Subaru BRZ coupe gets more power, styling tweaks

THERMAL, Calif. — Subaru Corp.'s lone coupe, the BRZ, is getting more power via a new engine, smoother styling and a refined interior with new technology for the 2022 model year.

Under the hood is a naturally aspirated 2.4-litre, four-cylinder boxer engine with 228 hp and 184 pound-feet of torque. The engine replaces the coupe's previous 2.0-litre four-cylinder with 205 hp and 156 pound-feet of torque.

The BRZ's new engine is related to the 2.4-litre turbo found in the Ascent and Outback XT crossovers, as well as the Legacy XT sedan, but was revised to be normally aspirated, Michael Redic, car line planning manager at Subaru of America, said during the vehicle's unveiling here. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the BRZ was scheduled to debut at the 2020 Los Angeles Auto Show.

The BRZ went on sale in North America in 2012 and was last freshened for the 2017 model year.

The BRZ is the first Subaru to get the naturally aspirated version of the 2.4-litre engine.

A six-speed manual transmission continues to be standard on the BRZ. A six-speed automatic transmission with a sport mode also will be available, Subaru said.

As with the first-generation model, the rear-wheel-drive BRZ is the result of a joint project with partner Toyota Motor Corp. Redic said Toyota was responsible for the vehicle's design while Subaru took the lead in engineering and manufacturing.

While the latest BRZ's general shape and stance resembles the outgoing model, most of the body panels and exterior elements are smoother compared with the previous generation.

There also are hints of the Viziv Performance Concept from the 2017 Tokyo auto show, especially in the rear.

The exterior features new functional vents in the front and side, a dual exhaust and a ducktail rear spoiler, which replaces a pedestal spoiler design.

Aside from the additional power, the biggest change for the BRZ is the interior, specifically the dash. The most noticeable difference is a slick 7-inch digital dashboard that replaces the outdated physical gauge cluster.

There also is an 8-inch infotainment touch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard. A handful of updated physical knobs for climate controls sit below.

Two trims will be offered on the redesigned BRZ, Premium and Limited.

The BRZ remains on a unique chassis, given its rwd layout. All other Subaru models in the United States and Canada, except the WRX and WRX STI, are now engineered on the brand's global platform.

However, for more rigidity, engineers used design elements from the Subaru Global Platform for the BRZ, including a reinforced chassis mounting system and subframe architecture.

The vehicle's low weight remained a focal point for engineers. Subaru estimates that the redesigned model in Premium trim with a manual transmission has a curb weight of just 2,815 pounds (1,277 kilograms).

Subaru, which skipped a 2021 model year BRZ, said deliveries of the 2022 model will begin in early fall 2021. The BRZ will continue to be built at Subaru's Gunma plant in Japan.

Pricing was not announced.