Or, if you’re the cynical and misleading type, you might lament the fact that the upcoming Subaru BRZ is bigger and heavier than the outgoing version. The truth of the matter is very different, though. For starters, the car is just an inch longer (the wheelbase just .2″), and it only weighs about 20 more pounds than its predecessor. The rest of the information released this morning from Subaru indicates that the follow-up act to one of the most fun and accessible modern sports on the market is one of almost pure improvement. The new BRZ—a 2022 model year car set to go on sale next fall—is an easy-to-measure upgrade.
Compared to the first-generation BRZ, Subaru says the upcoming car’s chassis has 50% better torsional rigidity (including a 60% improvement on the front end), a lower center of gravity, and almost perfect front-and-rear weight distribution. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer motor—and its infamous torque dip—will not carry over to the new model, which will instead house a 2.4-liter version of the boxer producing not only more power and torque—228hp and 184lb-ft of torque, compared to the outgoing motor’s output of 205hp and 156lb-ft—but it will be doing so much earlier in the rev range. Whereas the first-generation BRZ didn’t produce peak torque until it was wound all the way up 6400 on the tach, the 2022 BRZ will give it to you at just 3700rpm. This should effectively fill in the much-maligned torque dip of the outgoing two-liter’s power band. Peak horsepower comes on at the 7000rpm mark, so the engine won’t be gutless on the top end, either. The redline remains unchanged at 7500.
The new BRZ’s improvements continue in the chassis, which retains its suspension setup of MacPherson struts up front, and double wishbones in the rear, but mates them to a stiffer platform. Subaru says that it has achieved more rigidity “through a reinforced chassis mounting system, sub-frame architecture and other connection points.” To keep the overall weight in check and pull the center of gravity downward, the 2022 BRZ will also feature more aluminum bodywork this time around. As opposed to just the hood on the first-generation, the new car will also use the light alloy for its roof and front fenders.
Although nobody expected the BRZ to gain enough weight and power to start nipping at the heels of the Supra (Toyota wouldn’t be too keen on cannibalizing its sales of one sports model for the sake of another), it’s still nice to hear as much from the horse’s mouth. In terms of styling, the updated look veers a bit into Porsche 718 territory in the headlight design, while the rear lights look like leftovers from Acura’s 2010 design language. Besides the dated looking taillights, the rest of the aesthetic update is hard to find fault with. It presents an overall more aggressive demeanor than the outgoing BRZ, but it’s still able to tread the line between maturity and boy racer very effectively. There are some dramatic angles defining the front and rear fascias, the big slashes of ventilation/styling behind the front wheels lend some exoticism that’s rare in the price range, and there is of course the subtle double bubble roof design that’s been carried over from the outgoing model, which all come together in a design that’s feature full but unfussy.
Whether or not you’re a fan of the Toyobaru sports cars, or in the market for a car like this, we think it should be celebrated. We’ve all griped about the state of modern sports cars—too expensive, too tech-laden, too powerful, too big, too heavy, just too much in general—but thankfully the sparse segment of the market that the Miata had a chokehold on for so many years is still seen as viable. How many light, affordable, and fun new cars are being offered with limited-slip rear-wheel drives, six gears, and three pedals? We’re excited to get some seat time in the new BRZ, but for now we’re simply happy to see an evolution of these increasingly rarified genetics.
If you’re looking for the full spec sheet released by Subaru this morning, we’ve included a screenshot to pore over below. All other imagery courtesy of Subaru.
