Subaru Gets Serious With The BRZ STi!

"Justin Hughes" (justinhughes54) 04/01/2016 at 13:28 • Filed to: None

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Subaru stunned enthusiasts today by announcing that the BRZ STi performance concept, shown last year at the New York International Auto Show, will be put into production virtually unchanged from the original concept.

Read on Right Foot Down or continue below

Since its introduction, automotive journalists have called the BRZ underpowered. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , but a boost in power would almost certainly boost sales as well. According to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , Subaru sold a mere 425 BRZs across the US this past February, less than half of what they sold when I bought mine in March 2014. It seems that everyone who wanted a BRZ in its original form already has one. The only way to sell more is to make a better, faster version.

That’s where the STi comes in. The WRX STi may be lagging behind the Focus RS in horsepower, but its 305hp powerplant under the hood of the BRZ is more than a 50% increase over the stock FA20's 200hp. And while we’re stealing parts from the WRX STi, let’s make the BRZ all wheel drive as well. The BRZ’s version of STI’s Driver Controlled Center Differential will include the WRX’s 41/59 front/rear torque split, but will have special programming to allow all of the power to be sent to the rear wheels alone. This is an obvious shot across the bow of the “Drift Mode” in the Ford Focus RS, and is bound to be more successful because the BRZ is already a popular, proven drift car.

Subaru also announced that they are returning to the World Rally Championship - not with the WRX, but with the BRZ STi. Though Toyota has tested their own GT86 based rally car, Subaru’s version will not compete directly against it since theirs is all wheel drive. Instead they will race at the top level, competing directly against Hyundai, Ford/M-Sport, and reigning champion Volkswagen.

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I managed to get an exclusive test drive of the new BRZ STi. Check out the video see it in action and for more thoughts on this amazing car.

April Fool’s!!! :P

(Photo credits: AutoMotoTube.net, Car & Driver, TMG)

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Reigntastic > Justin Hughes 04/01/2016 at 13:38

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305 is a much better number for the BRZ, this is exciting. It’s not a boosted FA20, but at least it’s not anemic. I’d be curious to see the torque curve.

MLGCarGuy > Justin Hughes 04/01/2016 at 13:45

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This is Subaru. Regardless of whether it is April Fools it’s not happening.

Raymundo > Justin Hughes 04/01/2016 at 13:51

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lel. I can’t read anything on the internet today and expect it to be credible.

just-a-scratch > Justin Hughes 04/01/2016 at 13:53

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IDK, it's hard to choose between this, the mid-engine C8, and the 4-rotor RX-7 for 2018. I guess I have some time to think about it and save money.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Justin Hughes 04/01/2016 at 13:54

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TOO MUCH POWER!

Steve in Manhattan > Justin Hughes 04/01/2016 at 14:00

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I will wait for the STiG version of the car. Some say it won’t let you make a mistake.

Group B Enthusiast - Captain of the supercharged barge > Justin Hughes 04/01/2016 at 14:05

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Got overly excited until I remembered what day it is.... Shame on you!

Brian, The Life of > Justin Hughes 04/01/2016 at 14:19

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I knew this was a joke. I mean, there’s no way Prius tires are going to handle that power well.

Phillipsaur > Justin Hughes 04/01/2016 at 14:44

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:(

Justin Hughes > Brian, The Life of 04/01/2016 at 15:00

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They can’t even handle the stock 200hp!

Justin Hughes > Group B Enthusiast - Captain of the supercharged barge 04/01/2016 at 15:01

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¯\_()_/¯

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Brian, The Life of 04/01/2016 at 15:03

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Doesn’t matter because the typical driver still can’t.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Steve in Manhattan 04/01/2016 at 15:03

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Some say he doesn’t exist...