Subaru Reveals The BRZ Concept STI

[William Maley]

Subaru Reveals The BRZ Concept STI

William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com

November 1, 2011

You have to wonder if Subaru was getting a bit jealous with Toyota since the spotlight for the past week or so has been on FT-86. Now, Subaru is taking back the spotlight by releasing a picture of the BRZ Concept STI.

The coupe seems to share a lot of design cues from the FT-86 except for the unique fender vents, hexagonal front grill, hawk eye headlights, and hard to miss rear spoiler.

Under the hood lies a 2.0L naturally aspirated Boxer four, not a tubrocharged version of the same engine that has been rumored (though that could change when the production model is introduced). The BRZ Concept STI rides on 18-inch wheels with brembo brakes and upgraded suspension bits.

The BRZ Concept STI makes it's debut at LA Auto Show in a couple of weeks.

Press Release is Below.

Subaru BRZ Concept – STI to Debut at Los Angeles International Auto Show

• First look at Subaru BRZ styling
  
• STI-tuned chassis and carbon-fiber roof deliver the ultimate in handling and CoG
  
• First RWD Subaru sports car
  

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Subaru of America, Inc. announced today that it will show an all-new concept version of its upcoming BRZ sports car at the 2011 Los Angeles International Auto Show. Dubbed the Subaru BRZ Concept- STI, the concept car represents the next step in lightweight performance sports cars combined with the race-bred tuning of Subaru Technica International (STI).

The first BRZ concept car to be shown with bodywork, the Concept – STI strongly hints at the styling of the production BRZ and features unique STI performance features.

Styling

Sleek, low and tightly coiled bodywork blends with STI performance touches for a sporting profile. A hexagonal front grille, hawk eye headlights and fin-shaped fog lamps are instantly recognizable as Subaru. The exterior colour "WR Blue Pearl II" is a new generation of the iconic WR blue paint scheme that has adorned both racing production STI's.

The body is set-off with aero-tuned lower front spoiler and unique rear fascia, a rear wing for added down-force and a carbon-fiber roof to lower its already record setting center of gravity specification. The rear design features bold rear fender flares and large rear-diffuser giving way to polished stainless-steel quad-tailpipes. Vented rear bumper corners contribute to improved aerodynamics performance.

Engine

The concept car employs the totally new Subaru "FA" Boxer engine exclusively designed for the RWD BRZ sports car. In order to achieve properties best-suited for the BRZ sports car, the overall structure of this 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder boxer engine has been designed with a square bore and stroke of 86 X 86 mm. The inherent qualities of the Subaru Boxer engine were mated to a direct injection fuel system, which further improves combustion efficiency, running smoothness up to high rpm and high environmental standards.

Chassis

The lightened Concept – STI features an STI-tuned suspension, Brembo brakes and unique 18-inch wheels and tires. The Subaru-engineered and built chassis boasts a rigid frame housing a two-plus-two interior and front engine/rear-wheel drive layout. With the engine mounted low and rearward in the engine compartment to allow for near-perfect balance and one of lowest CoG's of any car on the market.

The BRZ Concept – STI is designed to combine lightweight, a low polar moment and razor-sharp reflexes for the ultimate handling machine. The low engine placement also allows for a very low and blade-like hood design. Short front and rear overhangs reduce the yaw moment of inertia.

Compared with other Subaru models, which already feature a low centre of gravity and optimal weight distribution, the engine in the Subaru BRZ - STI - sits even lower, 4.7 inches lower in fact and is positioned 9.4 inches closer to the centre of the chassis.

The first RWD Subaru, the production Subaru BRZ will begin production in spring 2012 as the only mass-produced front-engine, Boxer engine rear-wheel drive sports car in the world.

SUBARU BRZ Concept – STI Specifications

Body size (Overall: Length x Width x Height): 166.7 X 70.9 X 50.4 inches

Wheelbase: 101.2 inch

Engine: Subaru Boxer "FA" engine - 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder Horizontally-Opposed Boxer engine

Tire size: 215/45R18 (Front), 225/45R18 (Rear)

[Satty]

Me gusta

[ocnblu]

Me gusta too, except I am not a fan of park bench wings. With the boxer engine, this car will always belong to Subaru, imo. Can't wait to see an extensive gallery of real world photos, and then the real thing.