All-New 2022 Subaru BRZ Makes Global Debut

[Sport-Tech]

I started out preferring the new BRZ, but the GR86 is looking better and better....

[Dadhawk]

The more pictures I see, more I like my old Gen1 girl.

There's something just generic and washed out about the new ones. It's like they didn't really try to make it standout from the crowd, or there was a sports car convention and all the designers for the 86, the Z and other small sports cars got together and decided there could only be a few degrees of separation between anything small.

[AnalogMan]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

The more pictures I see, more I like my old Gen1 girl.

My initial reaction after seeing the first pics of the new car were the same as yours. Thought it was OK, not bad at all, but more generic and less distinctive than the first gen car.

Then after seeing more photos, especially in WRB, I warmed up to it. Maybe it was dreams of the torquier 2.4 engine singing siren songs of seduction in my ears, but I was liking it.

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.

I guess you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

[wbradley]

I find the rear isn't quite as distinctive as gen 1 in terms of not resembling any other cars out there.
Other than that I like pretty much everything. As an STI owner, I like the fender vent and side sill.

As far as overall look, I'd probably go with the Toyota front. Subaru tends to provide better packaging though, ime.

[AnalogMan]

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

[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.