Should Subaru release a motorsport version of the BRZ?

[Scubynubie]

Subaru has said that one of its goals for the BRZ is to get more into road racing. As this car is definitely at a price point where they are hoping that the weekend road racer/autoxer will want to use this car, should they release a motorsport version that is designed specifically for that demographic?

What I am thinking of here is something like the S2000 CR, or the Porsche 911 RS America.

Imagine a BRZ with a stock engine and drive train, but no carpet, no roof-liner, no radio or speakers, no A/C, and no rear seat. It would have manual windows, and maybe even a main hoop or a cage all ready built in from the factory.

Basically, a BRZ that is as light as possible, and gives you just what you would want if you were building a race car, but none of the things that you would just tear out. And make it light as possible at the same time.

Perhaps throw in a lot of aluminum suspension pieces to reduce weight as well.

At very least, should Subaru come out with Motorsports grade parts for the BRZ? Yes, this is basically what STI parts are supposed to be, but we get very little of those here in the states.

I am thinking of the support that a manufacturer like General Motors gives weekend racers that run their cars. They will have wind tunnel tested body parts (bumpers, wings) that will fix lift/drag issues that the street car has, or re-flashed ECU's from the factory that maximize the car's performance to make them as competitive as possible on the track.

What do you think? Is this something that you would use your BRZ for?

[Scubynubie]

Originally Posted by lfawishes

ECU- The ecu is never great from the factory and that is usually to be safe right? subaru is known for shite tunes on their stock cars that end up unsafe rather than safe. You are better off getting full exhaust adding 3pounds of boost over stock tune. Well I want a PROCEDE type one? My buddy was telling his 335 ecu can on its own adjust to different octanes etc... of course base tuning is required.......but i like the idea of something is constantly changing/monitoring the car. Now that sounds cool.

The Subaru ECU has actually been actively monitoring the Engine and changing parameters such as fueling and timing since 2002. Earlier most likely. I believe it checks octane as well. At least I am pretty sure it does on the WRX and STI.

There are definitely limits to this, and it is mainly for engine safety and longevity versus performance.

What I was thinking about were the re-flashes that GM came out with for the SRT4 and Solstice. Once you throw mpg and emissions out the window, you can see some pretty good gains with a re-flash, and they offered them for motorsports applications (don't know all the details, but I have a buddy that raced in the SCCA so I know that these did exist).

Even if they don't come out with a race-ready car from the factory, it would be really nice if they would at least produce some high performance track ready parts for the cars. What Subaru has missed for quite some time is that level of support is what will sway people to use your platform instead of another that does have that level of support.

It is probably wishful thinking, but hey, you never know...

[WhiteGDB]

04' STi had carpet. It was kind of a mix between a loaded jdm STi and a jdm Spec C with a usdm 2.5l engine.

[Dave-ROR]

A CR, Honda Type-R, or 911 RSA type car would be awesome. I've driven all of those cars quite a bit and would love to have a "modern day" version

[MrVito]

Originally Posted by Scubynubie

The Subaru ECU has actually been actively monitoring the Engine and changing parameters such as fueling and timing since 2002. Earlier most likely. I believe it checks octane as well. At least I am pretty sure it does on the WRX and STI.

There are definitely limits to this, and it is mainly for engine safety and longevity versus performance.

What I was thinking about were the re-flashes that Dodge came out with for the SRT4 and GM for the Solstice. Once you throw mpg and emissions out the window, you can see some pretty good gains with a re-flash, and they offered them for motorsports applications (don't know all the details, but I have a buddy that raced in the SCCA so I know that these did exist).

Even if they don't come out with a race-ready car from the factory, it would be really nice if they would at least produce some high performance track ready parts for the cars. What Subaru has missed for quite some time is that level of support is what will sway people to use your platform instead of another that does have that level of support.

It is probably wishful thinking, but hey, you never know...

Fixed that for you.

[ayau]

If there's a market for it, sure why not?

Toyota is already selling a stripped down version of the 86 in Japan.

[old greg]

Originally Posted by Scubynubie

...should they release a motorsport version that is designed specifically for that demographic?

What I am thinking of here is something like the S2000 CR, or the Porsche 911 RS America.

Imagine a BRZ with a stock engine and drive train, but no carpet, no roof-liner, no radio or speakers, no A/C, and no rear seat. It would have manual windows, and maybe even a main hoop or a cage all ready built in from the factory.

Both of your examples were expensive, limited edition street cars which makes them a truly awful choice for anyone looking to build a race car. As spartan as you think they are, they are still packed full of useless (often expensive) crap that has no business being on a race car.

Many manufacturers sell "motorsport" versions of their cars to race teams. It's called a "body in white". For example:
$3500 for a Civic
$7000 for a Camaro

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by old greg

Both of your examples were expensive, limited edition street cars which makes them a truly awful choice for anyone looking to build a race car. As spartan as you think they are, they are still packed full of useless (often expensive) crap that has no business being on a race car.

Many manufacturers sell "motorsport" versions of their cars to race teams. It's called a "body in white". For example:
$3500 for a Civic
$7000 for a Camaro

I assumed he just meant a more focused version based on the examples he provided. If he meant BIW cars then yeah, the examples were bad choices.

[old greg]

I think a BIW is what he didn't know he wanted to mean.

[Max Schnell]

BIW BRZ would be pretty cool. I wonder if they can sell it at Civic price? If you can add drivetrain components and racing suspension, windows, safety gear, seat, gauges, fuel cell, etc depending on race venue and come under $15k it would be an excellent budget racer.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by Max Schnell

BIW BRZ would be pretty cool. I wonder if they can sell it at Civic price? If you can add drivetrain components and racing suspension, windows, safety gear, seat, gauges, fuel cell, etc depending on race venue and come under $15k it would be an excellent budget racer.

Good luck with that....

[delongedoug]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

Good luck with that....

I can barely stand reading this forum, I don't know how you could even respond to these eleventeen year olds and their absurd pipe dreams.

[Max Schnell]

Everything up to this point in time are all pipe dreams anyway. The car is not even released yet.

[Laika]

Originally Posted by ayau

Toyota is already selling a stripped down version of the 86 in Japan.

Probably not the best choice in wording. Unless it was. In which case please send me a link so I can order mine :happy0180: