On the road with the Subaru BRZ

Subaru BRZIf you talk to anyone about buying a Subaru – they will automatically think you are a ‘yobbo’ and cast you aside thinking the only possible reason you had for buying one in the first place – was because you wanted to annoy every other road user.

And I have to admit – in a way, they do have a point, as there is a young chap who lives just round the corner from me who annoys me very much – because, he thinks owning a Subaru WRX STi means he needs to have a stereo the size of ‘The Planet Earth’ – and wheels that would not look out of place on a JCB.

Well I would like you to forget all about that now and instead focus on the new 2017 model Subaru BRZ – because actually this could just be the new sports car you have been yearning for.

Power and Efficiency:
Fitted with a 2.0 litre horizontally-opposed (Boxer), 4-cylinder, 4-stroke (DOHC 16V) petrol engine with 200ps @ 7000rpm and 205Nm of torque. 0-62mph is around 8.2sec, fuel consumption is a decent 39.8 mpg combined and a top speed of around 130mph.

Boxer engines have taken some stick in the past – but, actually they fascinate me – and the Boxer engine in the BRZ is pretty cool, thanks to key features such as the engine’s square bore and stroke (86mm x 86mm), which all helps achieve a balance between mechanical efficiency, environmental performance, speed and power.

The engine is also fitted with the D-4S direct and port injection system. This selects the appropriate fuel injection rate to provide greater fuel efficiency and lower emissions – All wonderful stuff then.

On the road:
Nimble, frisky and if I am being honest, a little minx – and that’s just to get you started. Take the nimble little BRZ out on the road and you will feel how well it grips – again thanks to the BRZ being fitted with a Torsen limited slip rear differential for improved traction, allowing the more enthusiastic driver to make the most of the car’s rear-wheel drive layout.

Subaru BRZOf course to get the best out of a sports car – you need to have a front-engined, rear-wheel drive layout – and the BRZ has this by the bucket load.

For 2017, the dampers have also been redesigned to reduce body roll, increase precision whilst cornering, which has made a massive impact on ride comfort whilst still being a dynamically focused machine. Subaru has also lowered the strut mounts to help reduce the centre of gravity which helps give the BRZ a much sleeker and lower profile on the road.

Design & Technology
Some of the additional standard equipment on the BRZ includes; Auto on headlights (LED front & LED rear) 6.2” multifunction colour touchscreen, satellite navigation, 17” alloy wheels, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic air-conditioning, cruise control, ABS, brake assist, front, side, curtain and knee airbags.

To sum up:
What can I say – the BRZ is a great drive and perfect for someone who wants a nimble little sports car. 

Price: £27,995 (SE Lux Auto OTR) By Anthony Yates

 

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