- The final production-ready Subaru BRZ sport coupe makes its world debut in late November at the 2011 Tokyo Auto Show.
- A high-performance S206 Impreza variant also will be rolled out at the Tokyo show.
- The splashy Subaru Advanced Tourer Concept, with a 1.6-liter turbo hybrid powertrain, previews Subaru's latest hybrid thinking.
TOKYO — Long rumored, but now it's official: Subaru will lift the covers on the final production-ready BRZ sport coupe in late November at the 2011 Tokyo Auto Show.
Finally, the world will get to see what this keenly awaited, compact, rear-drive 2.0-liter sport coupe, co-developed with Toyota, looks and feels like.
Although the media and cyberspace are already alive with BRZ-related content, until that Tokyo reveal on November 30, Subaru still won't show us the BRZ in all its glory.
Instead, the company continues to hide behind this teaser pic, but under the hood, it's confirmed the BRZ will run with a unique and exceptionally low-set 2.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-4 engine, with "square" bore and stroke of 86-by-86mm and Toyota's D-4S direct-injection heads.
The transmission will be a six-speed (manual or auto) and Subaru is promising that the unique rear-drive chassis, with front struts and rear double wishbones, will offer "pure handling delight." The Japan BRZ measures 167 inches long, 70 inches wide and 51 inches high, so it's shorter, wider and lower than the new Impreza. Its wheelbase is set at 101 inches.
Subaru, in the meantime, must have set a new industry record by announcing the "next" version of the BRZ before the stock JDM car has even been released.
This is the BRZ Concept STI, which Subaru announced last week and, somewhat confusingly, appears next week at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show, some two weeks before Tokyo.
That STI Concept, Subaru assures us, carries some visual and spec differences over the standard BRZ, so more toned-down styling for the Tokyo car looks like a given.
On Subaru's stand in Tokyo, the BRZ will also be sharing space with the S206, the latest in a long run of skunkworks-developed Imprezas for die-hards in Japan. The base will be the outgoing Impreza WRX STI sedan.
The S206 is expected to be another limited-edition, right-hand-drive special for Japan with unique turbo, chassis, suspension, brakes, wheels and tire treatment to up the ante. The talk is of 320 horsepower, but full specs will be announced in Japan on November 24.
Then there's Subaru's Advanced Tourer Concept, essentially a downsized redo of the Hybrid Tourer Concept that starred under the lights at Tokyo in 2009.
Two years on, the svelte Italianate styling and big gullwing doors have departed, for a more solid, Audi-like look. The former car's complex 2.0-liter turbo powertrain with twin-motor hybrid has also been ditched for a simpler, greener 1.6-liter turbo unit with single-motor hybrid.
Although Subaru won't say, a production version of this Advanced Tourer Concept looks likely to join the lineup for 2014.
Inside Line says: Subaru has plenty to tempt and tease at the upcoming 2011 Tokyo Auto Show.
Add A Comment »
pathos says:
04:32 PM, 11/09/2011
I'm just happy to see a new promising sporty car from Japan, as I always welcome sports cars to the U.S. (Not at the docks, in person, you know what I mean). ha. ha. As it is quite clear to me that Japan has not really been into sports car for a while.
300zxguy says:
02:53 PM, 11/07/2011
wagon concept looks good, but seriously, that front end... with the logo covered, how many people would not immediately identify that as an Audi?
k55 says:
09:38 AM, 11/07/2011
The success of the BRZ will boil down to price. Its a given it will be a performer (as in Miata like handling not outright speed) but if they ask 23-24k then hot stuff..........if more then not so sure. Why should it be more ? look at any remote competition and its not the spec of the BRZ that would make this expensive.........its just that Subaru was well versed in knowing how to make the pieces work in the execution of the details.
aviboy97 says:
08:36 AM, 11/07/2011
Sure looks like an Audi to me....front and back.
bankerdanny says:
07:40 AM, 11/07/2011
I mean SVX
bankerdanny says:
07:39 AM, 11/07/2011
Subaru can't do better than BRZ? Bring back the SVZ name or even XT. Neither were world beaters, but they're still better than BRZ and have some connection to Subaru's history.
lolxd says:
07:04 AM, 11/07/2011
The Advanced Tourer concept might be a hint of what the next generation Impreza will look like. Cross fingers that it is because it looks nice. Subaru's not going anywhere with the current design language especially the Legacy models.
lookatmyshoes says:
06:59 AM, 11/07/2011
Subaru really needs to refresh its lineup and come up with something exciting. The Impreza is a good start but this car will be one more of the bunch battling in the compact segment.
The current Legacy lost its place to be the sport sedan of choice that was the previous generation and really needs an urgent mid-cylcle refresh and a R Spec version.
What about the outback GT was really cool and now is not available?
I hate when car makers are in cost cutting mode with no respect to their loyal costumers.
Ford, GM did that for many years and took them many years to start to come back. Honda and subaru has done the same and will take them years to come back.
ms3hothatch says:
05:31 AM, 11/07/2011
I want the BRZ with a turbo, but I can't handle the spoiler. Hopefully, it's an option and not standard.
hotrodw says:
04:12 AM, 11/07/2011
The Advanced Tourer Concept looks pretty good. The Outback is fine, but I prefer my utility to come with some style. I'm not sure how I feel about the hybrid powertrain, but I'll keep an open mind until more details become available.