Subaru’s BRZ is a lightweight, rear-wheel-drive sports coupe with a four-cylinder engine. It’s not a traditional offering from Subaru, which on every other model includes all-wheel drive and four doors. The BRZ was developed with Toyota, whose product from the partnership is the similar Scion FR-S. The BRZ competes with the Hyundai Genesis coupe and Mazda MX-5 Miata. Exterior The BRZ has a sports-car look with its long nose, short tail and swooping roofline. Subaru says it’s the lightest closed rear-wheel-drive sports car in the U.S. with a 2,762-pound curb weight; that’s more than 500 pounds less than the Hyundai Genesis coupe. An aluminum hood helps keep weight down, and the center of gravity is claimed to be one of the lowest of any production car. Interior There’s seating for four inside the BRZ. Subaru says the bolstered front seats were designed just for the BRZ. The dashboard and overall layout is driver-focused with a tachometer in the middle of the gauge cluster for easy viewing of the engine’s vitals. The tachometer also houses a digital speedometer, though there’s still a traditional analog speedometer to the left. Rear seats fold flat to expand the trunk’s cargo area into the passenger compartment. Under the Hood The BRZ uses Subaru’s trademark horizontally-opposed boxer four-cylinder, though it’s an all-new generation of engine in the BRZ. The 2.0-liter makes 200 horsepower and 151 pounds-feet of torque and features a fuel system from Toyota that combines direct and port injection. Transmission choices include a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic with paddle shifters.
The BRZ’s suspension architecture is shared with Subaru’s redesigned 2012 Impreza and the WRX STI. Safety The preliminary information available for the BRZ doesn’t include much data on safety features, though an electronic stability system is federally mandated, which requires antilock brakes. Front airbags are also required.
