experience with the Scion version next month, and to help us better understand the excitement surrounding these cars, we figured it best to analyze what is currently known.
The FR-S/BRZ are incredibly important cars to Toyota/Subaru, especially in their native Japan. The FR-S -- called the Toyota GT 86 in Japan -- is the successor to one of Japan’s most definitive and iconic sports cars, the AE86 Trueno/Sprinter. Remaking an automotive legend is a monumentally challenging task for any manufacturer, and releasing a vehicle that is anything less than exceptional would carry only the stigma of failure. Thankfully, with Toyota handling the planning and design of the car, and Subaru tackling the engineering challenges, the FR-S/BRZ twins carry only the best aspects of their parents’ DNA.
Lighter sports cars are better sports cars, so “Toyobaru” engineers kept a close focus on weight. However, the mandate that this sports car remain affordable limited the amount of exotic materials Subaru could use. Outside of the lightweight aluminum hood, the rest of the body is comprised of high-tensile steel. Still, this is the lightest set of twins outside of the Olsen household, with the FR-S/BRZ weighing in at hundreds of pounds less than comparable cars, including those from Porsche and Lotus.
With fewer pounds to haul around, the BRZ/FR-S can be competitive with a smaller, more efficient powerplant. Powering the “Toyobaru” is an all-new, Subaru-designed 2.0-liter flat-four (“Boxer”) engine. Rated at 200 horsepower and driving the rear wheels, this motor’s compact size allows it to be placed in a way that significantly optimizes weight distribution and transfer. Add in a low curb weight and WRX STI-sourced suspension architecture, and it’s easy to see why many are calling the FR-S/BRZ the best driver’s cars of the year.
Initial hands-on impressions say that these cars immediately react to input; steering ratios and power bands are matched perfectly to the chassis. Power delivery is predictable, its six forward gears are expertly spaced to keep the engine singing in the sweet spot, and the pedals are thoughtfully placed with perfect heel-toe downshifts in mind. Early reports say that this car is so balanced, even user error can’t upset it.
Unlike other cars in the Scion and Subaru lineups, the FR-S/BRZ combo does, fortunately, have the looks to back up the performance. Identical save for some subtle differences in the front fascia and trim, these are sleek, elegant coupes, looking more like they flowed from the passionate penwork of an Italian design studio than from Akihabara’s Gundam café. These cars are lithe and athletic. Wheels are pushed as far out to the corners as they can go, and the fenders strain and bulge to keep things contained. It’s a bold design that adds some visual heft to the cars’ actual, compact size.
Race buckets come standard in both cars. The BRZ’s seats are trimmed in leather, giving the Subaru’s cabin a more premium feel. In the Scion, premium sport fabric comes standard, making it the likely favorite of the track day set. The rear seats, though unusable by adult standards, are designed to accommodate forward-facing child seats, allowing the family man to justify buying a FR-S or BRZ over, say, a two-seat 370Z. Both Subaru and Scion are quick to tout these cars as track-day machines and gloss over the car’s golf-bag-carrying capability to instead highlight the cargo area’s ability to haul a full set of tires and tools.
Though primarily focused on performance, the Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S offer just enough practicality to make them usable and reliable day-to-day transportation. The BRZ version, apparently, is so perfect it has even caught Subaru by surprise. Already on sale in Japan, Subaru’s BRZ is outperforming initial sales projections by over 400%. Expect to see the same here, as only 6,000 Subaru BRZs are set to ship to the U.S. We are anticipating the Scion’s numbers to be similarly limited, but next month, one of these will be ours -- for a fleeting moment, at least.
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