BRZ Premium Sport Package Concept

[Turbowned]

I just want an Alcantara dash from the factory, muahahaha

[Beyer Subaru]

It seems like they flocked/covered just about everything with alcantara. It will be interesting to see how much of these "upgrades" actually make it to the A-Line Production model.

[switchlanez]

Just going to transcribe this over from the other Sport Premium Concept thread...

Originally Posted by Beyer Subaru

I see this BRZ being released to the JDM as an A-Line model like the current GR STi A-Line that is offered with a 5EAT and beige interior.

And from wikipedia...

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

Subaru launched the "WRX STI A-Line" with a five-speed semi-automatic on February 24, 2009. Initially available only in Japan and Singapore, the A-Line features include steering wheel-mounted paddles.[11] The A-Line is also offered in Hong Kong, and later in Thailand and Indonesia with debut at the Indonesia International Motor Show in July 2010, and was exported to Australia in 2011.[12]

A package that the US never saw from Subaru and eerily similar to the BRZ package in question (STI kit, automatic transmission, beige interior).

[Dorb]

Yep, if this car was 35k I would not have even looked at it, would have went with the 370Z. This car was made to be an entry level easy on the wallet sports car.

[imag]

Originally Posted by Beyer Subaru

If you have a questions first - .

With your post count you have to consider that what ever questions you are asking has already been asked many, many times.

There are multiple Tokyo Auto Salon threads discussing the Premium Concept.
@switchlanez already started a thread dedicated to the BRZ's that were at TAS.

If you would read my original post, you would see that I did mention those exact TAS threads. In fact, I searched before I posted here to make sure there wasn't a thread specific to the concept.

And my post count doesn't mean I don't read; it means I don't comment on here because I have not had much to contribute. In this case, I felt like the concept deserved its own thread, and I thought the lack of coverage of the car was interesting. My post count doesn't mean I'm some sort of car forum newb; I have been checking in on this site since the first 86 concept, I have been commenting on the internet since USENET and have frequented a large variety of other car blogs. So please stop making assumptions about how much you need to teach people based on a number next to their name.

Originally Posted by Dorb

Yep, if this car was 35k I would not have even looked at it, would have went with the 370Z. This car was made to be an entry level easy on the wallet sports car.

I owned a 370Z for two years - added intake, oil cooler, and exhaust, and tracked it. I enjoyed it quite a bit, but ultimately the FM chassis just felt too big to me. That's why I am totally uninterested in the Mustang. I would prefer a 250 horsepower FT-86 to either one. What I would really like is a good used Exige S, but I'm not sure I could afford the upkeep.

Originally Posted by switchlanez

I'm not trying to shoot your hopes down or anything. I'm aware of those spy shots of the kitted white BRZ on the 'Ring (I follow STI very closely). Chief engineers of both Toyota and Subaru and the president of STI have stated on the record that no future turbo is in the concept for this car; it is just reserved for special builds like the BRZ GT300. Just stating reality (as I see it). Again, I could be wrong.

Thanks. I am not expecting a turbo - I genuinely think they are not lying when they say it won't fit from an OEM perspective, because crash testing is an issue. However, I do remember reading that they had planned for at least a 20-30 hp increase during the product lifecycle, so there is at least that much in there. My hope is that Subaru, seeing the success of the car, will realize that there is a real niche market for a premium version, and is moving things along quickly to strike while the iron is hot. We will see. In any case, I am not in any hurry, so I am just going to wait for the version I want.

[switchlanez]

Originally Posted by imag

However, I do remember reading that they had planned for at least a 20-30 hp increase during the product lifecycle, so there is at least that much in there.

I've read that a few times. Phrases like "according to an inside source" and "expect to see a 20-30 hp bump" come to mind. From what I remember, no official source has ever been cited in regards to that.

Originally Posted by imag

My hope is that Subaru, seeing the success of the car, will realize that there is a real niche market for a premium version, and is moving things along quickly to strike while the iron is hot.

I agree now is a good time for Subaru to offer a hi-spec model and swoop in for some quick sales before the launch "bubble" bursts. But it's difficult to pin a price on a higher trim while the market is very unstable (as illustrated below). Drawing up a business proposal based on instability is not sound practice. The only real "news" I've seen based on current trends is they doubled orders for the next 4 months. Seems they intend to keep the status quo for trim levels and milk it (at least in the near term).

[OrbitalEllipses]

I'm buying an STI with no markup at that price. Or if I want a 2 seater then a 370Z or a used Vette/Cayman S.

[imag]

Ouch! Those BRZ prices are outrageous! I hadn't realized that they were getting milked so completely.

As far as the hp increases, that seems to be just standard for a new engine. Mfrs always start out conservative and leave room for future bumps. I expect the new LT1 in the Corvette to be similar. The only exception seems to be Honda, which comes out with an awesome starting spec and then just leaves it there for years with no upgrade

[BigM]

I'm surprised too, looks to me like a teaser of the STi, or at least I hope so! I'll order the day it's announced if it's this car.

[Deslock]

Originally Posted by imag

First off, Subaru has been seen testing a high performance version on the 'ring for months, so it's not like it is vaporware. Second, it has been acknowledged from multiple sources that it will have more power, even if it is not likely to be turbocharged.

No credible sources about increased output (and no specific number). No official announcement about production, release date, or price.

It's vaporware (for now).

[carloverx]

Originally Posted by imag

Why is the Premium Sport Package Concept not receiving more press? It looks to me like it is basically the BRZ STI - larger brakes, premium interior with presumably more horsepower. This is exactly the car many of us have been waiting for. But it doesn't even seem to have many blog posts out in the world or even its own thread on here - comments are just mixed in with some of the other TAS threads.

Anyone know why it has been largely ignored? I want Subaru to know that some of us out here love the concept and will be happy to pay $35K+ for it. I even like the fact that they left off the wing.

It's funny, as a non-brz/frs owner who casually browses this forum, I was wondering the exact same thing.

[imag]

Originally Posted by carloverx

It's funny, as a non-brz/frs owner who casually browses this forum, I was wondering the exact same thing.

Well your lack of posts clearly disqualifies you from commenting.

Seriously, though - I would have expected Autoblog to give it an individual post. They post on anything. To me it is clearly a question of when, not if, on a higher output, higher spec car. It doesn't cost much to make a higher-spec derivative, so it's less likely to lose money than cars like the RX-8 or the S2K.

With a higher spec, Subaru pulls in a new set of owners, people with more money who want light weight, but who either can't afford a Cayman or who need the rear seats. I don't have kids now, but I may in a couple years, and I would prefer not to post one of those "just had a baby, must sell" ads.

[switchlanez]

Originally Posted by imag

To me it is clearly a question of when, not if, on a higher output, higher spec car.

It's also a question of how far Subaru should space it below the WRX STI and Toyota should space it below the next Supra and how everything fits in the overall lineup. The BRZ is doing surprisingly well, but it's still a relatively low volume compared to both companies' real cash cows. Toyota/Subaru are not in business to build stratified levels of sports cars to please the next tier up or down of sports car buyers like, say, Porsche. It's easily justifiable in our enthusiast world. But I wouldn't call it a "sure thing" unless we know how to run those companies and know enough to make that call.

There's also the complication of Toyota needing to approve whatever change Subaru wants to make to the BRZ with Toyota being the primary stakeholder in this project. Product planning, marketing, manufacturing, and engineering of both companies would have to agree on changes.

It doesn't cost much to make a higher-spec derivative, so it's less likely to lose money than cars like the RX-8 or the S2K.

That's a big assumption to make. If we're talking more power, the chassis/drivetrain may need to be upgraded (and we don't know which parts, cheap or expensive) to accommodate for it. With that, cost can climb to the same levels which caused Japanese FR sports cars of yesteryear to go extinct. If we are just talking a bolt-on STI package, that may not make for an easily sale-able package for its cost in the US (Japan, maybe).