All-New 2022 Subaru BRZ Makes Global Debut

[Red-86]

Originally Posted by Lelandjt

Did you know that "fugly" is a portmanteau of "fat" and "ugly"?

Heh, it is also short for 'F'ing Ugly' here in Straya. So that is also a possibility.

I ask because I haven't heard anyone describe the new car as fat, portly, bulbous, or any similar adjective.

I've described the new nose and bonnet/hood line as 'bulbous' in some of my earlier reactions to the reveal. So now you have. Fact is the 1st gen has a flatter and lower looking nose (note, looking, I'm not claiming it is literally lower, it could be an optical effect).

I think you got mixed up describing the new BRZ.

Styling is 100% subjective. No need and not much chance of convincing others about the styling. If you like it, great, enjoy it. Some love it, some hate it. For me it's a bit of a mixed bag. I'm just hoping the 86 will fix some of my issues with the BRZ, especially the nose area.

[Red-86]

Originally Posted by Lelandjt

Isn't it bizarre these days that little cars like the Cayman and Evora are over 3000lbs and pure sports cars like the Corvette and Supra are a quarter ton more? How that was considered acceptable by the design teams is beyond me.

Light, affordable, fast. Pick two.

I'm sure the design teams do the best they can and consider their cars acceptable given the range of competing priorities and requirements they have to meet to bring a decent car to market at a competitive price.

[TheDonEffect]

Originally Posted by ZDan

Plenty of enthusiasts like the new '22 car's styling better. In the s2ki thread nobody is troubled by the new styling, and the first post calls it "better looking." I think it looks great. Not perfect, but neither is the current model.

I'm looking forward to seeing it in person, and more so to driving it

Yup.

Personally, the only thing I'm iffy about with the new design is the front bumper, but I still like it and in some ways prefer it to current car (I really don't like the mouth guard), and the rocker panels are pretty pronounced, otherwise it's a good look.

The car just looks more premium and mature. I always hated the fake fender vent, hated all the factory installed spoilers especially the monogram spoiler, and never liked the shape of the lights. The functional vents, integrated duck tail, and light shapes to my eye just looks better.

Almost every other car group generally likes the design, only in the 86/BRZ groups do I see so much dislike for it.

[JesseG]

Originally Posted by Willpower

Just FYI, I never thought the BRZ looked expensive or exotic, just good, and exceptionally so to my eye for the price point. A well sorted one doesn’t look cheap either, at least to my eye. That said, I’ve had a number of people approach me over the years asking me what it was, and making some kind of comment about how it must be expensive. Obviously these were not car enthusiasts, or they’d have known exactly what it was, but it lends itself to the possibility that the car may look higher end to the uninitiated than it actually is.

So true, a properly set up FR-S/86/BRZ can look so nice. More expensive looking than they are for sure. And I don’t mean that in an arrogant way, just that people think it’s something more exotic. My car is the favorite of the school drop off/pick up lane, and it probably costs 1/3 of many of the cars in line. My FR-S has a few subtle modifications, and a stock exhaust. I always love looking back at it in a parking lot. That’s how I know I really like a car.
New car designs are often polarizing at launch, and some go on to be classics, and others look awkward as the years go on. I think the 2nd gen twins will be considered attractive when it’s all said and done. It’s not a radical departure from the 1st gen, and I think that is a really good thing. I really like the functional vents and the more aggressive look. T/S know they are competing in a tough segment, even though the Miata is really its closest competitor performance wise. It’s clear they wanted the 2nd gen to make a bigger statement, and honestly that’s the only way it will sell.


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[ToySub1946]

Sorry, Late to the game this time...for pg. 77.

Tcoat:

YOU stole my Vape Pen...fess up..

[Dirty Harry]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

LOL As soon as somebody that already owns ones says they don't like the new design the go to answer is it must be "confirmation bias/psychological investment". It can't possibly be that they simply don't like it because it is ugly as hell to them. If this had been the first version ever I can 100% guarantee that I would not have even considered buying it.
Of course the current owners like the current version. THAT IS WHY THEY OWN THEM. That does not for one second say that their opinion on the new is invalid because some some dumbass thinks the monstrosity it became looks good.
Doesn't matter what your group of friends think unless they go out and buy one. At least the people that bought the first ones voted with their wallet. We will see if the same happens with the new one. It should sell well if it comes with a flat brim cap and vape setup.

https://media.subaru.com/pressreleas...r-18th-release

The official Subaru press release says it has “improved styling”. So it must be true, right? It’s not from a click bait source .

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Dirty Harry

https://media.subaru.com/pressreleas...r-18th-release

The official Subaru press release says it has “improved styling”. So it must be true, right? It’s not from a click bait source .

It also says it has " The overall impression is modern, agile and powerful"








im·pres·sion

/imˈpreSHən/

See definitions in:
noun

noun: impression; plural noun: impressions

1. 1.
   an idea, feeling, or opinion about something or someone, especially one formed without conscious thought or on the basis of little evidence.
2. 2.
   an imitation of a person or thing, especially one done to entertain

[Dirty Harry]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

It also says it has " The overall impression is modern, agile and powerful"

im·pres·sion

/imˈpreSHən/

See definitions in:
noun

noun: impression; plural noun: impressions

1. 1.
   an idea, feeling, or opinion about something or someone, especially one formed without conscious thought or on the basis of little evidence.
2. 2.
   an imitation of a person or thing, especially one done to entertain

It also says. “The BRZ’s bold new styling is as impressive as its handling prowess.” I guess everyone can agree it’s bold.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Dirty Harry

It also says. “The BRZ’s bold new styling is as impressive as its handling prowess.” I guess everyone can agree it’s bold.

They misspelled 'bad'.

[Dirty Harry]

In all seriousness the style is growing on me a bit. I definitely prefer the rear on this gen, but know cars look different in person. It’s definitely bold as they say and it’s easy to see it wouldn’t be to everyone’s taste.

I’m more excited about how it will drive now. If it’s an enhanced 1st gen from a driving point of view but I don’t quite like the looks as much I could probably live with that.

[Blighty]

Originally Posted by Sport-Tech

It would be interesting to see a poll on the new look taken from those interested in this segment who are not owners of the current models. At least among those participating in brand-specific car forums, it's common to find that owners of current versions of a given car are (at least on first exposure) generally not as satisfied with new styling changes as those with no skin in the game - for whatever reason (familiarity, psychological investment, cognitive dissonance?).

At any rate, the largely negative opinions on the new BRZ's look offered by current owners in this forum aren't reflected in the generally positive reaction expressed by auto bloggers/reviewers who participated in the live reveal and ride-along event. Maybe actually seeing the car in person will change some minds.

I don't own one anymore!

Its growing on me. I need to see it in the flesh.

There was a recent video which really made me go, yeah actually that looks great.

It is so hard to not overlay the 86 on it though, which is messing with me.

[ZDan]

Subjective opinions are subjective, but for sure I'm seeing much more positive views of the styling elsewhere vs. here.

FWIW I didn't like the '13 BRZ front end at all when it came out, that mouthguard! Or the fake vents at the top aft corners of the front fenders. Or the rear lights with clear lens over chrome. Or how high the hood and front fenderlines were (vs original FT86 concept and vs. my S2000). Or the fender bumps ostensibly for tire clearance but not at all necessary/functional as fenders already so high. Also the huge gap from the back of the doors to the front of the rear wheel opening. Not very "FR sports car", more of an fwd 2-door "coupe" (yuk) look...
But absolutely nothing else on the market appealed to me, and my S2000 was getting on in years/miles...
I was going to hold out for a used FR-S Monogram so I could have my preferred front-end with leather/alcantara, but then the 2017 update came out, I went and looked at the BRZ PP and I loved it. None of the stuff that bothered me was as big a deal and my impression was that the car looked great, just needed to be lowered a bit...

Anyway, if you don't like the '22 now, maybe it'll grow on ya. And anyway the Toyota version will be revealed soon, maybe you'll like it.

I'm glad the car hasn't significantly changed. Size and proportions are practically identical. But the engine looks to be a YUGE improvement. And weight only slightly up by ~40 lb.

My major disappointment is that they don't make a shorter-wheelbase cab-rearward 2-seat version... Lighter-weight, better F/R weight distribution, and would eliminate the awkward (to me) "fwd 'coupe'" look between rear wheel openings and doors. IMO that'd make for a great 2400GT for Toyota and/or give Subaru a real sports car. Oh wellz!

[Sport-Tech]

Originally Posted by Blighty

There was a recent video which really made me go, yeah actually that looks great.

It does look much more appealing on video. There's a very good walkaround segment here, 2 minutes in (sorry, timed-start embedding is broken on this forum):

[radroach]

@jflogerzi I agree on all points except for the oil cooler / heating issues point you brought up. I think the "Forester oil cooler" (as we used to call it) was more of an oil warmer, to bring oil up to temperature faster? That's what I gathered from discussion on it years ago.