Subaru BRZ 2022 keeps lightweight, basic sports car formula alive

The best thing about the Subaru BRZ 2022 isn’t what has changed, it’s what hasn’t changed. Debuting on Wednesday, the new BRZ improves upon its predecessor in a number of ways, but it’s still the same lightweight rear-wheel-drive sports car we know and love.

Arguably the biggest update is on the outside, where the BRZ 2022 sports a cleaner, nastier tin. Overall, it’s a good look, with sleeker taillights, LED position lights, and a choice of 17 or 18 inch wheels depending on the trim. The new BRZ isn’t much taller than the outgoing model, either – it’s about an inch taller and a half inch shorter in height. Compared to the 2020 BRZ, the new coupe weighs just 17 pounds heavier, weighing in at 2,815 svelte pounds for a Premium with the manual transmission and peaking at 2,881 pounds for the top-of-the-line Limited with an automatic.

Which brings us to the powertrain. Many people subscribe to the belief that the BRZ needs more horsepower, or perhaps a turbocharged option. But we’re big fans of the slow, fast car set – a little coupe that will make you smile without hitting the speed of going straight to jail.

A new 2.4-liter flat-four delivers 228 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, or 23 horsepower and 28 lb-ft compared to the BRZ’s old 2.0-liter engine. A six-speed manual transmission is standard while a six-speed automatic is available, the latter adding paddle shifters and automatic rev-matching during downshifts.

Make no mistake, the new BRZ certainly won’t be super fast, but throw wider wheels and sticky tires on one of them and you’ll be able to carry a lot of speed around the corners. (Top-of-the-line models will come standard with 215 / 45R17 tires while Limited trims will have 215 / 40R18s.) Subaru says the 2022 BRZ’s chassis is much stiffer, which should make it a bit stiffer. agile. The BRZ will also continue to use a rear-wheel drive layout, going against Subaru’s well-known trend for standard all-wheel drive, and the five-mode traction control can either keep things tight and crisp or let you down. to hang up the tail. for beautiful controlled drifts.

Inside, the BRZ receives a nice tech upgrade. There is a 7 inch digital gauge cluster, which is reconfigurable to display all kinds of driving data. Proceed to the admittedly busy dashboard and you’ll find an 8-inch screen running Subaru’s Starlink multimedia system, with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto all standard.

Like the current car, the BRZ 2022 is technically a four-seater, but it’s only really comfortable for two. The rear seats are great for storing backpacks or handbags, and they fold flat to allow longer items to fit out of the trunk.

Since the new BRZ is not that different from the old version, it should also stay the course when it comes to pricing. That means the BRZ Premium is expected to start in the middle of the $ 20,000 range, with the Limited hitting $ 30,000 all loaded. The BRZ 2022 is expected to hit dealerships next fall, after production begins at the Subaru plant in Gunma, Japan.

Of course, the BRZ 2022 also gives us a good idea of ​​what to expect from its fraternal twin, the next-gen Toyota 86. Look for this coupe to bow next year, largely with the same fundamentals as this Subaru.