Report: Subaru says BRZ pricing about $25000, and mentions Turbo BRZ coming

[sieeegel]

http://content.usatoday.com/communit...sult-200-hp-/1

Subaru says it's not ready to announce specific prices for its BRZ sports car, even though Toyota just announced pricing for the nearly identical Scion FR-S. Subaru does say that the BRZ will start at about $25,000, which makes it similar to the Scion FR-S starting price of $24,930, including shipping, for the manual transmission version, $26,030 for the automatic.

The cars go on sale about the same time -- April or May, as 2013 models. Both are manufactured by Subaru's parent, Fuji Heavy Industries, in Japan. Production there began Mar. 16.

The car uses Subaru's new "FA" four-cylinder "boxer" engine, which is physically smaller than previous Subaru powerplants and thus easier to tuck low in the sports car's chassis for better handling.

It's called a boxer because the flat layout has two pistons on each side, moving back and forth toward and away from each other, as boxers might punch. (Some folks prefer thinking of the designation as coming from the fact that the flat, rectangular engine looks like a box.)

The engine is fitted with what Toyota calls its D-4S fuel injection system. It combines modern direct-injection with older port-injection systems and uses a very high 12.5-to-1 compression ratio, yielding 200 hp and 151 lbs.-ft. of torque.

Chassis comes from Subaru, very loosely derived from the Impreza.

Toyota, not known for its styling expertise, did the exterior design and seems to have hit the target.

Some highlights:

BRZ stands for Boxer (horizontally opposed engine layout), Rear drive, Zenith, meaning top of the food chain.
It's a rear-drive car, the first one of those for all-wheel-drive specialist Subaru since the 1950s, and first ever for Scion, which has been exclusively front-drive.
Though it looks like a hatchback, it's not. Constructing the car with a conventional trunk and the accompanying bulkhead separating the cargo space from passengers makes the car stiffer and able to handle better. Rear seats fold, though, providing pass-through space to enlarge the cargo area.
It's referred to as having "2+2" seating, the auto industry's code for an almost useless back seat.

Subaru seems to have sneaked one past Toyota during the "line-off" ceremony at the factory Mar. 16 -- possibly even an insult in the subtleties of Japanese culture. The big sign at the end of the line celebrates, in bold type, "Subaru BRZ," and, in lighter type, "Toyota 86." Toyota has said the Scion FR-S was inspired by a car it referred to as the 86, but doesn't use either than, or the Toyota name, in its marketing for the Scion sports car.

A turbocharged version is coming, Subaru says, but timing's not set yet.

Specifications for the BRZ, nearly identical to the FR-S:

166.7 inches long
69.9 in. wide
50.6 in. tall
101.2-in wheelbase
Weights about 2,800 lbs.

[S2kphile]

I'll take it with a grain of salt especially a turbo version. I won't believe it til I see it.

[nibor33]

The "insult" comment is interesting.

I think there could be another "insult" coming to Toyota if Subaru of America prices the BRZ at only a nominal amount over the FR-S. Especially when, perhaps as soon as this winter, negotiable prices could mean a BRZ is actually cheaper than an FR-S.

[(K)]

Weighs about 2,800 lbs. Costs about $25,000. They should have just rounded off ALL of the numbers in that article to the nearest hundred.

[Turbowned]

more of the same. Thanks for posting anyway, OP

[RRnold]

Mmm interesting! The fact that they threw that out there...

[Jeff Lange]

Originally Posted by nibor33

The "insult" comment is interesting.

Especially since it doesn't make any sense. The fonts used were the fonts that Toyota and Subaru are using for the cars in all of their advertising and websites, etc. in Japan. It wasn't even worth mentioning.

Jeff

[Zgrinch]

Originally Posted by sieeegel

http://content.usatoday.com/communit...sult-200-hp-/1

Subaru says it's not ready to announce specific prices for its BRZ sports car, even though Toyota just announced pricing for the nearly identical Scion FR-S. Subaru does say that the BRZ will start at about $25,000, which makes it similar to the Scion FR-S starting price of $24,930, including shipping, for the manual transmission version, $26,030 for the automatic.

if this is true ....a lot of FRS people are going to jump ship get a BRZ.

Better get in line, because the wait list for the BRZ is getting ready to get much longer.....

[Sasquachulator]

Aside from the HIDs...what does the premium BRZ offer over the FRS???

I thought the real differences are in the Limited.....
to me the BRZ premium and the FRS are nearly identical in all ways.

[tachi1247]

no surprise to me that a turbo version is coming. they have already announced that it will be used in the next wrx. I anticipate they will release a turbo charged sti version sometime after the new wrx debuts.

[Jayde]

Originally Posted by Sasquachulator

Aside from the HIDs...what does the premium BRZ offer over the FRS???

I thought the real differences are in the Limited.....
to me the BRZ premium and the FRS are nearly identical in all ways.

Premium has Navi too.

[merlin2111]

Originally Posted by Sasquachulator

Aside from the HIDs...what does the premium BRZ offer over the FRS???

I thought the real differences are in the Limited.....
to me the BRZ premium and the FRS are nearly identical in all ways.

I am wondering the same thing. I know it has different spring rates and that it comes with headlights with additional aspects but other than that I am a little confused.

[Longhorn248]

"Around $25k" Just give us the damn number

[Jeff Lange]

Originally Posted by Jayde

Premium has Navi too.

Yeah pretty much the HID's and Navigation are the 2 main differences.

Jeff