Subaru teases BRZ STi
Hopes of a hotter BRZ sports coupe raised as Subaru begins STi teaser campaignTwo tightly cropped teaser images of what appears to be an STi-tweaked BRZ are now leading the Japanese website of Subaru Tecnica International, the Japanese brand’s performance division, accompanied by the words ‘COMING SOON’.
Although Toyota has reportedly axed plans to produce either higher-output or convertible versions of its twin model, the 86, Subaru has never ruled out the possibility of a hotter BRZ, perhaps in the form of a turbocharged BRZ STi.
Subaru Australia says it has no knowledge of such a vehicle and agrees the timing of these images is curious, given it is now on the countdown to debuting its next-generation WRX, based on the existing Impreza platform, at the Los Angeles motor show in November.
While the images show a version of the BRZ featuring a blacked-out grille with an STi badge, which also adorns restyled versions of the BRZ’s front quarter gills, the car in question could simply be the Japanese domestic version of the cosmetically enhanced BRZ S released last month.
The latter features a host of sporting upgrades and costs an extra $7195, but retains the 147kW/205Nm 2.0-litre direct-injected four-cylinder boxer engine that powers both the standard BRZ and 86.
Subaru has also previously shown an STi-badged BRZ concept, at the 2011 LA show.
If the BRZ STi turns out to be a full-blown coupe flagship, expect it to come with a turbocharged boxer four outputting somewhere between the current WRX’s 195kW/343Nm and the existing WRX STi’s 221kW/350Nm (407Nm for the manual).
It would also feature all the other traditional STi additions, including firmer springs, Bilstein dampers, bigger brakes and a more sporting interior, including fake-suede trimmed Recaro bucket seats.
Subaru Australia is currently sending off its outgoing WRX via the RS40 limited-edition released last week, while the WRX STi also continues on sale until the redesigned WRX arrives here next March.
Pricing for the standard WRX starts at $39,990, while STi prices begin at $59,990, so expect the STi version to command a similar $20,000 price premium over the entry-level BRZ ($37,150), suggesting a starting price of less than $60,000.
Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site…
Tags
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
