Scooby BRZ - in time for Xmas!
2012-05-03 10:18
HOT NEW SCOOBY ON ITS WAY: Subaru's new BRZ should make its SA debut later in 2012 but expect an early launch review from Wheels24 well before the compact coupe heads to showrooms.
Subaru's hot new BRZ sports coupe is already in South Africa for local testing
and will be in showrooms later in 2012. Shades of the Tiburon...
More than 3500 have been sold in Japan since launch in February 2012, more than a third of them in Subaru’s trademark World Rally Blue.
Under the bonnet for South Africa will be a two-litre, four-cylinder classic Subaru boxer engine - but no turbo. Even so, it's capable of delivering 147kW and 205Nm to either a six-speed manual or six-speed auto gearbox.
The transmission is the same unit used in the Lexus IS350 and compared to the 2012 Impreza's engine, the BRZ's boxer lies almost 12cm lower and just over 20cm farther back in the chassis.
TWO-WHEEL DRIVE?
Toyota is responible for the planning and design while Subaru was tasked with the engineering. The BRZ, based on the Toyota 86, will be first for Subaru SA, as it will be sold locally in two-wheel drive - at the rear, like a true sports car.
The BRZ isn't Subaru's first rear-drive vehicle - that title belongs to
the 1953-54 Fuji Heavy Industries Prototype 1 sedan, later known as the
Subaru 1500. The sedan used the first Japanese-made monocoque body and
paved the way for the Subaru 360 and 1000.
Whatever, Subaru SA's marketing team leader Ashley Lazarus added: "Stability and balance have always been core Subaru values and there'll be plenty in the BRZ.
“Handling integrity is critical so we’ve opted for - when compared to, say, the Toyota 86 - firmer suspension settings and other refinements to provide razor-sharp handling, giving the BRZ a very distinct feel. It’ll be perfectly at home on a track day yet feel brilliant on roads that keen drivers dream about."
Subaru engineers are testing performance, altitude output for the Gauteng market, and fuel suitability. When collated, the results will determine SA specifications and prices. However, for reference, the car is stickered at $25 500 in the US.
Lazarus said: “Every detail of the BRZ has been honed with driving enjoyment in mind - the overall experience will be pure Subaru.”
Subaru BRZ specification (European SE and SE LUX models):
17" alloy rims
16" front brake discs
Torque-sensing limited-slip differential
Cruise control
Paddle shifts for auto transmission
Dual air-con
Six-speaker audio with iPod connectivity
Front fog lights
Power external mirrors
Smart entry and engine start/stop button
Leather on steering wheel, parking brake lever, gear shifter
Unique to SE Lux model:
Heatable leather seats
