I did a bit of research on line and found this on Subaru website...which in my books is absolute BS especially:
"Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive is not just about driving all four wheels! Of far more significance and importance is the low height Boxer engine, transmission and drive line all being symmetrically positioned on the vehicle centre line. Well balanced weight distribution with the heaviest components, namely the power unit and transmission, positioned low in the body for a low centre of gravity is one of the most significant design enhancements that can be made to improve vehicle handling and stability.
The Subaru BRZ has all of these important attributes in spades. In fact it was to further improve weight distribution and obtain an even lower centre of gravity that
the engineers decided to sacrifice the advantages of
All-Wheel Drive."
LInk to the full article:
http://subaru.com.au/brz/key-feature...ar-wheel-drive
We all know that Subaru rejected this project at the begining, it is even documented on Wikipedia and also mentioned by Tada San and Sasaki San in thei live interview:
Originally, Subaru had rejected the plans of a rear wheel drive sports coupe, due to the rear wheel drive set up, and did not want to be part of the project, predominantly selling all wheel drive vehicles. However, Subaru did plan to provide the engine. Eventually the project came to a 6 month halt and was suspended before being revived again. Toyota eventually invited journalist and Subaru engineers to a vehicle test of its first 2008 prototype to show what it was capable of, which is believed to be one reason that Subaru changed their minds, being impressed with what they saw. This prototype led to the development of the FT-86 which was revealed in 2009.
HMMMM!