All-New 2022 Subaru BRZ Makes Global Debut

[PulsarBeeerz]

Originally Posted by Tokay444

Are they though?

Yup.

[Red-86]

Originally Posted by Lantanafrs2

Which is why I'll probably buy the Toyota.

If for no other reason, the Toyota is probably the one to go for because it is most likely to have a much cleaner front nose design from what we can make out on the test mules. I had hoped the BRZ nose would grow on me, but I think it is looking worse the more I look at it.

[Red-86]

Originally Posted by Tokay444

Are they though?

Yes, the earlier pics of the test mules clearly show functional vents around the front wheels. You can literally see the air channels in the wheel well.





How much actual aero benefit they provide I'll leave up to your judgement.

[Spuds]

I think the front looks fine. Looking at the fender, door and skirt area is killing me though. It's like they took a smooth curvy design and decided it needed some jarring angles and lines that don't match up with anything else.

Maybe it will look better in person, with a more top-down perspective rather than low shots everyone seems to want to take. I am hoping it does, because I like how the specifications turned out.

Like, I would be ok with it if they could show me legit wind tunnel and cfd data proving they chose function over form, but the form is just a bit disjointed as it is now. Hell, I might be ok with it anyway if it is a blast to drive.

[Kiske]

Did they ever claim the body was an improvement in aero?

They mentioned more torsional rigidity and a lower center of gravity.

While body lines do add strength to metal panels, I'm guessing it has more to do with the new aluminum panel construction and some clever chassis reinforcement. Lower center of gravity could also be the aluminum parts and the engine weighing a bit more shifting it lower.

[Sasquachulator]

Originally Posted by PulsarBeeerz

With over 30lbft on the 2.0l it should pull stronger though right?

It obviously should, but the major thing is the torque dip has been significantly reduced giving the midrange a much stronger feel.

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Kiske

Did they ever claim the body was an improvement in aero?

They mentioned more torsional rigidity and a lower center of gravity.

While body lines do add strength to metal panels, I'm guessing it has more to do with the new aluminum panel construction and some clever chassis reinforcement. Lower center of gravity could also be the aluminum parts and the engine weighing a bit more shifting it lower.

From the press release:

The aggressive design flows into bold front fenders with a large side vent. The functional side vent reduces drag by ducting air from under the hood and fenders. The released air is directed to a side sill spoiler that creates downforce at speed. A small fin at the back of the rear-wheel arch also assists in airflow adding stability at speed. At the rear of the car, the large rear fenders and wider track flow into dual exhausts for a low and wide stance. This visual heft is lightened by a narrower greenhouse and rear hatch which flow into a dramatic upturned “ducktail” rear spoiler.

[Red-86]

Originally Posted by Spuds

From the press release:

Certainly sounds like some ambitious aero claims... or just marketing.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Red-86

Certainly sounds like some ambitious aero claims... or just marketing.

I have a hypothesis on this and yes marketing spin plays a big part in it.
They added front cold air ducts, rear hot air vents and out of the goodness of their hearts threw in a stock oil cooler.
Now, we know there were heat issues on the track with the first gen. This is indisputable from the number of people that had to resolve it.
Now they put a larger displacement, higher compression engine in roughly the same space. This will create even more heat.
If you were designing a car and had some serious heat issues how would you resolve them? I personally would bring in some cold air, vent the hot air and install an oil cooler.
Now the very last thing that the marketing crew wants to do is say "yep we had a nasty heat issue but we fixed it".
Doesn't " resulting in a low and wide frontal area set off by large functional air intakes" and " functional side vent reduces drag by ducting air from under the hood and fenders. The released air is directed to a side sill spoiler that creates downforce at speed." put a much more appealing spin on things?


Now of course I can not prove any of this and that is why I present it as a hypothesis and not a theory but it makes so much sense.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Kiske

Did they ever claim the body was an improvement in aero?

They mentioned more torsional rigidity and a lower center of gravity.

While body lines do add strength to metal panels, I'm guessing it has more to do with the new aluminum panel construction and some clever chassis reinforcement. Lower center of gravity could also be the aluminum parts and the engine weighing a bit more shifting it lower.

The rigidity was achieved using some of the components of the Global Platform and most likely consists of gussets and plates.


The lower COG is interesting in that their whole statement is "even lower than the previous BRZ and on par with exotic hyper-cars". What does that mean? Is it 4 inches lower? One? 3/16? They claimed as low as hyper cars in the first gen so really without knowing how much they lowered it this is a meaningless statement.
The use of the aluminum roof and fenders would certainly help. Depending on your interpretation of the marking claims it seems they placed the engine lower and that would help as well. There is some debate whether the .4" height reduction is through suspension drop or actual body height but either way that would lower COG as well.
It was obviously a target of theirs though so I would think it is a significant reduction but the real data remains to be released.

[Quentin]

The logic they are using regarding the aero is sound. If you are moving air out of the engine bay, you don’t want it going under the car (ex: splitters make downforce by pushing air over the car rather than letting it roll under). The side sill keeps the air from rolling under the car as well. The negative space behind the vent likely creates a low pressure zone that helps pull air through the engine bay to increase that cooling efficiency.

Also, airflow around wheel wells is notoriously messy, so it is a good place to add small aides to clean things up a bit. We see this on the rear fenders.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Quentin

The logic they are using regarding the aero is sound. If you are moving air out of the engine bay, you don’t want it going under the car (ex: splitters make downforce by pushing air over the car rather than letting it roll under). The side sill keeps the air from rolling under the car as well. The negative space behind the vent likely creates a low pressure zone that helps pull air through the engine bay to increase that cooling efficiency.

Also, airflow around wheel wells is notoriously messy, so it is a good place to add small aides to clean things up a bit. We see this on the rear fenders.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh there is no doubt the engineering is there. It is just the reason that they went that way is marketing spin.

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I have a hypothesis on this and yes marketing spin plays a big part in it.
They added front cold air ducts, rear hot air vents and out of the goodness of their hearts threw in a stock oil cooler.
Now, we know there were heat issues on the track with the first gen. This is indisputable from the number of people that had to resolve it.
Now they put a larger displacement, higher compression engine in roughly the same space. This will create even more heat.
If you were designing a car and had some serious heat issues how would you resolve them? I personally would bring in some cold air, vent the hot air and install an oil cooler.
Now the very last thing that the marketing crew wants to do is say "yep we had a nasty heat issue but we fixed it".
Doesn't " resulting in a low and wide frontal area set off by large functional air intakes" and " functional side vent reduces drag by ducting air from under the hood and fenders. The released air is directed to a side sill spoiler that creates downforce at speed." put a much more appealing spin on things?


Now of course I can not prove any of this and that is why I present it as a hypothesis and not a theory but it makes so much sense.

Except the front ducts lead to the wheel well and the vents vent from the wheel well...

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Spuds

Except the front ducts lead to the wheel well and the vents vent from the wheel well...

Doesn't have to blow directly up into the engine compartment to force hot air out. In fact blowing directly into the engine compartment would be a bad bad idea for anyplace that sees rain. Drawing air across the compartment will remove ambient heat as effectively as blowing it in. I bet there are some nice big vents on the inside of the wheel wells to help draw the hot air out.


They are very clear with their statement on the vents "functional side vent reduces drag by ducting air from under the hood and fenders"