All-New 2022 Subaru BRZ Makes Global Debut

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by AnalogMan

Now, after seeing these recent ‘real world’ video clips from street driving (as opposed to staged glamour shots), I’m going back to my original inclinations. Those side sills on the new car are just... wrong. They don’t harmoniously flow into the lines of the car. Maybe that’s the idea, channel Chris Bangle and all, but they just look glued on like something out of an old JC Whitney catalog.

Yep, exactly. I don't mind a little aero, as long as it works but they just look slapped on and aren't balanced at the rear of the car.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by AnalogMan

I knew those glued-on looking side sills reminded me of something I'd seem before...

Hah, just goes to show that as long as there have been cars there have been posers...

[Lelandjt]

I don't like the line across the trunk connecting the tail lights. It interrupts the shape of what would be a nice deck lid and back end.

[Lantanafrs2]

I doubt they care what we think about the styling. They are offering a naturally aspirated sports car for a reasonable price probably with superior performance to its rival(s). If I was in the market for just that I would be looking hard at it. Otherwise I can buy an earlier model and tune it to my liking and start posting tech questions in other threads as the inevitable problems start to surface.

[AnalogMan]

Originally Posted by Lantanafrs2

I doubt they care what we think about the styling.

They should and probably do care what potential buyers think of the styling. Like most companies, the final styling is likely a result of both input from focus groups, and the inevitable committee process, trying to make everyone a little bit happy (and fit within a budget).

People buy cars both for the looks, and performance. Some would buy a gorgeous car even if it had lousy performance, and some would buy a stellar performer even if it was ugly. Ideally a car would have both to maximize sales, but styling is so subjective. One person’s masterpiece is another’s emetic.

The styling of the next gen car certainly wouldn’t keep me from buying it. But the less I’m enthralled with the looks, the more the driving experience has to seduce me. I’m very much looking forward to some long test drives and find out how it feels.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Lantanafrs2

I doubt they care what we think about the styling.

Why would you think that? They care about what sells cars and styling sells cars. The manufacturers spend just as much, if not more, money making sure the car "looks" right than they do that it performs to a specific spec. As can be seen on here, even those that fall into "enthusiast" categories care what the car looks like.

[Lantanafrs2]

They're looking for new customers.

[gymratter]

BRZ in white

[Willpower]

Just my thoughts, but I’m betting this car sells in significantly fewer numbers than the first car. We shall see.

[AnalogMan]

Originally Posted by Willpower

Just my thoughts, but I’m betting this car sells in significantly fewer numbers than the first car. We shall see.

If it wasn’t for the upcoming Z, if it was strictly the second-gen BRZ replacing the first, I bet it would sell better than the original. The engine alone should (hopefully) address the biggest gripe the armchair internet experts had. More important than just ‘more power’, it seems like it should have a more useable and street-friendly torque curve.

But the sports car market is only so big. The combination of the BRZ plus the Z might expand it modestly, but I imagine it will be more cross-cannibalization than synergistic market expansion.

I think a lot of it will also depend on the price of the Z. The closer it is to the BRZ, the more it will impact sales. With Nissan’s abhorrent predatory loan plans and pushing naive (or desperate) people into 8 year loans, I can just hear the sales lizards telling buyers how they could be driving a 400 hp Z for a lower monthly payment than on a 228 hp BRZ.

Nonetheless, more sports cars = better. Unless they each cannibalize each other’s sales so much that neither company makes an acceptable return on investment, and they discontinue them completely. That’s the problem if the whole pie is just too small - try to slice it up too finely and no one leaves the table satisfied.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by gymratter

BRZ in white

You know, maybe @Tcoat, @AnalogMan, I and others that don't get the side profile have it wrong. Maybe, just maybe, we finally have that flying car we've been promised forever!

I mean Toyota has put about $400,000 in Sky Drive and those side skirts do look a bit like the wing roots for the Samson Sky.

[StE92ve]

Originally Posted by Willpower

Just my thoughts, but I’m betting this car sells in significantly fewer numbers than the first car. We shall see.

but, how many options does the consumer have if they want a NA, RWD, 2+2 for ~$30K US?

[Kronk]

Hi guys from Italy, I was going to buy a miata 2.0 but the GR86/BRZ froze me. I find it very beautiful. I think it could improve further by reducing the height from the ground by a couple of centimeters and with some little tweaks to the rear.

One thing that annoys me is the digital speedometer. I literally hate slow speed refresh, you totally lose the feeling of progression. It was installed with instant refresh on very few cars so I'm worried.

Anyway, I can't wait for more news.

[Blighty]

Originally Posted by Willpower

Just my thoughts, but I’m betting this car sells in significantly fewer numbers than the first car. We shall see.

Does it matter in the end?

I mean, the noose around the neck of these cars is tightening.

This is more about a brand, and a history than it is about the volume of car sales.

I don't see _any_ naturally aspirated cars on the horizon, there are a handful of absolute icon cars being thrown at the wall before this all shifts to something.... different.

Its the end of an era, and the start of a new one.

|I for one will enjoy purchasing the GR86/BRZ, over the absolutely incredible looking Z for instance, because a) its probably going to be bit too far out of my rather modest budget for such types of cars, and b) the GR86/BRZ will pretty much represent all that we are losing to electric - lightweight and engaging automobiles.