 230 horsepower and the couple from 205 to 250 Nm. As on the old generation, we will have to get high power in the towers.

The Japanese firm has reworked the chassis of its coupe in order to make the car “more responsive and more rigid”. For example, the rigidity of the front axle has been increased by 60% according to the brand, thus improving its agility and handling. In general, Subaru announces a car that is 50% stiffer compared to the previous generation. As for the suspensions, it’s the same as on the outgoing generation, we find McPherson at the front and a double wishbone at the rear. The center of gravity is however slightly lower.

For the moment, Subaru is not announcing the performance of its model, but our American colleagues who were able to take the wheel estimate that the 0 to 100 km / h is shot in about 5.7 seconds. The weight would be slightly higher compared to the previous version, again without really official data, the car not yet being approved. It would peak at around 1280 kilos, about 35 kilos more than the outgoing generation.

New look and new technologies

Aesthetically there has been a change, and not just a little, the designers have completely revised the style of the car with a side a little more consensual in our eyes. We’ll let you make up your own mind on this. Inside, the dashboard design is more horizontal. We note the arrival of a new infotainment system on 8.0-inch touchscreen with the latest software from the brand integrated.

The BRZ also succumbs to the fashion for digital instrumentation with a 7.0-inch screen in front of the driver. This screen adapts its layout according to the selected mode. In “Track” mode for example, it will highlight the tachometers with the oil pressure or even the engine temperature.

Modern car requires, it also incorporates some driving aids with the Subaru EyeSight delivered as standard on all BRZs with automatic gearboxes. This system includes adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking and the continuous line crossing alert.

Soon in Europe?

For the moment, Subaru has not yet specified the prices of its model. A model which should arrive next year on the American market. And what about Europe? For the moment, the Japanese firm has not communicated on this subject but given the fact that the engine has changed very little compared to the outgoing generation, while knowing that standards have tightened in Europe, the BRZ may never set foot on our soil. And if this is the case, in France, its ecological penalty will undoubtedly exceed its base price.

Generally speaking, the BRZ is not the only vehicle affected by the “problem” of the European market. Other models of its rank, starting with its technical cousin, the Toyota GT86, will not come to Europe. At Nissan, for example, the new 400Z is also not expected to come to Europe. To interfere in the Old Continent, sports car manufacturers will have no choice but to offer a plug-in hybrid version. This will not be the case with the BRZ / GT86 duo. At least not for this generation.