Subaru BRZ turbo by 2014?
A ballistic version of Subaru's sporty two-door with an extra 61kW and 135Nm could be in showrooms within two yearsSubaru sportscar fans are in for a treat with the new BRZ compact coupe expected to be given a massive boost in power via turbocharging by 2014.
According to American website Automotive News, Subaru is developing a high-performance turbo version of the BRZ's four-cylinder 2.0-litre boxer engine, which is expected to output 208kW/340Nm - much greater than the non-turbo engine's 147kW/205Nm output.
The new Subaru turbo engine under development is reportedly utilising a twin-scroll turbo paired with a bespoke direct-injection system developed by Fuji Heavy Industries, Subaru's parent company, and not Toyota's D4S direct- and port-injection technology.
Subaru revealed a BRZ STI concept car at the Los Angeles motor show in 2011 (pictured) and if Subaru does deploy a turbo version of the BRZ wearing STI badges - and reportedly without Toyota's D4S - the question remains whether Toyota will follow suit with its own turbocharged version of its 'non-identical twin' 86.
Given that Subaru builds the 86 sports coupe for Toyota, it’s also possible that we could see a turbo Toyota 86 not fitted with D4S.
It's no secret that Subaru is irritated that Toyota got much of the credit for the 86, despite Subaru engineering and manufacturing both cars (more 86 Toyotas are manufactured and sold than BRZ Subarus). Toyota's input was largely the design and D4S direct-injection fuel system.
The BRZ has been widely praised by both the media and public, with demand significantly outstripping supply. Although the naturally-aspirated, rear-wheel drive Subaru BRZ accelerates to 100km/h in 7.5 seconds, it has been criticised for its lack of grunt - something the extra herbs courtesy of turbocharging would easily remedy.
By lifting torque by 135Nm and power by 61kW, the turbocharged Subaru BRZ would be entering to high-end sportscar territory - think BMW M3-like performance with the potential of sub-five-second 0-100km/h sprinting.
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