Subaru BRZ Reviews

Many still believe it's also the case with cars - drive from the rear and change direction through the front, weighed down by the power plant.

Subaru launched sales of the BRZ here solely online, but improved supply from the Japanese factory means the sports coupe is now being retailed through dealers.

Subaru's BRZ has been a huge hit with enthusiast drivers who no doubt revel in the classic front engine/rear wheel drive layout, razor sharp dynamics and stunning style.They've chalked up 1000 sales of BRZ in the 18 months since it arrived probably the entire Aussie allocation. But to give more sizzle to the sporty Soob and keep the BRZ front of mind with the right people, Subaru has introduced a Sports Pack priced at $7995 for the manual BRZ, less for the auto, that adds a swag of goodies to enhance the cars looks and feel. Not the performance though.DESIGNYou get trick STi branded black alloys, black body aero spoilers all the way around and a rear diffuser, lowered springs, quicker gear change mechanism on the manual, push button start and a strut bar. It makes a stand out car stand out even more but thankfully is not over the top. Everything else about BRZ remains the same.ENGINE AND TRANSMISSIONThere's a reasonable amount of go from the 2.0-litre naturally aspirated boxer four,  rated at 147kW/205Nm - for general traffic driving under about 4000rpm but nothing to really light you up anywhere else. Rev it out to the 7000rpm plus redline and it goes OK, makes more noise but...Where's the turbo?DRIVINGThe point we would make right now is that it needs more herbs from under the bonnet. The car doesn't have the performance required, nay, commanded by its looks. Any half decent hatchback would stay on the BRZ's tail in a straight line. Not around the corners though.We would spend the eight grand on a decent turbo installation and leave the car stock. It's already well ahead of the pack dynamically in standard spec'. We had a good old drive of the beast, commuting, highway cruising and corner carving. Needless to say, everything gels during the latter except for the fact that you have to keep the right foot planted and the engine percolating about five grand plus to make it sing.It has the same kilowatt output as the old Nissan 200SX but less torque and is slower. An 200SX would give the Soob a really hard time on the straights and around the corners, even an old one and especially if it had a helical limited slip diff'. But the Soob is flavour of the month together with Toyota's equivalent 86.The Sport's suspension is pretty hard for everyday use too though that could be because we are getting soft in old age. There's no lumbar support adjustment that causes curvature of the spine on a longish drive. The engine/exhaust note is a mere wuffle. The front apron hangs up easily on driveways or parking buffers. And we would point a finger at the lack of satnav in a sports coupe costing $45,150. There … we are ready for the hate mail, but it's all true.VERDICTThey look the ‘biz’ and we reckon the Sooby goes a bit better because they pick all the 00 tolerances from the components department. They do after all make both cars.Subaru BRZ S 2.0-litre two-door coupePrice: from $45,145 (manual), $46,925 (automatic)Engine: 2.0 litre four cylinder, 147kW/205NmTransmission: 6-speed manual or automatic, RWDKerb weight: 1256 kg (manual), 1278 kg (automatic)Turning circle: 10.8 m kerb to kerbFuel tank capacity: 50 litres0-100 km/h: 7.6 seconds (manual) 8.2 seconds (automatic)Thirst: 7.8L/100km CO2 181g/km (manual), 7.1L/100km 164g/km (automatic)Wheels: 17-inch alloys

Subaru Australia has brought the BRZ S pack Down Under to further enhance its stunningly successful new sports coupe. As soon as the announcement of the local availability of the pack was known we put up our hands to spend a week road testing one.It arrived in Subaru WRX Blue and has spent a lot of time being fanged around some of the special roads in our local area. All the BRZ S pack components are made by Subaru Tecnica International (STI), Subaru’s performance arm.STYLINGThe Subaru BRZ S has lowered suspension that’s visually enhanced with a body kit consisting of a front spoiler, a rear diffuser and side skirts. The 17-inch black alloy wheels are an STI design and tie in neatly with the lower-body add-ons. A boot mounted spoiler adds to the tough look.Inside, the cabin is enhanced by a gear lever with a Duracon knob on manual boxes; the engine gains a push-button start with the large button done in brilliant red.The BRZ S pack isn’t only available to new-car buyers, owners of existing BRZs can have a sports pack retrofitted. Subaru Australia says the installation should be done by an authorised Subaru dealer.VALUEDriveaway prices for the Subaru BRZ S are $45,145 (manual) and $46,925 (automatic). The extra price over the non-s models is $7195, including fitment, for the automatic BRZ, and $7995 for the manual, meaning the S pack is pretty well priced when you consider the serious engineering effort put in by STI and the high quality of materials in a very Subaru manner.Subaru BRZ S pack models that are ordered online at the same time as a new BRZ and fitted prior to delivery to the customer are covered by the normal three-year/unlimited kilometre factory warranty. Items bought after the car’s delivery come with a two-year factory warranty if fitted by an authorised Subaru retailer.ENGINEPower for the BRZ comes from an all-new 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated flat-four engine that puts out 147kW of power at 7000 rpm, and 205Nm of torque at 6600 revs. Though 147kW is nothing to be sneezed at in a car like this, the engine feels much stronger than the numbers suggest. That’s partly due to the highly responsive nature of the engine and the fact that it’s willing to nudge the redline without the slightest of fuss.The great throaty sound of the Subaru boxer engine when you get stuck into the pedal on the right - something that we did at every opportunity during our review period - is a joy to the ears of those who like their cars to sound exciting.DRIVINGHandling is even sharper than in the standard BRZ, not only due to the lowered suspension and centre of gravity, but also because extra stiffness is added to the body by way of a tower-strut brace.The steering is nicely weighted and sends just the right amount of feedback to the driver. Road grip is excellent and the modified BRZ is more than happy to change direction mid corner. The low centre of gravity and fore-and-aft balance certainly make this a true sports coupe.The ride of the standard BRZ is quite firm in a true sporting manner. Interestingly, it doesn’t really seem to have deteriorated in the S pack car. This is a real tribute to the guys at STI and means the S can be used as an everyday driver even if your commuting trips do take in some rough and ready Aussie backroads.VERDICTIn a couple of words - we love it.Subaru BRZ S 2.0-litre two-door coupePrice: from $45,145 (manual), $46,925 (automatic)Engine: 2.0 litre four cylinder, 147kW/205NmTransmission: 6-speed manual or automatic, RWDKerb weight: 1256 kg (manual), 1278 kg (automatic)Turning circle: 10.8 m kerb to kerbFuel tank capacity: 50 litres0-100 km/h: 7.6 seconds (manual) 8.2 seconds (automatic)Thirst: 7.8L/100km CO2 181g/km (manual), 7.1L/100km 164g/km (automatic)Wheels: 17-inch alloys

Twenty years from now, the carscape will be vastly different. Electric cars will be commonplace, hybrids will be universal and the Aussie V8 muscle car will be a page in history.But a handful of 2013 cars will have survived the turmoil to attain classic status just as the Ford Falcon GTHO from the 1960s is considered even more desirable today than it was when it first hit the road. Classic cars are not necessarily about horsepower or price.We know a collector who loves the humble, bumbling Morris 1100 in his multi-car garage. The first Toyota Prius is a car to keep because of its place in history. The original Mazda MX-5 from 1989 is just as “classic'' as certain Porsche 911s. The key to classic status is simple: Emotion.A car does a job in the same way as a fridge but it's much more than a machine, from the shape of its bodywork to the touch-and-feel pieces in the cabin and the way it makes you feel when you're driving. The attachment could take the form of the love you feel for a first car, even a humble '50s Beetle, or the satisfaction of finally parking a dream machine -- even a Leyland P76 -- in the garage.Classic cars don't have to be affordable on day one, because depreciation hits everything. Not enough, perhaps, to make the LaFerrari more than a dream but it could help with a Porsche 911 or an Audi R8 that's definitely desirable despite the showroom sticker.Which current cars will achieve classic status? If we really knew, the Carsguide crew would be putting them up on blocks today as investments for the future. But here are some likely suspects:Abarth 695 TributoPrice: from $69,990Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder, 132kW/230NmTransmission: 5-speed sequential auto, FWDThirst: 6.5L/100Km, CO2 151g/kmThe Italian baby is outrageously expensive but this humble Fiat 500 has been touched with the Ferrari wand, which makes it special. It looks wicked and is a hoot to drive. Just plain fun.Holden Commodore SS-VPrice: about $50,000Engine: 6.0-litre 8-cylinder, 270kW/ 530NmTransmission: 6-speed manual or auto, RWDThirst: 12.2L/100Km, CO2 288g/kmThe last in the long line of truly home grown Holdens will soon be one to enjoy, thanks to improved efficiency and an Audi-style luxury cabin. The SS-V and HSV's coming F Series cars will be historic and performance icons.Range Rover EvoquePrice: from $51,495Engine: 2.2-litre 4-cylinder, 110kW/380NmTransmission: 6-speed manual or auto, FWD or 4WDThirst: 4.9L/100Km, CO2 129g/kmThis one is a fashion item, not an SUV. The Evoque is all about the looks, a lot like a Mini, but it is also a great drive and we know the all-paw drive examples will go almost anywhere.Nissan GT-RPrice: from $172,000Engine: 3.8-litre 6-cylinder, 404kW/628NmTransmission: 6-speed auto, 4WDThirst: 11.7L/100Km, CO2 278g/kmGodzilla is already a collector's car, thanks to earlier models tied to the GT-R that won the Bathurst 1000. The new model is a better car, and still great value, but collectors will need to find one that hasn't been battered and abused.Volkswagen Golf GTIPrice: from $40,490Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder, 155kW/280NmTransmission: 6-speed manual or auto, FWDThirst: 7.7L/100Km, CO2 180g/kmThe German pocket rocket is a top drive and the coming model, using the Golf Mk7 body, promises to be even better. The GTI has been a cult car since the '70s and truly great since the 2005 Mark 5.Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86Price: from $37,150/$29,990Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder, 147kW/205NmTransmission: 6-speed manual or auto, RWDThirst: 7.8L/100Km, CO2 181g/kmPeople who love cars have fallen for the Twins, the sports cars that won Carsguide's 2012 Car of the Year. There is a waiting list for both and the keen are paying more than the showroom sticker, because they deliver exactly what they promise at a great price. Pushed, we'd go for the BRZ in Subaru's signature blue.

The Subaru BRZ is the type of car we haven't really had for almost 30 years. Back in the 70s and early 80s, you could buy several two-door rear-drive coupes from Europe and Japan and set about getting cheap thrills.But 15 years ago, the only coupe option left open to you was an over-priced Celica or trying-very-hard-but-not-quite-getting-there Hyundai Coupe, neither of which were rear-wheel drive. The coupe got fatter then disappeared, the Celica simply died.And so the BRZ, along with its Toyota 86 twin, has become one of the most hyped cars on the planet.VALUEThe Subaru BRZ comes in a single spec 2.0 litre boxer engine to which you can add trim and transmission options. The starting price for a basic, cloth trim BRZ is $37,150 drive away -- and you can only buy the car online via Subaru's website. The automatic transmission adds $2000 taking the price to $39,150.Standard fare includes dual-zone climate control, a six-speaker stereo -- from a Corolla -- with USB input, dodgy windscreen-mounted Bluetooth unit and the genuine admiration of other road users who will photograph your car while you're driving it. A big hello to the fellow with the camera phone in the R34 Skyline who nearly killed me trying to do just that.On the outside is a handsome set of 17-in alloys that look bigger than they really are because the BRZ is so low-slung. The headlights are Xenon and there's a set of daytime running lights set low in the bumper. All paint colours are included in the price, including the surprisingly fetching WR Blue Mica of our test car.The Premium Pack is a $1500 option and adds leather to the bolsters of the seats and Alcantara inserts. The Alcantara is marginally more grippy and is nicer than the better-breathing cloth, but we're talking small percentages here. The seats also gain heating via two toggle switches on the centre console.Among the short options list is an $1800 (!) sat-nav with 7-inch touch screen, a $220 fake carbon finish for the dashboard to replace the matt silver plastic (recommended), front and rear park assist and camera at $306, $612 and $470 respectively (the camera requires the sat-nav) and some less-than-tasteful exterior styling add-ons.RIVALSAs for the competition, there isn't really anything apart from the Toyota GT 86. The 86 range kicks off with the $29,990 manual GT. The automatic GT loses the manual's limited slip diff, which is madness unless you are just interested in looks.The base GT has solid rear brakes, skinnier 205 section tyres on 16-inch rims, halogen headlamps, and air-con and a more basic instrument set. The GTS betters the BRZ's specification adding sat-nav but also weighs slightly more owing to the better equipment level.In contrast to the BRZ, you'll need to add a cheeky $400 for metallic paint – a bit sly as there's just one non-metallic colour, the lurid Fuji Red.Further afield and the price shoots skyward - Mazda's MX-5, the closest philosophical competitor, now costs a sobering $47,280 plus on roads and is even less practical than the 2+2 BRZ. The Nissan 370Z, which is really in another league with a raucous six-cylinder, nudges $70,000.Below the BRZ's price range is the front-wheel drive Kia Koup, but it is quite obviously based on a hatchback and can't get anywhere near the BRZ's driving appeal. Also from Korea is the Hyundai Veloster, but front-wheel drive also rules it out if you're after rear-borne propulsion.DESIGNThe BRZ is low, sleek and is hard to pick from a distance from the Toyota. On closer inspection, the exterior trim pieces are more restrained, with a simple chromed blade where the door meets the front quarter panel, a gaping air intake at the front and a less shouty colour palette. The BRZ looks a little more grown-up, in keeping with Subaru's overall brand character. It is refreshingly devoid of the aggressive plastic cladding Subarus are sprouting at an alarming rate.Inside is very basic. The plastics are mostly of good quality but the two-piece trim panel that spans the dash doesn't quite fit together and the steering column cowl is scratchy.The standard silver dash is annoying in sunlight as it flashes back in your eyes a bit when the sun is low. The black panel option will cure that, but isn't particularly stylish.The seats are fantastically grippy but not so uncomfortable for slightly larger folk. You sit very low in the BRZ, so low you can easily reach the ground with your hand when seated, which bodes well for the handling but less so for access.Entry and exit requires a little planning if you are to maintain decorum and a couple of female passengers complained of the process being a little unladylike at their first attempt.While it's easy to reach the ground, it's a long reach back to the pillar-mounted seat belt. There's a thoughtful snap-fastened strap on the shoulder of the seat that is meant to keep the belt from returning all the way, but as soon as you grab the belt it comes undone and is about as useful as your appendix.The instrument cluster is dominated by the tachometer which is redlined at 7000rpm and has a digital screen set into it. Which is just as well, because the small analogue speedometer is comically crowded -- numbered to 260, rendering it unreadable.  Happily, the tacho's digital screen displays your speed in large orange numbers, saving you from many, many speeding fines.A secondary LCD strip screen displays basic trip computer functions and also which gear you're in. You can watch that display for handy hints on when to shift up when you're on an economy drive.For when you're really going for it, there's a red shift light in the centre of the speedo, but it's out of your eyeline when you're watching where you're going.The Premium Pack's leather and Alcantara is nice enough and is complemented by red stitching. There's even a leather covered pad on the central tunnel right where you brace yourself with your knee while driving.There's plenty of cost-cutting in there, though. The steering column has a blank plug for an ignition barrel, the seat release to get in and out of the back is a flimsy cloth strap and the seats don't slide forward or return to their starting position.In the car's defence, putting people in the back seat of the BRZ is tantamount to a war crime, so it's probably just as well.The stereo is an obviously cheap unit from a Corolla and, while this is nit-picking, has a green backlight while the rest of the dash is orange.Supremely irritating is the Bluetooth, a black barnacle with three buttons in the upper right-hand corner of the windscreen. The larger button is to answer the incoming call and the only concession to convenience is that the stereo is muted when the call comes in.No screen, no caller ID, nothing. The cheap stereo can be easily replaced, however, so while you're at it, change the Bluetooth.TECHNOLOGYThe BRZ is powered by Subaru's fabled flat-four "boxer" engine. With direct injection, the engine produces 147kW and 205Nm of torque. The horizontal layout of the cylinders means the moving mass is kept low, resulting in the bonnet being barely higher than your knees.Power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual or automatic and is apportioned by a torque-sensing, or Torsen, limited-slip differential. Internet chatterers will tell you this is a calamity of hideous proportions and the makers should have used another type of LSD. But don't listen -- they're being utterly ridiculous.SAFETYThe BRZ's safety features run to the usual pair of front and side airbags, with curtain airbags down either side and a driver's knee airbag. Vehicle dynamic and stability control is also standard, as is ABS. The BRZ also has slightly larger brakes than the 86. The Subaru scored five ANCAP stars for crash safety.DRIVINGDriving is what this car is all about. While it's quite happy doing the daily duties as a commuter car, there's nothing the BRZ likes more than a seriously bendy road. The driver will think the same, too.Given its comparatively low output of 147kW and a more meagre-than-usual 205Nm of torque, the boxer has to be mercilessly revved to wring out straight line performance. You'll quickly realise this is a waste of time.What Subaru has achieved with the BRZ is an almost perfect balance of attributes - the 215 tyres are neither too big or too small, meaning the grip level is just right.The engine's relative meekness means that you will never light the rear tyres up unless you really, really mean to. The torque means you won't slingshot out of one corner and have to stand on the brakes for the next one.The steering is beautifully weighted and communicative, achieving an almost unassisted, uncorrupted feel, letting you know where the tyres are on the road and what the surface is like.It's a trick many other manufacturers have completely failed to master and one only Mazda has been doing -- with the MX-5 -- for any prolonged period of time.You’ll hear the BRZ is a poor man’s sports car, but that’s wrong... it’s not a poor man’s anything. It’s a proper sports car. And unlike many other cars on the road today, there's no slack, you're in charge. The clutch bites strongly rather than somewhere during the travel you'll never quite master. You steering changes the direction of the car straight away and there's almost no play.It's all about the braking, the change in direction, the response from the throttle. You drive with the balls of your feet and your wrists, and it's quite delicate. It's what Gordon Murray, the fabled F1 and McLaren F1 road car designer calls "transient performance."In a way, it's like the original Mini Cooper S or Peugeot 205 GTi - you don't have to brake hard for corners, you just brush the pedal to shift the weight forward.You can build up the lateral Gs and enjoy that boy-racer feeling without fearing for your licence between the bends. Making the most of what you've got rather than letting technology dictate the parameters of your experience.The engine responds almost instantly to a flex of the toe rather than a Microsoft-style "are you sure you want more revs?"Even more incredibly, the ride is exceptionally good for a car of this type - taut, but never hard, it also manages never to bottom out.The best thing is, you don't need a track to enjoy it, because you're having fun on normal roads at perfectly safe speeds. This is the sort of car that teaches you the basics - braking, turn-in, acceleration. You can experiment, find better ways to drive your favourite road.VERDICTThe BRZ is obviously not for everybody. Many will buy it because of the hype and not get what they expected. Some might be disappointed by the lowly spec level and skip it altogether. But you don't have to care about low centre of gravity, limited slip differential or transient performance to like it. The Subaru BRZ is just a terrific car, even if you never take it for a back road thrash.This is pure 70s sports car fun without all the mechanical dramas those cars came with -- and without all the complexity and high running and purchasing costs of a contemporary one.Subaru BRZPrice: $37,150 (man) $39,730 (auto)Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl petrol 147kW/205NmTransmission: 6-speed man or auto; RWDWarranty: 3 years/unlimited kmSafety: 5 star ANCAPDimensions: 4.2m (l); 1.8M (w); 1.2M (h)Weight: 1216kg (man); 1238KG (auto)Thirst: 7.8L/100km 181g/co2 km (man); 7.1Ll, 164g (auto)Spare: 17-inch

Sports cars should only come with manual gearboxes. Or should they? After driving Subaru's BRZ two-door coupe last weekend with a six-speed automatic transmission I believe there is a place for an auto that also can be shifted manually.You can still have fun changing up and down using the paddle levers behind the steering wheel or the gear stick while also having the added advantage of full automation when stuck in the grind of commuting.Purists won't have a bar of autos, particularly in performance cars, but even Ferrari and Porsche are heading towards autos only. Soon the manual gearbox will be a thing of the past. Many modern autos change a lot faster than the driver can manually shift. Some autos are quicker than the manual and more economical too. It makes the manual seem redundant.I loved the Toyota 86 GTS manual and now I love its twin, the BRZ auto. Sales are hampered by supply. Last month Subaru shifted 105, against the 86's 608 units, the class leader Hyundai Veloster on 302 (4107 last year) and Mercedes Benz's C-Class Coupe of 176 (2336 in 2012). Last year just 200 BRZs found homes versus the 86's 2047.So the BRZ is more exclusive and more elusive but the company has managed to secure another 140 models for delivery this and next month.VALUEThe review car was $39,730 drive away with leather and heated seats.All BRZs get cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, USB input, seven airbags (dual front, dual side, side curtain and a driver's knee airbag) and stability control, LED daytime running lights, aluminium pedals, keyless entry with push button start, dual-zone airconditioning, 17-inch alloy wheels with Michelin tyres and DataDots, which identify components and make them less attractive to thieves.DESIGNInside the BRZ is disappointing. There's too much plastic. The silver strip across the dash was cheap and nasty, like someone had been at work with a spray can. But the red stitching is classy while Subaru's coloured badge in the steering wheel livens the look. The orange illumination lifts the mood but the green-lit radio clashes badly.The digital speedo is great because the speedo markings are too small. Head room is OK and the driving position is low so you get the sports car feeling. Storage is light but there's a handy slot for smartphones in the centre console, something other makers should take note of. Usually I have to leave my phone in a drink holder. The boot is shallow, only useful for soft weekend-away bags. Rear vision is hampered by the slender windows.TECHNOLOGYThe engine is more Subaru than Toyota, yet both companies had an input. Subaru provided the basic 2.0-litre four-cylinder Boxer horizontally opposed layout (essentially a 180-degree V) while Toyota added direct injection for better efficiency and more power.The result is 147kW. While there are many more powerful family sedans, few weigh as little as 1.2 tonnes. That's where it delights. At times it feels like more power would be welcome, but the engine revs cleanly and builds steadily into a frenzied crescendo as it approaches the 7500rpm cutout.Peak torque is a modest 205Nm and produced very high at 6600rpm, so its best work is about 5000-6000rpm. But even at 2000 or 3000rpm it'll pull relatively well, which makes for relaxed motoring around town. Fuel economy isn't great. I managed 10.5L/100km, nowhere near the claimed 7.1L/100km for the auto. Also bear in mind that the BRZ requires costlier 98-octane premium unleaded fuel.SAFETYThere are five stability control settings that allow the traction control (to stop wheelspin) and stability control (to stop skids and slides) to be turned off and to different levels independently.DRIVINGInitially it feels lethargic until the revs spool and it takes off, whipping around to the red line. It's at higher speeds or on the open road where the performance feels more modest but if you're prepared to rev it harder, it's feisty. I love the way the six-speed auto exaggerates downshifts when calling on all kilowatts.The BRZ is a lot of fun. It's light and nimble and points accurately at a corner with the sort of steering precision and feedback that's at the top of the sports car game. It has high grip levels and it hangs on tenaciously through the twisty stuff. With 53 per cent of the weight over its nose and the remaining 47 per cent over the rear the BRZ feels beautifully balanced through corners.Go into fast and the front wheels will scrub wide, while if you're too aggressive on the throttle in a slow corner the stability control will kick in to settle things down. It can easily oversteer and drift, but not viciously. In the right environment the BRZ will reward when driven surprisingly hard, hunkering down through corners and allowing the driver to have some fun with its balance.Push hard or on a low-grip surface and the tail will let loose in a relatively controlled way, allowing a slide for those who feel confident. It was a marvel up the Gillies Range where I was able to string together many corners smoothly and confidently without being hampered by slower drivers.It was a similar story over the road between Walkamin and Oaky Creek Farms, just a lack of power dampening quick times. A trade-off is the firm ride, more noticeable at lower speeds where it can be testing on poor surfaces, but it's relatively compliant and controlled given the excellent dynamics. Tyre noise is rowdy.Late in the weekend I discovered the sport button, which allows the engine to rev fully to the red line, after my drive to the Tableland and back so I had another blat to revel in its sportiness again.DECIDINGThe BRZ is engaging and agile with great steering and generally good brakes, although they were fading after a couple of hard runs. The ride is firm as expected, there's heaps of grip and good performance. Boy racers will want more but I feel it will upset the almost perfect balance of the car.The auto is a good combination for lazy drivers around town and for a whole lot of fun on winding and twisty roads. The interior is a mix of good and bad with some interior parts looking cheap, especially that awful silver strip across the dash.The Subaru two door is thirsty for its size and requires expensive 98-octane premium unleaded. There's a sporty note piped into the cabin. I quite like it, others don't. There's no rear windscreen wiper which will be a bummer in our wet.VERDICTThe BRZ is a car which puts a huge smile on the dial without breaking the bank account. Just having to wait for one may sour the experience.Subaru BRZBody: Two-door sports carPrice: $39,730 drive awayEngine: 2.0-litre boxer fourPower: 147kW @ 7000rpmTorque: 205Nm @ 6400-6600rpmTransmission: Six-speed automatic, rear-wheel drivePerformance: 0-100km/h in 8.2s, top speed 210km/h (limited)Fuel consumption: 7.1L/100km, (10.5L on test) premium unleaded,50 litresCO2 emissions: 164g/kmDimensions: Length 4240mm, width 1775mm, height 1285mm, wheelbase 2570mm, tracks 1520/1540mm front/rearWarranty: Three years/unlimited km

It’s not often that the entire Australian motoring media agrees on the merits of a particular vehicle but such has been the case with the new Subaru BRZ. This exciting and affordable two-door coupe has gained rave reviews from just about everyone who’s driven it, although sadly very few members of the public, and so potential buyers, have had that opportunity and won’t have for some time.VALUEHigh global demand meant that barely BRZ 200 models made it to Australia. Of these around 50 were allocated to dealers as demonstrators meaning that demand was always going to heavily outweigh supply and all available cars were sold in just over three hours when they went on sale in July this year.BRZ is built at Subaru’s Ota plant in Japan as a joint venture with the company’s part-owner, Toyota, and it competes directly against its identical twin, the Toyota 86.The division of labour between the two companies makes a lot of sense with Toyota looking after the product planning and styling while Subaru in charge of its engineering development and production.With so few cars available Subaru adopted the unusual strategy of selling the BRZ exclusively over the internet and with national driveaway pricing – $37,150 for the manual and $39,730 for the automatic. While the entry-level Toyota 86 GT manual is priced at $29,990 that’s before on-road costs and with lower equipment levels than the Subaru so an apples-with-apples comparison brings the two models closer together in price.Standard equipment includes cruise control, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear lever, push-button start and stop, sports seats, front and rear foglights and power folding side mirrors.Those that were lucky enough to purchase a BRZ will soon be able to dress it up with a range of performance parts and accessories that were shown with an STI concept car at the Sydney motor show and which will be on sale progressively from November.These parts include front, side and boot lip spoilers, 17-inch alloy wheels, sports muffler, push start switch, instrument panel trim, black wheel nuts, rear under diffuser and flexible tower bar.TECHNOLOGYThe BRZ breaks new ground for Subaru in that it has rear-wheel drive – all its other Australian models have all-wheel drive.Power for the BRZ comes from an all-new 2.0-litre horizontally-opposed petrol engine that generates 147 kW of power at 7000 rpm and 205 Nm of torque at 6600 revs. We’ve always loved the throaty sound of the Subaru ‘boxer’ engine and so were quite happy to sit and enjoy this aural prelude before setting out on our test drive.SAFETYEquipment levels are high with standard safety equipment that includes dual front, side and curtain airbags, ABS brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Control and a retractor brake pedal. It comes with a five-star ANCAP rating.DESIGNThe Subaru coupe certainly looks the part with its low-slung styling and short overhangs. The front is dominated by a large, hexagonal grille with sweeping headlights and the rear is tall and square with an additional brake light positioned between twin large tail pipes.Too often otherwise enjoyable driving cars are spoilt by cramped interior space but although it’s necessary to hunker down into the driver’s seat, once settled in the seat is firm but comfortable and there’s plenty of leg and headroom.Although there are four seats the rear pair are basically there for emergency use rather than for long-distance travel. The boot is quite small although the rear seatbacks do fold flat for extra storage space. Surprisingly for a car where space is at a premium BRZ comes with a full-size spare wheel.Weight minimisation is paramount with performance cars and the BRZ’s combination of high tensile steel in the body and aluminium bonnet and wheels has kept its weight down to 1256 kg (manual) and 1278 kg (automatic).DRIVINGAs expected in a car of this type, the ride is firm with plenty of feel for the road yet comfortable enough for an extended trip. Steering is precise and direct with excellent driver feedback.Both the six-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmissions were specifically developed for the BRZ. Our test car had the manual, a delightful short-throw unit which is fast and smooth and just asks to be used frequently.VERDICTWe’ve left the bad news until last because, despite ongoing pleading with Subaru’s head office decision makers, the worldwide popularity of the BRZ means that there could be a wait for up to a year before the next shipload arrives in Australia.Subaru BRZPrice: from $37,150 (manual) to $39,730 (automatic)Warranty: 3 yearsEngine: 2.0-litre horizontal four-cylinder petrol, 147kW/205NmTransmission: six-speed manual or automatic, rear-wheel driveThirst: 7.8L/100Km, 181 g/km CO2

In what may be a first, the Subaru BRZ sportscar can only be ordered online. Residents in the classiest suburbs of Toronto, Canada, got an unusual postcard recently. It featured their house with a new Porsche 911 in the drive.Not a dodgy bit of Photoshop, but a real picture taken by an advertising team that immediately turned it into a piece of highly personalised direct mail. The world's first instant direct mail, according to the agency.Although the operation was conducted from the back of a suspicious-looking white van and risked an encounter with over-zealous security, it was clearly a success.One-third of recipients booked themselves in for a 911 test drive with Pfaff Auto and the whole exercise was made into a video. Now this idea clearly has limitations but it's surprising no one has done it before. SOLD OUT ONLINEIt's not as though the technology is new. It's the same with the internet. Turns out ordering online works for books and all that stuff we used to buy from Gerry Harvey, but we're still reticent when it comes to new cars.Instead, we scour the web for reviews and specifications, and play with configurators. Then we head into showrooms to scare salespeople senseless by knowing more than they do. Examples of car-makers moving the entire transaction online are rare.So Subaru Australia, with its new BRZ sportscar, is a pioneer. When it went on sale in July, everything was handled via a special web program. All you needed was a credit card. Spokesman Dave Rowley believes it may be unique. “We did a search and the only place we found anything remotely similar was a dealer group in the UK selling one Ford model online,'' he says.Subaru decided to try it out when it realised that supply of the BRZ would be limited to just 201 for the rest of the year. That's fewer than two cars for each of its dealers, an impossible equation. Toyota, which launched its version here in June, has been bowled over by demand. The problem is even more acute for Subaru, with the Japanese factory making just one BRZ for every seven 86s.“We knew we were going to be extremely limited by supply because of worldwide demand for the car,” Rowley says. “Everywhere it's been launched it's been a huge hit. We knew we weren't going to have enough cars. We thought, how can we be fair to the entire network and customers? That's where the idea came from.”Subaru commissioned a local firm to write the online software. Rowley says Subaru was happy with the way it worked, although when it went live the site was overloaded. “There were some glitches because website traffic peaked at 50 times normal. But within a few hours it was working very smoothly. The average time to complete the contract process was 20 minutes.”Feedback has been positive, he says, and age was no bar to using the technology with at least one septuagenarian elbowing aside the gen Ys. Dealers are excluded from the order process but clip the ticket if nominated as the delivery venue. Some have even been lucky enough to get demonstrators, but the car has sold on its reputation.“It went absolutely through the roof and they have been steadily selling since,” Rowley says. The order bank now extends to March and the locals are sending begging letters to Japan.VALUESubaru kept it simple with limited options and one national driveaway price from $37,150, ironing out the state tax and insurance regimes. Three-years scheduled servicing is included, there's a facility for valuing trade-ins and an estimated delivery date.The options are limited: apart from a spare wheel cover you can add carpets, satnav and boot spoiler. Tick everything and you'll spend about $44k. And you'll need to buy a cover, for $175.TECHNOLOGYThe BRZ is an unusual Subaru because unlike every other Subaru sold here it lacks all-wheel drive, which has been a key point of difference for the brand. In traditional sportscar fashion it's rear-drive and the result of a joint development project with Toyota, which owns a stake in Subaru.The Toyota is called 86 and the two are virtually identical. They share compact dimensions, a Subaru flat four-cylinder engine with direct injection, modest mass and a reputation as a they-don't-build-'em-like-that-any-more enthusiast's sportscar.DESIGNIf you're in the queue, then I hardly need to spell out the BRZ's vital statistics. For everyone else, it's every bit as good as the 86. In fact, it's hard to tell them apart. From the outside little separates the twins, although the BRZ has different front and rear clips and the one I drove had terrific 17-inch alloys.Inside, some of the plastics are dud and buttons old-school. But the worst bit is the bodgy Bluetooth gizmo, a bit like the old number pad security systems fitted to WRXs. At least it works.However, the seats are good -- although even with the leather option there's more contrast stitching than leather -- and the rears fold for boot access. Cargo space is compromised by a full-size spare. So like the 86, the cabin is rudimentary but liveable.DRIVINGSome ingredients impressed differently. It was especially pleasing that the engine sounds better than I remember from the 86 -- looser and with a more appealing note. Which is odd since they're the same. It's also just as well because judging by the tyre roar, the cabin seems to lack soundproofing.The engine is more flexible than you expect, especially through the mid-range, and although it needs a few revs it's not as peaky as the output numbers suggest. As with the 86, the BRZ likes to be driven precisely and responds quickly to inputs.The slightest adjustment to the steering wheel or pedals and you feel the weight transfer slightly, as the chassis adjusts. It's light on its feet and has poise.But not all the ride comfort has been traded away. Over rough roads the bump absorption and damping would not disgrace something much more expensive. Subaru won't say if it will try online selling again. But it might. However, it would never do for Porsche.In the unlikely event that I find a postcard among the junk mail from a Porsche dealer, and the even more unlikely event I have the money to spend, I'll want to touch and feel and spend a long time poring over the lengthy options catalogue. And I'm sure Porsche would not want to discourage me from that.Subaru BRZPrice: from $37,150 (manual) to $39,730 (automatic)Warranty: 3 yearsEngine: 2.0-litre horizontal four-cylinder petrol, 147kW/205NmTransmission: six-speed manual or automatic, rear-wheel driveThirst: 7.8L/100Km, 181 g/km CO2

Rarely have we seen such keen anticipation for the arrival of a new car in Australia as we have for the Toyota-Subaru joint venture sports car, the Subaru BRZ / Toyota 86.We were one of a small number of motoring journalists that were given a sneak preview of the BRZ during a trip to Japan last year and, along with many keen Australian drivers, we’ve been counting the days till it arrived here.Well that day has now come...and gone. Because of high global demand, and an 8:1 ratio of supply in favour of Toyota, only 201 models made it here.Of these around 50 were allocated to dealers as demonstrators meaning that demand was always going to heavily outweigh supply and the remaining models were never going to be on the (virtual) showroom floor - all were sold via the internet - for very long. Even allowing for a system crash caused by the unprecedented demand it took just three hours and two minutes for all to be sold.The obvious alternative for those who missed out would normally be to switch over and buy a Toyota 86 – the two cars are virtually identical. However all 1500 of them allocated to Toyota Australia have also been sold with at least another 500 on back order.VALUESubaru opted for national driveaway pricing for the BRZ with the manual selling for $37,150 and the automatic for $39,730. While the entry-level Toyota 86 GT manual is priced at $29,990 that’s before on-road costs and with lower equipment levels than the Subaru so an apples-with-apples comparison brings the two models closer together in price.We suspect that price will not be a major issue for potential buyers as they anxiously await new stock of this outstanding little car to arrive. Standard features are cruise control, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear lever, push-button start and stop, sports seats, front and rear foglights and power folding side mirrors.TECHNOLOGYBoth the six-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmissions were specifically developed for the BRW. Our test car had the manual, a delightful short-throw unit which is fast and smooth and just asks to be used frequently. The BRZ’s engine is also new, a 2.0-litre boxer with 147 kW of power at 7000 rpm and 205 Nm of torque at 6600 revs.DESIGNWhen the car was unveiled to us in Japan its styling brought universal approval and nothing has changed now that we’ve been able to view it on the open road. The front is dominated by a large, hexagonal grille with sweeping headlights trimmed with daytime running lights while the rear is tall and square with an additional brake light positioned between twin large tail pipes. Everything about it looks the part. Inside the BRZ there are four seats although rear seat legroom is very cramped, indeed it’s non-existent when the front seats are all the way back, but that’s to be expected in a car like this and is not a criticism.Boot space is reasonable although Subaru have gone with a full-size spare wheel which juts through the boot floor meaning that luggage has to sit on top of the wheel. If ever a car needed a space saver wheel this is it.SAFETYStandard safety equipment includes ABS brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Brake Assist, seven airbags, Vehicle Stability Control, ring-shaped reinforced passenger cabin, side intrusion bars and retractor brake pedal, and a five-star ANCAP rating.DRIVINGWith so few cars available there wasn’t the usual test drive component at Subaru’s recent BRZ launch in Sydney, however we were fortunate enough to have been one of a handful of journalists who were given a car to drive for a couple of days prior to the launch. And didn’t we make the most of it?You don’t need to wait for the BRZ’s 17-inch alloy wheels to start turning to enjoy this car. The enjoyment begins as soon as you turn on the ignition and hear the delightful throaty burble that’s characteristic of the Subaru ‘boxer’ engine. It’s not so loud as to disturb the neighbours but just enough to whet the appetite of the driving enthusiast.On the road the fun continues. This is a superb car to drive with almost perfect chassis balance thanks to its low centre of gravity and rear-wheel drive (Subaru had to bite the bullet there). The combination of high tensile steel in the body and aluminum bonnet and wheels has kept its weight down to 1256 kg (manual) and 1278 kg (automatic) adding to its agility. Steering is precise and direct with excellent driver feedback.VERDICTToo often in the past we’ve been disappointed when the pre-release hype for a new car fails to match reality. Not so in this case - if anything the BRZ is even better than we expected.Subaru BRZPrice: $37,150 (man) $39,730 (auto) drivewayEngine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol 147kW/205NmTransmission: 6-speed man or auto; RWDSafety: 5 star ANCAPDimensions: 4.2m (l); 1.8 (w); 1.2 (h)Weight: 1216kg (man); 1238 (auto)Thirst: 6.4l/100km 181g/co2 km (man); 5.6l, 164g (auto)Spare: 17-inch