We have a few good news and what we see at at least a couple of bad ones. The good news is that Subaru has today taken the wraps of the production version of the BRZ sports coupe, which they developed in partnership with Toyota.
The production version looks refreshingly similar to the STI-badged concept revealed at the Los Angeles Auto Show. But that’s only around the front end. Now here we go with the bad news: unlike the STI Concept, which had square taillights, a different diffuser at the back and purely STI wheels, the production BRZ has the same wheels, tallights and basically everything else as the GT 86. What’s more the Toyota sports coupe has a wing on the back that this doesn’t come with, though that might just be an optional extra.
Basically, the only thing that’s different from the GT 86 is the grille, headlights, foglights and front bumper. Hooray for model differentiation! They are about as similar as the Peugeot 107 and the Toyota Aygo.
Moving on to other bad news, we have to tell you that it doesn’t have 10 or so more hp than the Toyota GT 86, like we expected. Instead, you’ll be buying the same 2.0-liter flat-four engine with Toyota’s “D-4S” direct injection and port injection technology, which is rated at 200-horsepower and 205Nm (151 lb-ft).
And just like the Toyota GT 86, power is sent to a limited slip differential at the back via a six-speed manual gearbox with a short shift lever or the optional six-speed automatic with paddle shifts on the steering wheel.
Not only are the dimensions the same, but the wheels are too, with the only difference being that they have Subaru written on the centers.
I suppose they could have made it as cool as the STI concept, but then it would have cost double what it is now. At least the curb wight of just 1,220 kg (2,689 lbs) is mighty impressive. The only car you can really compare it to is the old RX-8 base model with 212 but that ate through fuel like a pig.
autoevolution will be attending the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, so stay tuned for some real up close and personal shots of the vehicles, as well as for first-hand details of the motorized contraptions presented at the event.
Basically, the only thing that’s different from the GT 86 is the grille, headlights, foglights and front bumper. Hooray for model differentiation! They are about as similar as the Peugeot 107 and the Toyota Aygo.
Moving on to other bad news, we have to tell you that it doesn’t have 10 or so more hp than the Toyota GT 86, like we expected. Instead, you’ll be buying the same 2.0-liter flat-four engine with Toyota’s “D-4S” direct injection and port injection technology, which is rated at 200-horsepower and 205Nm (151 lb-ft).
And just like the Toyota GT 86, power is sent to a limited slip differential at the back via a six-speed manual gearbox with a short shift lever or the optional six-speed automatic with paddle shifts on the steering wheel.
Not only are the dimensions the same, but the wheels are too, with the only difference being that they have Subaru written on the centers.
I suppose they could have made it as cool as the STI concept, but then it would have cost double what it is now. At least the curb wight of just 1,220 kg (2,689 lbs) is mighty impressive. The only car you can really compare it to is the old RX-8 base model with 212 but that ate through fuel like a pig.
autoevolution will be attending the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, so stay tuned for some real up close and personal shots of the vehicles, as well as for first-hand details of the motorized contraptions presented at the event.
Google News