Subaru Testing a BRZ with STI Badging and a Big Wing

[fields]

The only thing is that I highly doubt there will be any power increases. As we saw with the '17 refresh, both Toyota and Subaru did the engine upgrades at the same time. (they are also make both twins in the same factory.) So it wouldn't be practical for the BRZ to be superior in power, but Toyota still have only 205hp. From a marketing standpoint, that would just shift sales to Subaru when these cars are supposed to be twins. I just don't think Subaru would do that.

Now, I do think it will be similar to the "tS" BRZ, adding more track performance parts such as maybe stiffer ride, STI anti-roll bars, STI seats, etc. Especially considering they just did a major refresh for 2017, I cannot imagine that a 2018 model would be a major change again.

The biggest thing overall is the fact that Subaru only did this teaser of the STI in the USA. If you look at any other official Subaru page (Subaru Australia, etc.) there is no word on the BRZ. I have no reason to believe that they would make a power increases BRZ ONLY available in the USA. Just doesn't make sense. We will see...

[funwheeldrive]

^^^ The US is obsessed with power numbers though, so more power would make the most sense in our market.

Mazda didnt even give us the 1.5L as an option for the Miata and went straight for the 2.0L

I feel like Subaru will get an endless amount of crap from all enthusiasts if they don't touch the engine at all for the STi version.

[2013dgmbrzdood]

Originally Posted by fields

The only thing is that I highly doubt there will be any power increases. As we saw with the '17 refresh, both Toyota and Subaru did the engine upgrades at the same time. (they are also make both twins in the same factory.) So it wouldn't be practical for the BRZ to be superior in power, but Toyota still have only 205hp. From a marketing standpoint, that would just shift sales to Subaru when these cars are supposed to be twins. I just don't think Subaru would do that.

Now, I do think it will be similar to the "tS" BRZ, adding more track performance parts such as maybe stiffer ride, STI anti-roll bars, STI seats, etc. Especially considering they just did a major refresh for 2017, I cannot imagine that a 2018 model would be a major change again.

The biggest thing overall is the fact that Subaru only did this teaser of the STI in the USA. If you look at any other official Subaru page (Subaru Australia, etc.) there is no word on the BRZ. I have no reason to believe that they would make a power increases BRZ ONLY available in the USA. Just doesn't make sense. We will see...

I would be on board with this except your for the most part describing the performance pack. Just my opinion obviously.

It would be incredibly foolish to put such a serious wing (the most serious subaru has ever had in the us) without giving it some power and other things. If just some wings why have a separate model from the PP. Let's hope this is a real sti brz and not another attempt to use up the sti names credibility without the true ingredients.

[DSOmegaX]

Originally Posted by funwheeldrive

^^^ The US is obsessed with power numbers though, so more power would make the most sense in our market.

Mazda didnt even give us the 1.5L as an option for the Miata and went straight for the 2.0L

I feel like Subaru will get an endless amount of crap from all enthusiasts if they don't touch the engine at all for the STi version.

They won't. Like the other special editions before, this car will be limited to what 1000 maybe? For a car completely assembled in Japan and imported in it makes no sense to add what would be a bespoke drivetrain into a niche market at limited production numbers.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by 2013dgmbrzdood

I would be on board with this except your for the most part describing the performance pack. Just my opinion obviously.

It would be incredibly foolish to put such a serious wing (the most serious subaru has ever had in the us) without giving it some power and other things. If just some wings why have a separate model from the PP. Let's hope this is a real sti brz and not another attempt to use up the sti names credibility without the true ingredients.

As has been said many times here already "STi" does not always mean more power. It is just the U.S. market that thinks of it that way since they have only been exposed to one STi version before.

[DSOmegaX]

People also should consider if this was truly the "BRZ STi" people wanted with a turbo, it would be 1. A global vehicle (this is a us special edition only) and 2. You really think they'd debut it at what is a glorified car meet (boxerfest) and not a major auto show?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[krayzie]

I think this is just another step to expand the standard production STI line-up to be inline with the Germans.

First WRX STI and Levorg STI Sport, then this new BRZ STI whatever. You will still need to buy all the aftermarket STI add-ons to bring it upto par with the old special order tS models (which I think are no more).

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1ybTwTQ3IM"]WRX STI　プãƒ*モーションãƒ*ービー - YouTube[/ame]


[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APTdltDA7pA"]SUBARU LEVORG STI SPORT 2016 - YouTube[/ame]


EDIT: Notice how they even copied Audi with those matte silver side mirror caps LMFAO! I wouldn't be surprised when eventually there will be an STI model for everything in their lineup. They also made a big push on their STI branding into the upscale lifestyle market in Japan like other German brands.

[DSOmegaX]

Originally Posted by krayzie

I think this is just another step to expand the standard STI line-up to be inline with the Germans.

First WRX STI and Levorg STI Sport, then this new BRZ STI whatever.

I'm betting it'll be called series.STI in the US haha

[WolfpackS2k]

I'm highly skeptical that any future "STI" model would have a noticeable increase in engine power. But what throws me off is the huge wing! It has no real function on a 205 hp sports car. The added rear grip isn't really necessary for only 205 hp, and additionally the car wouldn't spend much time at a high speed (on an average track) where the wing's usefulness would really come into play. The alternative is that Subaru is going full-on rice boi on us, ugh.

I'm a bit stumped. Guess we'll get an answer next Thursday!

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by WolfpackS2k

I'm highly skeptical that any future "STI" model would have a noticeable increase in engine power. But what throws me off is the huge wing! It has no real function on a 205 hp sports car. The added rear grip isn't really necessary for only 205 hp, and additionally the car wouldn't spend much time at a high speed (on an average track) where the wing's usefulness would really come into play. The alternative is that Subaru is going full-on rice boi on us, ugh.

I'm a bit stumped. Guess we'll get an answer next Thursday!

Going?

[DSOmegaX]

Originally Posted by WolfpackS2k

I'm highly skeptical that any future "STI" model would have a noticeable increase in engine power. But what throws me off is the huge wing! It has no real function on a 205 hp sports car. The added rear grip isn't really necessary for only 205 hp, and additionally the car wouldn't spend much time at a high speed (on an average track) where the wing's usefulness would really come into play. The alternative is that Subaru is going full-on rice boi on us, ugh.

I'm a bit stumped. Guess we'll get an answer next Thursday!

Not that it's a good defense but if anything I would specify that the this argument is towards Subaru of America, not Subaru in general. The Jdm tS was developed AS a track vehicle, most noticeably as a car that was developed and tested on the Nurburgring (also the wing was available on the optional gt track package for the tS, it wasn't standard).

[nisti]

Can't find it now, but on the Subaru of America Facebook post with the teaser image, someone had commented they knew someone who worked for Subaru Corporate, and confirmed no power changes for this STi variant.
FWIW

[tacos]

jalopnik summed it up pretty well:

http://jalopnik.com/the-subaru-brz-s...r-y-1795685181

[WolfpackS2k]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Going?

LOL, did I miss something? Subaru seems pretty tame with their styling these days, no?