2022 Subaru BRZ

[Payman]

A big George Takei "OH MYYYYY!!!" 

https://www.motortrend.com/news/2022-subaru-brz-everything-we-know/

[MrH]

11/18 reveal!

Most exciting car to come out in the last few years IMO.  I still miss mine on some days.  Mostly the looks and color than anything else.  But if they fix the motor, this could be really special.

EDIT:  Just saw the profile camo shot with the new taillights.  Way better than the first one.  That was my biggest issue with the looks previously.  They were oddly shaped and looked really dated with the altezza style.

[MX793]

If they fix that torque hole in the middle of the power band, I might be interested.  A 200-240 hp N/A 2.4L with a broad torque curve would be sweet.

They also need to do something about the exhaust note.  Those FA engines sound horrible.  I'd rather listen to nails on a chalk board than late model WRXs, especially at idle.

[AutobahnSHO]

Nice! Glad they didn't let it languish.

[Laconian]

A flat four can never sound good, though.

[r0tor]

Seems to look good

[MX793]

A flat four can never sound good, though.

They can with the right exhaust.  Older Subies with Unequal length headers sound OK.  I've heard a few cat backs for Frizbees that sound decent.  But the stock exhausts Subaru uses are designed to sound terrible.

[MrH]

They can with the right exhaust.  Older Subies with Unequal length headers sound OK.  I've heard a few cat backs for Frizbees that sound decent.  But the stock exhausts Subaru uses are designed to sound terrible.

For the BRZ NA flat fours, the unequal length headers weren't great for performance.  That's why everyone's sounds like garbage.   I guess if this actually is the 2.4 liter turbo, then we can at least get the Subaru burble back if the layout allows for it.

[MX793]

For the BRZ NA flat fours, the unequal length headers weren't great for performance.  That's why everyone's sounds like garbage.   I guess if this actually is the 2.4 liter turbo, then we can at least get the Subaru burble back if the layout allows for it.

I believe all newer Subie motors use equal length headers.  The turbo FA motors in the WRX and Forester do (and sound even worse than the NA versions).  Not sure about the new 2.4.  The STI is still running the old motor, so it still has the burble.

There are some cat backs for the Frisbee that both help with the torque hole and greatly improve the sound.  You'll never get that burble with equal length headers, but it doesn't mean the motor needs to sound like ass.

[MrH]

I believe all newer Subie motors use equal length headers.  The turbo FA motors in the WRX and Forester do (and sound even worse than the NA versions).  Not sure about the new 2.4.  The STI is still running the old motor, so it still has the burble.

There are some cat backs for the Frisbee that both help with the torque hole and greatly improve the sound.  You'll never get that burble with equal length headers, but it doesn't mean the motor needs to sound like ass.

Yeah, everything stock is running equal length right now but the old STI.  People have tried unequal length headers on BRZs.  In NA form, it's a performance hit compared to equal length.  With aftermarket turbos on BRZ, people have tried both.  Unequal get the classic subaru burble, and there isn't a big downgrade in performance like there is in with NA setups.

The new BRZ will undoubtedly be equal length, but I'm guessing there will be aftermarket products to bring back the burble

[MX793]

Yeah, everything stock is running equal length right now but the old STI.  People have tried unequal length headers on BRZs.  In NA form, it's a performance hit compared to equal length.  With aftermarket turbos on BRZ, people have tried both.  Unequal get the classic subaru burble, and there isn't a big downgrade in performance like there is in with NA setups.

The new BRZ will undoubtedly be equal length, but I'm guessing there will be aftermarket products to bring back the burble

Like I said, you don't need the burble to not sound like ass.  Tons of these things running the local SCCA circuit, most with stock headers and a cat back.  They sound vastly better than stock.  The burble is nice, but not at the expense of performance.  But you can get the performance without sounding terrible, as the aftermarket has demonstrated through various cat back offerings.

[MX793]

Tomorrow's the day...  I feel like I'm going to love the styling and be disappointed by the power train decision.  I have this suspicion it will either be total carry-over or they make some miniscule tweak that adds 5 hp and doesn't address the hole.

[SJ_GTI]

I have this suspicion it will either be total carry-over or they make some miniscule tweak that adds 5 hp and doesn't address the hole.

This is the way.

[Payman]

228 hp 2.4 NA, 2815 lbs. 6 speed manual. I approve.

[Payman]

This looks all business with no gimmickry or frippery. I like it.

[Payman]

Nice bum. 

Love the subtle ducktail, and the tail lights.

[MX793]

Tail lights aren't really doing it for me.

Did they even change anything in the interior?

The rest looks great.  Pleased with the power train upgrade.

[SJ_GTI]

Looks really good. Can't see myself buying one though. I suspect my next purchase will be between another Golf R, a WRX, or an EV of some kind.

Still, its nice to see there is still a market for legit sports cars. Hopefully this does well.

[Payman]

A better view. I mean, it's much nicer than the outgoing car, IMHO.

[Payman]

Oh my. 

[Eye of the Tiger]

Lumpier. I like the old one.

[SJ_GTI]

Hot Take: Subaru BRZ is better looking than the Toyota Supra

[CaminoRacer]

Looks really good. Can't see myself buying one though. I suspect my next purchase will be between another Golf R, a WRX, or an EV of some kind.

Same.

[MrH]

Wow.  This retains all the best parts of the old one and fixes the stuff I didn't like visually.

Doesn't sound like a big upgrade experience wise though?  It looks more like a mid cycle refresh than anything.  No turbo, probably same chassis, transmission etc.  Even the interior looks like a mid cycle refresh.   

[MX793]

Wow.  This retains all the best parts of the old one and fixes the stuff I didn't like visually.

Doesn't sound like a big upgrade experience wise though?  It looks more like a mid cycle refresh than anything.  No turbo, probably same chassis, transmission etc.  Even the interior looks like a mid cycle refresh.   

The chassis is supposedly "new", albeit heavily based on the old one.  Wheelbase is up slightly, so they did something more than apply a new skin.

[Payman]

Wow.  This retains all the best parts of the old one and fixes the stuff I didn't like visually.

Doesn't sound like a big upgrade experience wise though?  It looks more like a mid cycle refresh than anything.  No turbo, probably same chassis, transmission etc.  Even the interior looks like a mid cycle refresh.   

Well you have the most experience of all of us here with this car, but it sounds like they changed what needed to be changed, and didn't what didn't.

[CaminoRacer]

At first I was going to say something negative about this looking more like a mid-cycle refresh instead of a new car, but I think that's the wrong viewpoint these days. Cars have gotten so good that it might not be necessary for things to be all-new all the time. BMW, for example, should have stopped 10 years ago...

[Payman]

Hmmmm, word is the FA24 2.4T in the 2022 WRX STi will be ~400 hp. 

[MrH]

Well you have the most experience of all of us here with this car, but it sounds like they changed what needed to be changed, and didn't what didn't.

I can only see visually though.  Who knows what this thing is like to drive.  I would imagine better, but I don't know if they fixed the issues I had with it.

Doesn't sound like the engine is dramatically different.  Bigger, but how does the bore and stroke compare?  Does it rev higher?  Hopefully kills the dead zone, sounds better, etc.

It's promising, just wish there was a terbow

[CaminoRacer]

I can only see visually though.  Who knows what this thing is like to drive.  I would imagine better, but I don't know if they fixed the issues I had with it.

Doesn't sound like the engine is dramatically different.  Bigger, but how does the bore and stroke compare?  Does it rev higher?  Hopefully kills the dead zone, sounds better, etc.

It's promising, just wish there was a terbow

Hopefully they fix the clutch and throttle pedals.

The Miata clutch is exactly how I like it - engagement starts right at the bottom of the pedal travel, and the throttle sensitivity is good (not too much, not too little)