The second generation Subaru BRZ has made its global debut at the Thermal Club Raceway in Thermal, CA. It is scheduled to go on sale early fall of 2021 as a 2022 model.
Built on a bespoke chassis, the 2022 model has slightly grown in dimensions. Its length is up by 1.2-inches to 167.9-inches while there’s a marginal increase of 0.02-inches in the wheelbase to 101.4-inches. The width of 69.9-inches remains the same, while the height is cut by 0.04-inches to 51.6-inches.
According to Subaru, “the 2022 BRZ focuses on simplicity and fun”. It can be seen in the design as well; even in this drifting photo, it still kinda looks “innocent” despite having a large hexagonal-ish grille and large intake housings. There’s no super aggression in the design; the front fascia doesn’t look like it wants to threaten other road users and tear down the tarmac like a Lamborghini. But then, this is not a Lamborghini. Is that a problem? I don’t think so. I think a lot of people will appreciate its clean and simple looks.
The best angle to look at is from the rear-three quarters; that “ducktail” spoiler kinda reminds me of the Vantage. Also, the air curtain on the front fenders adds so much elegance to the car. If you expand and view the photos, you’ll also notice a rather subtle “double bubble” on the roof. The Premium trim rides on 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, while the Limited trim gets the 18-inch ones.
Another thing that you can’t immediately notice unless told is a small fin at the back of the rear wheel arch, which assists in airflow, adding stability at speed.
Alright, enough of the exterior. Let’s talk a little bit about the new cockpit. It looks a couple of generations ahead compared to the outgoing model. Again, I think the designers have found a perfect balance between aggression and minimalism. Maybe it’s just me, but those rectangles and circles add a very subtle retro flavor to the dashboard. The new bucket seats offer a low seating position.
There’s a new, customizable 7-inch digital driver display; an 8-inch Subaru Starlink touchscreen; Apple CarPlay & Android Auto connectivity; and the models equipped with a 6-speed automatic gearbox will get the EyeSight Driver Assist Technology as well. According to Subaru, the folding rear seats create a useful cargo area with space for carrying a mountain bike, golf clubs, or even four race tires and tools for track days.
Moving on to the business end of the story, sitting low in the chassis is a 2.4-litre 4-cylinder naturally-aspirated boxer engine that develops an estimated 170 kW (231 metric hp) at 7,000 rpm and 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) of torque at 3,700 rpm. Subaru says that the Boxer’s unique design allows the new BRZ to achieve a Center of Gravity (CoG) even lower than the outgoing model.
Power is transferred to the rear wheels via a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard or a 6-speed automatic as an option. A limited-slip rear differential comes standard. The standard Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) — traction and stability system offers five different settings; it can also be turned off completely.
In case you’re interested to know, the kerb weight ranges between 1,277-1,307 kg (2,815-2,881 lbs), depending on the variant.
The new BRZ will be produced at Subaru’s Gunma assembly plant in Japan.
Recommended for you
Leave a Reply
Note: Comments that are unrelated to the post above get automatically filtered into the trash bin.
