TMW - The best coupe on the market, the Subaru BRZ, had to beat, easy to love !

The Subaru BRZ is unashamedly a Toyota with new badging, but is it, well, the answer to that question is no, the beating heart of the car is Subaru through and through, the Boxer engine moves the car so far away from Toyota that you might be forgiven for thinking that this is an all new car.

The BRZ is a 2+2, you most definitely not get adults in the back, not unless they have no legs, because once you get the front seats into a decent position there is no leg room at all, the front seats are extremely well made, once you are in place, there is no way you're going anywhere, they cosset you like not many other seats around.

The interior is well made, with decent soft touch plastics and leather trimmed parts, all the buttons and switchgear are placed perfectly for your hands, and you never have to stretch or look away for too long to do, whatever you need too.

The Sat Nav is good, however it can be a little slow at times, but only when you have lots of turns and junctions in quick succession, the steering is really precise and the car goes exactly where you point it, there are loads of toys and info that you can utilise, the display system can be utilised to give you many different pieces of info from mpg, to distance travelled to power output.

The short shift gearbox is great, it changes gear swiftly and precisely, and the power that this brings is also brilliant, the BRZ can pull away like a car with far more power, thats how great the Boxer engine is.

The boxer engine might be powerful, and at 180g/km comes somewhere higher up the scale, it also offers not too bad fuel consumption.

• Urban Cycle - 27.2mpg
• Extra Urban Cycle - 44.8mpg
• Combined - 36.2mpg

The combined figure is nearly achievable, during our time with the car, we came away with an average of about 32mpg, which is a great result for the car, however, we did complete a few long distance motorway journey's, and after these runs, we didn't feel tired or too uncomfortable, a nice touch is the windows dropping slightly on opening and closing so that it makes it less prone to breakage.

The outside of the car, like the inside, gives you an air of sportiness, with the large spoiler, and deep front bumper, the growl of the engine too makes you feel ike you are about to drive something special, and over all you get a lot of kit and technology.

• Automatic Headlights
• LED Headlights
• Satellite Navigation
• Power Folding Door Mirrors
• Rear Diffuser
• Rear Spoiler
• 17" Alloy Wheels
• Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel-Gearshift-Handbrake Lever
• Power Windows
• Remote Control Central Locking
• Dual Zone Air Conditioning
• Subaru Starlink
• 6.2" Touchscreen

And these are just a small amount of the bits and pieces you get, they all go together to make a great sports car, one thats hard to eat.

CONCLUSION

The Subaru BRZ is a great car, there really is no getting away from it, it does everything you ask of it, and far more, however, it is compromised, its only a two seater, you just can not get anyone else in the back, it is very cramped with no leg room at all.

It has enough boot space, plenty of cubby holes and lot of toys and tech, goes like stink and performs really well, however, this is a weekend car really, and a car for a "couple" rather than a family, or a wealthy family that wants a second car. The Boxer engine performs like only a Boxer engine can, it's am amazing power-plant, and the car is great, who cares if it is based upon a Toyota, for this is a SUBARU plain and simple.

Our time with the Subaru BRZ is up, but as we say goodbye to the sporty coupé, we can also welcome back one of the brand’s most famous nameplates to the UK: the WRX STi.

Favourable exchange rates and strong customer demand have meant that the latest STi, which wasn’t previously destined for our shores, has now gone on sale. At £28,995, it’s £5,000 more than the BRZ, but aside from the paint, are there any similarities between the two?

Both cars have boxer engines, but it’s a 2.0-litre four-cylinder in the BRZ and a 2.5-litre turbo in the STi. Power delivery is surprisingly similar – both seem a bit lacking in torque low down in the revs, doing their best work near the red line.

The new fully updated Subaru BRZ gets it's UK debut at the motorsport show at the NEC.

Europe’s largest motorsport show opens its doors 12th - 15th January 2017 at the NEC and BMR Racing and Subaru can be found at stand 6000 in Hall 6.

The 2017 BRZ has been updated from top to bottom; exterior, interior, powertrain, suspension and safety, refining the driving experience whilst enhancing sports car appeal.

The Coupe shape remains, but is enhanced with a wider, lower stance at the front end. The BRZ’s face is finished off with full-LED headlights, a Subaru first. 

New design rear lamps and aerodynamic pedestal spoiler top off the rear of the car, and the wheels are now a 10 spoke aluminium design.

Inside, a 4.2-inch colour LCD multi-information display has been added into the instrument panel. The steering wheel has also been redesigned into a smaller package with different leather to increase the driver’s grip for a more engaging experience, whilst higher quality materials have been used throughout the cabin.

BRZ was built to deliver a linear driving feel, ensuring that the car responds exactly as the driver intended. Keeping this concept in mind, the BRZ’s suspension, engine and drivetrain have been further refined to enhance its poised handling and driving experience.

For sporty drivers, the new TRACK mode enhances the stability of the car and allows for more refined accelerator inputs when driving on race circuits. For urban drivers, there is a new type of Hill Start Assist (HSA) to help with uphill starts or downhill reversing.

The 2017 BRZ will be available in SE Lux trim only with either a manual or automatic transmission from Spring.

Subaru launches a new enhanced BRZ Coupe, the one model car now offers TRACK mode as standard.

The update covers every area of BRZ; exterior, interior, powertrain, suspension and safety, refining the driving experience whilst enhancing sports car appeal.

The Coupe shape remains, but is enhanced with a wider, lower stance at the front end. This isn’t just for show, as the 45⁰ stepped accent on the bumper limits airflow into the air intake, which improves handling and ride. The BRZ’s face is finished off with full-LED headlights, a Subaru first. 

New design rear lamps and aerodynamic pedestal spoiler top off the rear of the car, and the wheels are now a 10 spoke aluminium design.

Inside, a 4.2-inch colour LCD multi-information display has been added into the instrument panel. 

The display features a G force meter, steering angle gauge, brake force gauge, lap timer and torque/power curves for bringing out the sportier side of any driver. 

The steering wheel has also been redesigned into a smaller package with different leather to increase the driver’s grip for a more engaging experience and is finished off with audio control switches. 

Focus has been directed to upgrading the feel of components by using higher quality materials throughout the cabin, including Alcantara and leather seats.

BRZ was built to deliver a linear driving feel, ensuring that the car responds exactly as the driver intended. Keeping this concept in mind, the BRZ’s suspension, engine and drivetrain have been further refined to further enhance its poised handling and driving experience.

Inside the Subaru hallmark Boxer engine, the strength of the cylinder blocks has been increased. 

The valve stems have been buffed and polished, the camshaft is lower friction and the weight of the rocker arms has been reduced. These changes couple together to result in a more responsive, fuel efficient engine.  

The dampers have been redesigned to reduce body roll, increase precision whilst cornering, as well as damping vibration, therefore delivering improved ride comfort whilst being dynamically focussed.

For sporty drivers, the new TRACK mode enhances the stability of the car and allows for more refined accelerator inputs when driving on race circuits and consolidates the previous 5 VDC modes into 4. 

For the urban drivers, there is a new type of Hill Start Assist (HSA) to help with uphill starts or downhill reversing.

On the safety front, there is also a next-generation advanced airbag system which uses upgraded sensors for a greater level of safety.

From Spring 2017, the BRZ will be available in SE Lux trim only with either a manual or automatic transmission.

IRELAND - Rally School Ireland loves their Subaru's so much that they have added a number of Foresters to it's fleet.

Rally School Ireland know a thing or two about traction, reliability and value for money.  So there was no surprise when the Co Monaghan based Rally school chose Subaru Foresters as the latest additions to their ever growing fleet of vehicles.

“We already run Subaru WRX STi’s as our first choice hyper performance tuition cars” said Managing Director David Smyth “Our WRX’s are fully Rally prepped, fitted out with roll cages and all the kit to take drivers to the next level, in complete safety.  

They have proven so reliable and popular it was only natural that when choosing Circuit support cars we opted for Subaru again – and we picked the hugely versatile Foresters.”

“Our support cars work just as hard as our tuition vehicles – we ferry customers from Ireland’s many airports to and from the Circuit, and constantly use them to move luggage and equipment.  

The Forester carries five adults in complete comfort and has a cavernous bootspace. It delivers loads of grip and feedback from Subaru’s trademark symmetrical all wheel drive system, and of course comes in economical petrol or diesel options – and manual or automatic.  It’s easy to drive and has excellent all-round visibility, a high view point and seat position, and is superbly comfortable for long journeys”.

“Our support cars must be available 24/7/365, our clientele expect that and Subaru delivers every time” said David “Subaru vehicles are like Swiss watches – they just go on and on and never miss a beat.  We use them off-road extensively, their cross-country ability is unbeatable. 

It’s easy to understand why Subaru have become the favoured cars of choice for farmers and vets.  We regularly see Foresters and Outbacks at sporting shoots, they truly are highly-capable go-anywhere vehicles”.

Rally School Ireland is based at Gola, Scotstown, five miles from Monaghan town.  

They offer intensive professional Rally driving training, and also cater for the growing leisure market with hen and stag party packages and ever popular track experience days for novices and experts alike.  In addition to the flagship Subaru WRX STi’s their extensive fleet includes Ferraris, Porsche, BMW M Sports and the very latest KTM and Ariel track cars. 

“We’re delighted to renew our relationship with Rally School Ireland” said Subaru Ireland Managing Director Neville Matthews (pictured with Smyth) 

“David and his team are highly professional and the facilities here at the circuit have always impressed us, it is a pleasure to be doing more business with the Rally School and we wish them continued success.  The training available and their safety standards are of the highest order, we would recommend Rally School Ireland with complete confidence.  

If you are serious about improving your driving technique then I’d confidently predict they will improve any driver’s skills and understanding in a very short space of time.  And you’ll have lots of fun too!”

USA - Subaru of America, Inc. today announced pricing on the 2017 Subaru BRZ line

• Improved performance and handling across model line
• New Performance Package
• 500-unit limited edition Series.Yellow model priced at $29,695
• Updated interior styling and features

Subaru of America, Inc. today announced pricing on the 2017 BRZ line. The 2017 BRZ models will arrive into retailers in September 2016.

A comprehensive update to the 2017 BRZ includes improved handling, increased performance, more aggressive styling and new convenience features. 

These enhancements continue the company’s original mission of offering enthusiasts a pure sports car with an unmatched driving experience. Priced from $25,495, the 2017 BRZ Premium trim model increases just $100 from previous model year.

The BRZ, known for its ultra-low center of gravity and precision handling, offers several updates to increase its performance on the track and the open road.  

For improved responsiveness, stability and comfort, BRZ adds updated coil springs and dampers as well as a larger rear stabilizer bar.  Additional reinforcements added to the chassis are behind the strut tower braces, and to the transmission cross-member plate and rear wheel housings to increase rigidity.  

The stability control system thresholds are raised to allow the driver to experience more of the car’s improved handling, and in “Sport” mode the results were dramatic enough for Subaru to change the name of “Sport” mode to “Track”.     

A new aluminum intake manifold and redesigned exhaust manifold increase air flow, upping the engine output in models with the 6-speed manual transmission to 205-hp and 156 lb-ft of torque.  Also, a lower final drive ratio from 4.1 to 4.3:1 paired with the standard Torsen^® limited-slip differential, improves acceleration on models with the manual transmission.   

In addition to LED headlights and rear combination lights and Daytime Running Lights, all trims receive Incline Start Assist that holds the vehicle momentarily in position while the driver accelerates to prevent roll back on an incline. Also new to BRZ are steering wheel control switches for audio, cruise control and Bluetooth^®.

A new aluminum rear spoiler in matching body color and black finish is now standard on all lines. The new pedestal design improves the vehicle’s downforce, which in turn improves stability and control. The Premium and Limited models receive a new 10-spoke, 17-in aluminum alloy wheel with a high-contrast black and machined finish.   

Performance Package

Subaru now offers a Performance Package for drivers who demand even more from a sports car. The Performance Package is available on the Limited trim with the manual transmission. The brake system is upgraded to Brembo^® four-piston calipers and rotors on the front and dual-piston calipers and rotors on the rear. 

SACHS^® Performance shock absorbers are added to all four corners for improved ride and corning stability. Also included in the package are unique 17-in x 7.5-in black aluminum alloy wheels. The BRZ Performance Package is well-priced at just $1,195.

Two Trim Levels: Premium and Limited

Subaru offers the 2017 BRZ in Premium and Limited trims. The Subaru tradition of outstanding value is evident in both trim levels with their long list of standard amenities. Key among these is a comprehensive infotainment configuration anchored by the SUBARU STARLINK^™ 6.2” Multimedia System that includes 6.2-in. high resolution multi-function touch screen display, AM/FM stereo and HD Radio^®, Single-disc in-dash CD player with 8 speakers. 

Standard SUBARU STARLINK offers smartphone integration with Pandora^®, Aha^®, iHeart^® Radio and Stitcher^™, Bluetooth^® hands-free phone connectivity and audio streaming. Also included are SiriusXM^® Satellite Radio (subscription required) and a rear -vision camera.

The $27,645 Subaru BRZ Limited offers additional comfort and amenities including LED fog lights and standard heated front seats and exterior mirrors, Keyless Entry and Push Button Start. 

Inside, the seats are upholstered with Alcantara inserts, leather bolsters and attractive red stitching. New on Limited trims is a 4.2-in LCD multi-function display positioned next to the tachometer. This driver information readout provides access to vehicle performance including lateral Gs, accelerator pedal position, braking force, steering angle, oil and water temperature, and battery voltage as well as an integrated stop watch for recording lap times.

Paddle-shift control switches are standard on BRZ Limited with automatic transmission priced at $28,745.

500-unit Limited Edition Series.Yellow

Based on the Limited trim equipped with the new Performance Package, Series.Yellow is immediately recognizable by a striking yellow exterior, black badging and exterior mirrors as well as 17-in x 7.5-in black aluminum alloy wheels. 

The brake system has been upgraded to Brembo^® four-piston calipers and rotors on the front and dual-piston calipers and rotors on the rear. SACHS^® Performance shock absorbers have been added to all four wheels for advanced handling and steering stability. 

The Series.Yellow offers black leather and Alcantara upholstery with yellow stitching throughout the interior including seats, door and dash panels, steering wheel, knee pads and shifter boot.  

The front seatbacks are also embroidered with a yellow BRZ logo.  The final touch for this model is the carpeted floor mats with yellow stitching and a silver embroidered BRZ logo. Series.Yellow models are priced at $29,695.

The 2017 BRZ Premium and Limited models will begin arriving at retailers in September while Performance Package-equipped and Series.Yellow will arrive at retailers early 2017.  

2017 SUBARU BRZ
Model/Trim	Transmission	Applicable Option Code	MSRP	MSRP + destination and delivery ($820)
2.0 Premium	6MT	01	$25,495	$26,315
2.0 Limited	6MT	01, 02	$27,645	$28,465
2.0 Limited	6AT	01	$28,745	$29,565
2.0 Series.Yellow	6MT	03	$29,695	$30,515

2017 SUBARU BRZ OPTION PACKAGES
CODE 01      Standard Model – BRZ Premium, BRZ Limited		N/A
CODE 02      Performance Package		$1,195
CODE 03     Standard Model- BRZ Series.Yellow		N/A

Destination & Delivery is $820 and may vary in the following states: CT, HI, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI and VT. D&D is $970 for dealers in Alaska.