Mid Engine Tubo Subaru BRZ?

[jsalaz03]

http://www.autoblog.com/2016/03/10/s...s-coupe-rumor/


I Saw a few articles about how Subaru is working on a Mid engine, hybrid , turbo Sports coupe, and I'm very interested in this. They have been testing this layout on a BRZ and some articles say it has the possibilities of reaching 330 HP. This makes me super excited but my hopes are low because they haven't green lighted the idea.
I wanted to see what you guys thought about this idea, and maybe this could possible be a new BRZ in the future or completely different car. From what I've read, It might not even be a sports coupe but If it does become a car the public can buy, I'll be all over this like a BRZ on backroads

[ryoma]

probably won't happen. it definitely won't happen to the BRZ. rumors are rumors and it seems like all rumor articles cite other rumor articles and eventually it spirals out of control lol

[jsalaz03]

Originally Posted by ryoma

rumors are rumors and it seems like all rumor articles cite other rumor articles and eventually it spirals out of control lol

Yea I know, but I definitely want to see some sort of upgrade for this car. I like it the way it is but I feel like there's room for improvement. I wouldn't mind paying more if the upgrade was actually worth it.


Either way I still enjoy this car

[Tcoat]

LOL
Headline From Autoblog:
"Subaru allegedly developing mid-engine hybrid sports coupe"


When even Autoblog uses the word "allegedly" I wouldn't hold out much hope there is a single strand of truth behind it.
Not so sure a mid engine hybrid would be an "upgrade" either.

[jsalaz03]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

LOL
Headline From Autoblog:
"Subaru allegedly developing mid-engine hybrid sports coupe"
.

That's why I said "completely different car". I just thought the idea was cool, and if it were even 1% true, what you guys thought about it.


Honestly I don't have the slightest idea about hybrid turbo cars.


I'm going to the New York auto show this year, hopefully there will be more info on this and the possible future models for our cars.

[ryoma]

if they do make a hybrid turbo car, I'm going to assume it's going to be pretty expensive which will severely limit their market. has Subaru ever made a mid-engine car before? I would expect it would have some faults if it was their first time on that type of platform.

also, driving a mid engine car is an entirely different beast so I would expect a lot of "bad" accidents due to oversteer. in my MK1 MR2, once the rear started coming out you will need to be pretty observant and correct it otherwise the momentum just takes over and you have a lot of oversteer and fast (short wheel base didn't help either).

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by jsalaz03

That's why I said "completely different car". I just thought the idea was cool, and if it were even 1% true, what you guys thought about it.


Honestly I don't have the slightest idea about hybrid turbo cars.


I'm going to the New York auto show this year, hopefully there will be more info on this and the possible future models for our cars.

Would be incredibly optimistic if 1% true. As soon as you read "a close insider" in any blog just close the page and carry on. Any "close insider" that actually knows anything is not going to risk their very lucrative job to leak info to a car blog.
You will see the 2017 86 facelift at the NY show but they will not go beyond that. They keep the future state of cars well under wrap because they also want to sell cars now. I doubt you will see anything about the BRZ yet since they generally lag the Toyota announcements by months.
As far as the hybrid idea goes there were a pile of odd statements there. Why make a mid engine, IC engine powered FWD with rear wheel electric motors? It reaches a level of complexity that would be a nightmare to maintain. Now if they said a front engine FWD with rear electrics it may seem more realistic. In the long run though I am not an engineer so maybe they have their reasons.

[jsalaz03]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Would be incredibly optimistic if 1% true. As soon as you read "a close insider" in any blog just close the page and carry on.
. Why make a mid engine, IC engine powered FWD with rear wheel electric motors? It reaches a level of complexity that would be a nightmare to maintain. Now if they said a front engine FWD with rear electrics it may seem more realistic. In the long run though I am not an engineer so maybe they have their reasons.

I've only read a few articles from several websites, but most of them just say the same thing. And I agree, I have no knowledge as to how this whole setup would even work. Subaru is only known for their 4wheel drive cars and the RWD red headed step child the BRZ lol.

Originally Posted by ryoma

in my MK1 MR2, once the rear started coming out you will need to be pretty observant and correct it otherwise the momentum just takes over and you have a lot of oversteer and fastr.

I've never driven a Mid engine car, but it sound like it could be tricky. And yea it sounds like a car like this would be very expensive. How expensive? No idea, but my guess would be around 40k-50k maybe. (clueless)

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by jsalaz03

I've only read a few articles from several websites, but most of them just say the same thing. And I agree, I have no knowledge as to how this whole setup would even work. Subaru is only known for their 4wheel drive cars and the RWD red headed step child the BRZ lol.

I've never driven a Mid engine car, but it sound like it could be tricky. And yea it sounds like a car like this would be very expensive. How expensive? No idea, but my guess would be around 40k-50k maybe. (clueless)

They all say the same thing because one dude made it up and the rest ran with it.

[themadscientist]

Tubo, huh? Sounds kinky.

[extrashaky]

Here's the problem:

If Subaru actually builds this "alleged" sports car, it will not be an aesthetically appealing car compared to the BRZ, and it will also not appeal to Subaru customers.

It might not be outright ugly, but Subaru is not known for grace in their styling. They have made sports cars in the past, but none of them were particularly good looking. They just don't have great designers when it comes to aesthetics. The BRZ looks like it does because Subaru didn't design it.

Furthermore, Subaru people are not really sports car people. Go sit in a busy Subaru dealership for a while and watch the people who come in to look at the cars. They're looking for safe, reliable family vehicles. "Oh, but STI! STI!" Nope. 95% of the people who come in are not looking at STIs or WRXs (which are not sports cars anyway).

What you'll end up with is a sports car that Subaru people won't buy because it's not practical enough, and sports car people won't buy because it looks like a Subaru. The sports car people who are really into performance will find other vehicles with similar specs at the same price point that look a lot better.

Remember, the BRZ is a special case. Subaru people are generally not buying BRZs because they don't look like Subarus and are not set up for hipster families to pretend they need it for camping and kayaking. People who do buy BRZs are only there for that car and are not becoming Subaru people.

Hell, they might even take it to concept. But it will never be an actual product you can buy from a dealership.