C ar S cene I nvestigation: Subaru BRZ 2.0, RWD, (A)

The BRZ/86 made its debut at the 2010 Tokyo Auto Show. Now, a good two years later, both the BRZ and the 86 have been launched. Being almost the same, we come to test the BRZ instead of the 86, just to see how the BRZ fits the bill.

· Design & Engineering:

From the front, the BRZ sports a racing face. Angled headlamps, a large, almost Aston-Martin lookalike front grille, and multiple aerodynamic curves are etched into the Subaru’s face. Of course, this gives it a very masculine feel, and really appeals to a younger generation of ‘sporty drivers’ looking for an affordable sports vehicle. At just 1,300 mm in height, the BRZ features a low-slung silhouette typical of a sports car. From the side, the wide front fenders seem to hide the 17-in wheels which feel a tad small for me. At the rear though, a sharp and sleek swooping rear back gives the BRZ a bit of a Lexus LFA feel—especially with the use of relatively large twin chrome-tipped exhausts. The clear tail lamps though, add an aftermarket feel to the BRZ. For die-hard Subaru fans, I believe that a BRZ STI kit should hit the markets soon.

· Interior

From the inside, one of the most notable characteristics of the BRZ’s interior is how driver orientated it is. From the grippy sports steering with paddle shifters, the large rev counter placed in the middle, rounded gear shifter, etc. In the center console, you get the standard, rather boring Subaru radio/FM/AM/CD player. That I must say, looks rather boring indeed. Directly below, lies the temperature settings—all kitted out with angular yet smooth brushed aluminium knobs. At the very bottom, lies the AUX-IN jack and the USB port for added comfort. On the right, one will find the start/stop button. Overall, I find that a certain level of attention has been inserted into this Subaru. Take the stitching for example. On the door panels, seats, steering wheel, handbrake, leg panels, etc, (test car leather came in black), contrasting red stitching was used in order to provide a youthful and sporty appearance and feel. At the rear, cup holders are there for rear passengers—most probably young kids or skinnier passengers. Such detail made me feel as if Subaru actually put some thought into making driving the BRZ an experience in itself, simply by sitting on the inside. As for boot space, rear knockdown seats come as standard, and can fit at least one golf bag in.

· Ride & Handlings

Under the BRZ’S low, wide bonnet is a 2-liter Subaru boxer unit dubbed the FA. With the aid of Toyota’s D-4S direct injection system, the flat four churns out 200BHP. Despite not sounding sufficient enough for a lightweight Japanese sports car, the engine does its job rather well. Two transmission systems are available—a quick shifting manual and a more convenient 6-speed autobox. Obviously, the auto will not deliver as much performance as the manual and takes 8.2 seconds to get from a 0—100km/h, 0.6 seconds slower than the manual BRZ. Kick the Subaru into sports mode, and things can get even more enjoyable. Unfortunately, the 2.0-liter flat four is a naturally aspirated one, and loses out to competition such as the GTI. Nevertheless, as with all Boxer engines, the BRZ revs smoothly—quite nicely in fact.

· Verdict

A cheap yet nicely fun model to drive—ignites the youthful spirit in one. Engine could be turbocharged, though we’ll have to wait for a (hopefully) STI version. Delightful. Simply delightful.