Photo: Subaru
Earlier this month, at the New York Auto Show, Subaru showed a rather interesting concept in the shape of the STi BRZ, a car that stunned the crowd. It looked so good that we simply couldn’t take our eyes off it, wondering whether it will make it into production in the meantime.
As it turns out, in a recent interview with Automotive News, spokesman Michael McHale said that the US will be getting an STI version of the BRZ in ‘a couple of years’. That’s encouraging for Subaru fans but also disappointing as there’s no layout market for sure in the future.
Such a move does make sense as the US is the biggest market for Subaru’s Technica International business (STI). Last year, for example, they sold 6,500 WRX STI models in the North American country, making it the biggest market for the hardcore model worldwide.
However, their business isn’t limited to enhanced models though. STI also sells performance parts and is involved in motorsports. Therefore, opening a new niche in the US with the prepped BRZ would also bring forth a new market for performance parts and tuning.
Unfortunately, the exact specifications of such a model haven’t been agreed on. The standard BRZ we have today has a 2-liter atmospheric 4-cylinder engine that makes 200 HP, plenty for a car that is supposed to be both fun and cheap at the same time.
With the involvement of STI, that output could go as high as 250 HP or even 270 as the WRX Impreza has at the moment but with the help of forced induction. That would make the 1,230 kg (2,712 lbs) car quite fast.
It also wouldn’t be a surprise move as Subaru is trying to maximize the impact the STI badge has and has put out models wearing it in all segments it’s present in. For example, we now have an STI Legacy Sedan, Forester and so on.
Of course, in order for all of this to work, Subaru would have to keep the pricing in check. If other models are of any indication, we might want to take a step back. The BRZ is attractive with its current price tag of $25,695 but under the STI badge, that could go as high as $30,000 and that’s when we’ll start having to make some hard decisions.
Such a move does make sense as the US is the biggest market for Subaru’s Technica International business (STI). Last year, for example, they sold 6,500 WRX STI models in the North American country, making it the biggest market for the hardcore model worldwide.
However, their business isn’t limited to enhanced models though. STI also sells performance parts and is involved in motorsports. Therefore, opening a new niche in the US with the prepped BRZ would also bring forth a new market for performance parts and tuning.
Unfortunately, the exact specifications of such a model haven’t been agreed on. The standard BRZ we have today has a 2-liter atmospheric 4-cylinder engine that makes 200 HP, plenty for a car that is supposed to be both fun and cheap at the same time.
With the involvement of STI, that output could go as high as 250 HP or even 270 as the WRX Impreza has at the moment but with the help of forced induction. That would make the 1,230 kg (2,712 lbs) car quite fast.
It also wouldn’t be a surprise move as Subaru is trying to maximize the impact the STI badge has and has put out models wearing it in all segments it’s present in. For example, we now have an STI Legacy Sedan, Forester and so on.
Of course, in order for all of this to work, Subaru would have to keep the pricing in check. If other models are of any indication, we might want to take a step back. The BRZ is attractive with its current price tag of $25,695 but under the STI badge, that could go as high as $30,000 and that’s when we’ll start having to make some hard decisions.
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