Hotness, Subaru BRZ STi at LA Auto Show 2011 - Autoblog

[West]

With every passing auto show, the production version of the Subaru BRZ rear-wheel-drive sports coupe draws closer. Here in Los Angeles, the Japanese automaker has debuted its BRZ Concept STI – a look at what could happen if the new coupe is left in the hands of Subie's in-house performance tuning division.

Curiously, the Concept STI does without a turbocharged engine – something that's become a Subaru tradition with its performance cars. Instead, the direct-injected 2.0-liter Boxer four has been left unchanged. Never fear, though – STI has added a full smattering of performance bits to the BRZ, including a more aggressively tuned suspension setup, Brembo brakes, and lightweight materials (a carbon fiber roof and wheels, specifically) to reduce overall weight.

Other modifications include a new front fascia with a revised splitter, and while Subaru hasn't really been known to build pretty cars, the appearance of this BRZ concept is really growing on us. Check it out for yourself in the attached high-res image gallery.

[ForRealSomeday]

HOLY CRAP! I want this car. I will pay $30k USD for this car in a heartbeat.

[ProZach626]

Makes the FRS look ugly! I would buy this without the wing, depending on what extra performance it's packing, if any.

[silentheart]

I am ordering one if the engine is tuned with higher torq.
Holy Batman!

[ej25ti]

love itttttt
minus the gay vents on the rear bumper and that atrocious side vent
but looks so hawt, and will handle so well with the low center of gravity
brembos nice

praise the subaru Gods!

ps. some drilled rotors would be nice for once!

[Cal]

Take the wing off and I'd be walking out of the stealership tomorrow.

[gr8]

love itttttt
minus the gay vents on the rear bumper and that atrocious side vent
but looks so hawt, and will handle so well with the low center of gravity
brembos nice

praise the subaru Gods!

ps. some drilled rotors would be nice for once!

The vents and wing may be gay, but are hella functional. Love the aero work, especially the front splitter. I think these are all the pluses that should come with an sti.

[HyperFX]

Finally something to touch & feel when we attend the auto shows. I wish they would keep the rear bumper red fog lights for the North American markets.

[G4BROKE]

Take the wing off and I'd be walking out of the stealership tomorrow.

I'm still surprised Cal, you just seem to hate Wings. Must of been an incident somewhere in time. I'm not a fan of wings, in general, but sometimes, though it may NOT look it, it does actually do a job or more so. I do not like the idea of putting a wing on to sell, or impress, it ought to really work.

I only have a spoiler, but I have vortex degenerator on it - to remove the dirt off my back window after these..cars washes. Been tested and so, and it works. Someone that puts something like such on a car that is not functioning..WELL, that's just Stupid...and we all just call it RICE....unfortunately.

Cheers...

[modifiedMR]

HOLY CRAP! I want this car. I will pay $30k USD for this car in a heartbeat.

I call this weak. I wouldn't pay much over the regular brz. Splitters are not expensive, rota's are cheap (lol), brembo's ain't going to stop it much better (it's light enough that regular wrx brakes wouldn't fade in time attack!) and the aggressive suspension isn't that expensive either. All could be had for ~4k max, minus the brakes with more actual performance than this!

No power and they slap an STI badge on it? STI is a nameplate on this, not like the wrx. This is total BS! Only good part is the CF roof. I knew this was going to happen.

No turbo, no legend. I'm willing to bet, a standard BRZ with MINOR mods will out perform this car. Exhaust, intake, (possible reflash tune?), good tires, performance brake pads, brake fluid and a set of koni's with a Eibach prokit would do the trick. All of what? $2,500? Lame!!!

This is like a celica with an "action" package and some brembo's. Come on now ya'll, I can't believe that ya'll would settle for this?

[ej25ti]

I call this weak. I wouldn't pay much over the regular brz. Splitters are not expensive, rota's are cheap (lol), brembo's ain't going to stop it much better (it's light enough that regular wrx brakes wouldn't fade in time attack!) and the aggressive suspension isn't that expensive either. All could be had for ~4k max, minus the brakes with more actual performance than this!

No power and they slap an STI badge on it? STI is a nameplate on this, not like the wrx. This is total BS! Only good part is the CF roof. I knew this was going to happen.

No turbo, no legend. I'm willing to bet, a standard BRZ with MINOR mods will out perform this car. Exhaust, intake, (possible reflash tune?), good tires, performance brake pads, brake fluid and a set of koni's with a Eibach prokit would do the trick. All of what? $2,500? Lame!!!

This is like a celica with an "action" package and some brembo's. Come on now ya'll, I can't believe that ya'll would settle for this?

wait did they say there were no power gains??


and suspension mods add up quick
wheels are still expensive to me, but i would take my stock bbs' over rotas any day
the difference in price between trannies on my sti vs a wrx are almost the entire price difference of the two cars
in the end i dont think the price differences are not worth it, i'll be waiting for the STI
though we dont know what the actual difference are going to be until both cars are released

[modifiedMR]

wait did they say there were no power gains??

and suspension mods add up quick
wheels are still expensive to me, but i would take my stock bbs' over rotas any day
the difference in price between trannies on my sti vs a wrx are almost the entire price difference of the two cars
in the end i dont think the price differences are not worth it, i'll be waiting for the STI
though we dont know what the actual difference are going to be until both cars are released

"Curiously, the Concept STI does without a turbocharged engine – something that's become a Subaru tradition with its performance cars. Instead, the direct-injected 2.0-liter Boxer four has been left unchanged."

Sways $300
Springs $250
Koni's $500
BBS's are nice, but the difference in 4 lbs per wheel doesn't justify 3x the price, IMO. $1200 rims for me are more than enough (5zigen, etc). $500 per rim wheels are too high, IMO. I work with metal all day and we make MUCH higher precision stuff than rims for much better deals.

The tranny might be the aisin from the Lexus IS, which holds substantial amount of torque (both v6's). We'll see about that.

Having "high speed stability" Aero on this car at that power level is laughable. A lucky to be 14.5 second car with lots of downforce???

EVERY car enthusiast in the f'n world is waiting for the STI BRZ TURBO bomb to drop. Turns out to be just a stink bomb.

[silentheart]

I stopped by Subie midwest office (yes, it is in Itasca, IL) this morning and asked about the STi concept car in LA.
1) It is from regular BRZ body. So I am pretty sure the production BRZ will look pretty close to this minus the chicken wing and some body kit.
2) It is just a concept car. Relax.
3) The STi will have more power and torq with ECM change. No specific number. (I am guessing may be another 20hp with 15ft-lb increase. I know, not a lot for the extra ~$4k or $5k.)
4) STi will have this blue color. As usual.

Please note, this is from regional office. Not a lot they know or can tell.

[Turbowned]

I'm getting excited about this car, finally! It looks less gawdy than the Scion version, which I definitely like. I hope the SPT/STi catalog is just as comprehensive as the TRD catalog is looking to be. I imagine it will be, considering Subaru largely engineered the chassis and drivetrain.

Time to start saving my pennies! Since they likely won't come out with a turbocharged variant right off the bat, I'll have to save up for a wrecked WRX STi when the warranty expires so I can swap the engine over!

[ej25ti]

i dont think it's official
i wouldnt be surprised if there were power gains when it actually comes out

[Cal]

I'm still surprised Cal, you just seem to hate Wings. Must of been an incident somewhere in time. I'm not a fan of wings, in general, but sometimes, though it may NOT look it, it does actually do a job or more so. I do not like the idea of putting a wing on to sell, or impress, it ought to really work.

I only have a spoiler, but I have vortex degenerator on it - to remove the dirt off my back window after these..cars washes. Been tested and so, and it works. Someone that puts something like such on a car that is not functioning..WELL, that's just Stupid...and we all just call it RICE....unfortunately.

Cheers...

I hate over exaggerated wings or GT style wings.

Love it




Yes please



Getting to be a little much

[modifiedMR]

If the wing does not site near the height of the roof, it doesn't do very much for downforce. I like it. The mid high ones block your view.

Without MAJOR engine modifications to the NA fa STI engine, I don't think we'll see more than 240 hp if that. Then you are stuck with a super efficient NA STI that you can't make anymore power from. I'm still pissed!

I've said this before. No turbo = no fun. You can't get an NA 4 cylinder to be badass, unless it's in a chassis like the Elise. Even the Elise would be better with an EJ25 turbo, 200 lbs and a little longer to make it fit. 305 hp and 2200 lbs would be insane for a stock car even at 50k price tag. It would probably run 11's! Hell, even adding 300 lbs wouldn't hurt.

[ej25ti]

those wheels look like more of a bitch to clean than my current sti wheels, and those suck

[Jakeg97]

Now that is nice looking car

[Snoopyalien24]

I shoped them in Silver, Red, Blue, Black, and White right HERE

[G4BROKE]

Get what your saying there Cal.
I like well designed wings on a car that functions. Sure, the FRS is a little agressive but also look at the front of the car. Agressiveness should be around the car too, not just in one area. In the FRS case they did a very decent job, perhaps they had to make it a bit bigger to function, who knows. I would like to test it when I get one, one day.

[Nellen]

If the wing does not site near the height of the roof, it doesn't do very much for downforce.

I don't agree. It's often true, but not in this case (I think). Here, the wing is almost perfectly positioned and oriented to intercept the air stream and stick the car on the ground, considering the aerodynamism of the car (that seems damn good, by the way).

Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think so. It would be very interesting to see a wind tunnel test

But you're right when you say it will block the view (only partially though). But I think i can handle that