Quote:
Originally Posted by switchlanez
One of the goals of this car is for owner customization. Demand for turbo is there but guess what... so already is supply. By the time an OEM turbo is released, it won't fare well against an already swelling aftermarket of forced induction kits.
It's one thing for a car maker to not speak a word about a turbo model then come out with one later (and I'm sure it's been done). But it's something else when both makers in this project assert *ON THE RECORD* that a turbo will not happen. Has either Toyota/Subaru ever denied a turbo then later released one for other models? Subies added turbos only because of WRC and I don't think they ever announced a turbo would not come then later released one. We did not hear/see turbos tested during the spy videos or VLN races and still don't up through now (it'd be hard to hide when you need legitimate roads to test your cars). Based on the global sales ratio of the BRZ:86, Toyota is the big dog stakeholder and Subaru is tagging along. Toyota would have to approve a turbo. Every Toyota sports car that had a turbo version was engineered so from conception and available upon launch, never in the middle of a model life cycle. Based on how Toyota engineers their sports cars, I don't see that happening.
Toyota announced they will have a higher tier sports and and lower tier sporty car. A turbo ZN6 fits nowhere in there. And Subaru doesn't have the clout/lion's share resources in this collaboration for a turbo BRZ. The WRX STI will drop the Impreza moniker and carry the motorsports flagship for Subaru.
This car is perfect as is yet we see people crashing it everywhere. Add a turbo... now it becomes twitchy and a serious epidemic. It'll require a wider body and track which may require a longer wheelbase and re-engineered impact structure and chassis reinforcements (increased weight). It could catapult into 370Z or even Corvette territory. Are those territories worth entering? We haven't seen any evidence of this being engineered (LA Auto Show concept doesn't count because it was essentially a show car with all glam; no specs). +80 OEM hp is not as simple as slapping on a snail shell. It demands a re-engineered chassis which we've seen no signs of having been done. It's not cost-effective to re-R&D a car retroactively. Sorry, I just can't see it happening.
|
Nice post, but I don't agree with most of what you just said. First of all, the enthusiast market is very small in comparison to the overall market in general. So a factory turbocharged version will not suffer at all in comparison to the aftermarket turbo market. If anything, there will be A LOT more interest in buying a factory turbo car than there will be buying a naturally aspirated model and turbocharging it afterwards.
Also, the car would not require a wider body/track/wheelbase or any of that nonsense. Mazda didn't do that when they turbocharged the MX-5 Miata. Why? Well, it wasn't necessary. I'm not talking about a 400-HP BRZ here, I'm talking about adding maybe 80-100 HP with a small factory turbo that will give the car great low-end torque.