Well executed, affordable sports cars are few and far between these days, with Subaru’s BRZ being much-loved amongst purists. It’s compact, lightweight, nicely finished inside (for the money), adequately…

Subaru’s BRZ gets ground-up redesign plus more power for 2022

2022 Subaru BRZ
Subaru has completely redesigned its sporty BRZ for 2022, with more dramatic styling and quicker performance.

Well executed, affordable sports cars are few and far between these days, with Subaru’s BRZ being much-loved amongst purists. It’s compact, lightweight, nicely finished inside (for the money), adequately powered and fabulous through the corners, therefore the BRZ has been a performance enthusiasts’ go-to alternative since arriving on the scene nine years ago, at least for those choosing not to purchase the import sector’s best-selling Mazda MX-5, or a Fiat 124 Spider (that shares the latter car’s underpinnings), an entry-level Nissan 370Z, or of course, Toyota’s near-identical 86 (née Scion FR-S).

After no shortage of rumours that both the BRZ and 86 would get the axe after the first-generation cars ran their course, lo and behold an all-new second generation of Subaru’s version was unveiled online earlier this month, and at first glance it just might offer the right mix of ingredients to give the previously-noted MX-5 a run for its money.

2022 Subaru BRZ
There’s no mistaking the new BRZ for anything but Subaru’s low-slung sports car, other than possibly Toyota’s renewed 86 when it eventually debuts.

Most immediately noticeable is a fresh new look that tosses aside the old car’s simpler, sporty elegance for arguably more aggressive character traits. Many of the new BRZ’s design cues pay homage to the one it replaces, such as the general shape of its front fascia, long hood line, fender bulges, arcing greenhouse, and short rear deck lid, but a great deal has changed too, and while some of its updated details could be arbitrarily, and possibly unfairly attributed to other sport coupes that have come before, on the whole its appearance stands out amongst its peers.

In an automotive world that seems to be augmenting front grilles beyond reason, Subaru chose a welcome reduction in grille size for the 2022 BRZ, or at least it looks smaller now that the bumper is more cleanly integrated within the design instead of topping off the outgoing model’s central opening. Air vents are once again housed to each side, but they now look larger and more pronounced. On the contrary, the simpler headlamp design doesn’t appear as wide, narrow and eye-like when seen from the front.

2022 Subaru BRZ
The BRZ’s narrow, animal eye-like headlamps have been replaced by these seemingly more upright lenses.

More side creases and new front fender ducts that pay respect to those found on Subaru’s own ultimate performer, the WRX STI, embellish the BRZ’s flanks, while the aforementioned fender swells and sweptback rear glass now culminate into an integrated ducktail-like deck lid spoiler that sits above the new three-piece combination taillight’s narrow, centre strip for a totally new look from behind. It doesn’t hurt that the license plate cutout has been moved much farther down the rear fascia, this causing the need to carve some space out of the more organically shaped rear diffuser that continues to house twin exhaust ports as well as a centre-mounted reflector and backup lamps, although Subaru has squared the latter lighting elements off compared to the older model’s angular design.

2022 Subaru BRZ
Performance gets a big boost from a new 228 hp four-cylinder.

Those hoping for WRX STI levels of grunt under the new BRZ’s lovely long hood can begin their sob session now, as Subie’s new sports car won’t see a turbo attached to its 2.4-litre horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine, at least not yet. It’s a bigger mill than the 268-horsepower base WRX’ turbocharged 2.0-litre four, incidentally, albeit 100 cubic centimeters smaller than the WRX STI’s 310-hp lump.

In fact, this 2.4-litre engine is a naturally aspirated version of the engine first introduced in Subaru’s Ascent SUV and now optional in the Legacy and Outback, so there’s always potential for the Japanese brand (or someone with tuning skills) to push its performance up to the three-row family crossover’s heights of 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. Nevertheless, those wanting more power from the new off-the-rack BRZ can at least be satisfied that its stock powerplant produces 23 more horsepower and 28 additional lb-ft of torque than the outgoing model, the new specs being 228 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, so it should be a lot more fun to drive.

2022 Subaru BRZ
The rear design is shows a significant styling shift from the current model.

Another BRZ strongpoint was Subaru’s ability to maintain the car’s light curb weight, which only increases by a scant 7.7 kilos (17 lbs). It now hits the scales at 1,277 kg (2,815 lbs), even though it has grown from end to end by 25 mm (1 in) to 4,265 mm (167.9 in), and has a 5-mm (0.2-in) longer 2,575-mm (101.4-in) wheelbase.

At least as positive, the new BRZ’s Subaru Global Platform-sourced body structure is an impressive 50-percent stiffer than the outgoing model. Key areas of strengthening include “a reinforced chassis mounting system, sub-frame architecture and other connection points,” stated Subaru in their press release. What’s more, the car’s front lateral bending rigidity has been increased by 60 percent, which is claimed to “improve turn-in and response.”

2022 Subaru BRZ
The only curving element of the dash design, other than the corner vents and various dials, is the hood that covers the primary instruments.

The BRZ’s general suspension layout remains unchanged, however, including its front struts and double-wishbone rear design, but Subaru has reportedly made plenty of updates, while its standard 17-inch and optional 18-inch alloy wheels will be shod with 215/45R17 and 215/40R18 tires respectively.

Most BRZ buyers will probably choose the standard six-speed manual gearbox that carries forward from the previous car. It once again features a short-throw shifter, while a six-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel paddle shifters and downshift rev-matching continues forward into the 2022 model as well. Also staying the same, all BRZ trims will receive a standard limited-slip differential.

2022 Subaru BRZ
The new gauge cluster features seven inches of colour display screen and some pretty snazzy graphics.

New BRZ owners will be able to see those revs spinning from an all-new gauge cluster incorporating a large 7.0-inch digital display, while a new 8.0-inch centre touchscreen will house standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration along with the usual array of infotainment and convenience features.

The larger centre touchscreen is housed within a new centre stack that boasts a larger more modern trio of HVAC dials above a fresher row of silver toggle switches, while those familiar with the old car’s arcing centre air vent module and rounded outer dash top sections will be greeted by a new more linear instrument panel design overall. Circular side vents are still included, albeit now infused with a propellor-style design featuring a control knob in the middle instead of the previous conventional flap system. Additional changes go even further to differentiate the second-gen BRZ from the first, all of which should be more appealing to sports car buyers.

2022 Subaru BRZ
Subaru’s familiar (and very good) infotainment interface fills the eight-inch centre touchscreen.

Prospective customers in mind, the brutal truth (that Subaru would probably rather not have mentioned) are sales numbers, which as of 2019 (let’s not use 2020’s as they’re totally out of whack) were just 647 units for the entire year. While that will sound like peanuts when compared to Subaru’s top-selling Crosstrek that found 15,184 new owners last year (up 4.4 percent), it wasn’t actually all that bad when factoring in more than 7 percent in year-over-year growth and, even better, 348 more sales than Toyota’s 86 (Ouch! Toyota 86 sales were down more than 52 percent last year). The BRZ sold 147 more units than the 300Z too (its sales down 28.5 percent), and actually came very close to unseating the MX-5’s rather lacklustre 774-unit total (and it’s sales were up almost 26 percent from 2019, when these two models almost tied for popularity).

2022 Subaru BRZ
The BRZ’s six-speed manual and six-speed auto continue forward into the new 2022 model.

The big winners in this category are American muscle cars, however, notably Chevy’s Camaro with 2,220 sales (albeit down nearly 18 percent), the Dodge Challenger with 2,341 deliveries (up by almost 3 percent), and Ford’s Mustang with 7,628 units sold (down a hair over 5 percent). Interestingly, Volkswagen delivered 2,910 examples of its now discontinued Beetle last year, thanks to a staggering 40-percent upsurge in YoY growth.

Yes, it’s bizarre to contemplate why VW would cancel such a comparatively successful sports car when Subaru is renewing one that regularly sells at about one-quarter the rate in both Canada and the U.S., but the Japanese brand obviously believes the sportier side of its mostly practical lineup needs an image car, despite the more formidable WRX STI still being its performance flagship.

2022 Subaru BRZ
Once again, the BRZ’s seats look comfortable and totally supportive.

We’re not at all upset about this news, of course, being that Subaru’s BRZ and its Toyota 86 cousin are true sports cars that already were revered amongst enthusiasts long before the 2022 updates will arrive sometime next year, and on that latter note stay tuned to these pages for a similar overview of the incoming 2022 86 when Toyota drops the details.

All said, we’re not expecting a big price increase despite the improvements, but then again, it’s highly unlikely you’ll be able to get up to $2,500 in additional incentives on the 2022 when it hits Subaru retailers next year, at least not initially. Check out CarCostCanada’s 2020 Subaru BRZ Canada Prices page for more information, and while you’re at it, find out how their inexpensive program can save you thousands off your next car purchase, via timely information about manufacturer rebates, financing and leasing deals, and dealer invoice pricing that will really help when it comes time for you to negotiate your deal.

Also, make sure to download the free CarCostCanada app from the Google Play Store or Apple Store, which provides all of this helpful, money-saving information exactly when you need it most, at the dealership.

Before signing off, make sure to check out the massive 2022 Subaru BRZ photo gallery above, as well as the videos Subaru provided below.

The 2022 Subaru BRZ Global Reveal (5:54):

The 2022 Subaru BRZ. Sports Car Purity, Subaru DNA (2:11):

Scott Speed Test Drives All-New 2022 Subaru BRZ (4:33):

Story credit: Trevor Hofmann

Photo credits: Subaru

Can you just imagine future Subaru Outback ads? Subaru versus the mountain goat, only once the all-electric Outback is up on top of the mountain it will need to plug into a diesel generator in order to…

Subaru announces plans to go 100 percent electric by the mid-2030s

2020 Subaru Ascent
The Ascent, introduced last year, will likely receive a hybrid powertrain in the near future. (Photo: Subaru)

Can you just imagine future Subaru Outback ads? Subaru versus the mountain goat, only once the all-electric Outback is up on top of the mountain it will need to plug into a diesel generator in order to get back down. Advantage goat.

The oft-heard term, “Get woke, go broke” comes to mind when a niche automaker like Subaru announces plans to toss away its most notable brand identity trait, the horizontally opposed “boxer” engine, in order to appease the green crowd and align with some global governments’ impending regulations to eventually ban internal combustion engines.

At a time when the current U.S. administration is loosening new vehicle emissions restrictions, the European Union, China and other markets are tightening them, on vehicles at least (Europe will soon be celebrating new fossil fuel pipelines from Russia and China is seemingly building coal-fired power plants—to fuel said electric cars—faster than anyone can count).

2020 Subaru Crosstrek
The Crosstrek will probably be one of the first Subaru models to receive the brand’s new hybrid powertrain, because it already has an ownership base ready to trade up from. (Photo: Subaru)

It makes sense that Subaru would want to continue being able to sell into these markets after internal combustion engines are banned, and therefore is planning to electrify its lineup. The process will begin with the introduction of a hybrid-electric drivetrain powering key models, its source for hybrid technology coming from Toyota, which owns 16.5-percent of Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI), Subaru’s parent company. The short-lived 2014-2016 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid was this union’s first project, but it didn’t find enough marketplace interest to remain viable.

2020 Subaru Forester
The Forester would be ideal for a hybrid powertrain, as it could go up against the compact SUV segment’s top-selling RAV4 Hybrid. (Photo: Subaru)

Currently important to those in charge of Subaru is the retention of its distinctive brand character traits, which have long included the aforementioned horizontally opposed engine configuration, as well as standard all-wheel drive for most of its models (the Toyota co-developed BRZ sports car only comes with rear-wheel drive). The previous Crosstrek Hybrid, for instance, used Toyota’s hybrid technologies together with Subaru’s 2.0-litre boxer engine, thus making it perform and sound just like other models wearing the idiosyncratic alternative brand’s six-starred blue-oval badge. What Subaru doesn’t want is simple badge engineering, like Toyota has done many times (including the Subaru-powered albeit co-developed Scion FR-S/Toyota 86, the Mazda2-based Yaris Sedan, etcetera), as the niche automaker would run the risk of diluting its very unique brand image.

2020 Subaru Impreza
An Impreza hybrid could go up against the new Toyota Corolla Hybrid and Honda’s Insight. (Photo: Subaru)

“Although we’re using Toyota technology, we want to make hybrids that are distinctly Subaru,” said the brand’s chief technology officer, Tetsuo Onuki, to Reuters news agency. “It’s not only about reducing CO2 emissions. We need to further improve vehicle safety and the performance of our all-wheel drive.” 

While Onuki made a point of mentioning that all-wheel drive will continue to be an important differentiator with future Subaru models, the inclusion of AWD is becoming more commonplace amongst its competitors. Both Nissan and Mazda recently introduced redesigned passenger cars with optional AWD (Nissan’s Altima makes AWD standard in Canada), and while Subaru’s trademarked “Symmetrical AWD” is considered by many to provide better traction than most rival AWD systems, whether or not its even delivery of power can be achieved as effectively when hooked up to a solely electric power unit will remain to be seen. As it is, plenty of electric vehicles now offer AWD, so Subaru’s current traction advantage may not be as novel in 15 years time, making it just another brand when its current crop of boxer engines are no longer available.

2020 Subaru Legacy
The Legacy was recently redesigned, but we’ll have to wait and see if the mid-size sedan segment improves sales before guessing whether or not we’ll see a hybrid version in the near future. (Photo: Subaru)

EVs in mind, Subaru and Toyota are currently co-developing an electric powertrain, which will result in at least one electric vehicle apiece at some undefined point this decade, with additional models expected. Subaru claims that hybrid- and pure electric-powered models will represent at least 40 percent of its annual global production by 2030, with all hybrids discontinued within another half decade or so.

Ten years is a long time in the automotive sector, let alone any consumer vertical, and much can happen in battery technology development, the introduction and/or development of alternative fuels, car/ride sharing development, etcetera, not to mention geopolitical developments (not all of which may be positive) that could easily force changes to Subaru’s plans.

2020 Subaru Outback
The Outback was redesigned for 2020, and would be ideal for hybrid conversion. (Photo: Subaru)

The win-win for Subaru is garnering green accolades now without much action initially being taken, making its owners feel as if their brand of choice is righteously marching toward utopia within a decade and a half, but the reality is an ultimate target that’s so far off into the future that it represents little if no real commitment, other than the likelihood of a new hybrid model or two within the next couple of years, plus at least one EV.

Notably, Subaru isn’t alone in making such all-electric future plans, with General Motors (in 2018) having pitched a U.S. national environmental program designed to motivate all automakers to transform at least 25 percent of their lineups to zero-emissions vehicles; Ford stepping up with an $11.5-billion spending program to result in more than a dozen new hybrids and EVs by 2022; Toyota (as part of its Environmental Challenge 2050 program) vowing to reduce vehicle life-cycle emissions by 25 percent or more by 2030, while targeting 2050 for the elimination of all carbon emissions; Mercedes-Benz claiming that half of its non-commercial passenger car lineup will be electric by 2030, plus full carbon neutrality will arrive within the next two decades.

2020 Subaru WRX
What would an electric WRX drive like? Or maybe a hybrid drivetrain? The prospects are interesting to contemplate. (Photo: Subaru)

Volvo might be the world’s most progressive automaker thanks to its promise to make half of its passenger cars wholly electric by 2025, that each cars’ life-cycle carbon footprint will be reduced by 40 percent by the same year, that the carbon output of its entire global operations (including suppliers) will be reduced by 25 percent by 2025 as well, and lastly with a plan to use a minimum of 25-percent recycled materials in its vehicle production when that same year arrives.

While some may chalk up the majority of these plans as politically correct grandstanding, we all can feel confident that Subaru is currently selling the Greatest Outback Of All Time (G.O.O.A.T.), with the term “all time” likely including its Outback EV of the future.

2020 Subaru BRZ
Will the brilliant BRZ sports car still be around in 10 or 15 years? We doubt it, but Subaru might have an all-new electric sports car. (Photo: Subaru)

Incidentally, the Outback mid-size crossover is Subaru Canada’s third most popular model with 10,972 unit sales during calendar year 2019, behind the brand’s best-selling Crosstrek subcompact crossover SUV that found 15,184 new buyers, and Forester compact SUV with 13,059 new sales last year. Additional Subaru models include the Impreza compact sedan and hatchback with 9,065 deliveries in 2019, the Ascent mid-size three-row crossover SUV with 4,139 new buyers, the rally-inspired WRX/STI sport sedan with 2,707 new sales, the Legacy mid-size sedan with 1,752 customers last year, and the previously-noted BRZ compact sports coupe with 647 buyers during the same 12 months. Check out full pricing, including trims, packages and individual options at CarCostCanada, plus learn about available rebate info, special financing/lease rates and dealer invoice pricing that could save you thousands.

Also, make sure to check our photo gallery above for Subaru Canada’s current 2020 lineup of new models, as well as the videos below showing its humourous the new G.O.A.T. (#GOOAT) TV ad, as well as a slightly longer behind the scenes “meet the goat” backgrounder.

 

All-New 2020 Subaru Outback – #GOOAT (0:30):

 

All-New 2020 Subaru Outback – Behind-The-Goat #GOOAT (0:53):

 

Toyota’s 86 hasn’t changed much since being refreshed for 2017 as part of its Scion FR-S transformation, but it hardly needs any modification. In fact, when its many diehard fans caught wind that…

2019 Toyota 86 GT

2019 Toyota 86 GT
Toyota’s 86 is still one of the best performance car value’s around. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

Toyota’s 86 hasn’t changed much since being refreshed for 2017 as part of its Scion FR-S transformation, but it hardly needs any modification. In fact, when its many diehard fans caught wind that it might be getting axed due to ever-slowing sales, the deafening outcry caused a U.S.-market Toyota spokesperson to declare that it’s here to stay for the foreseeable future. 

“As [Toyota president] Akio Toyoda said at the reveal of the 2020 Supra, Toyota is committed to building exciting vehicles, including sports cars. The 86 has been in the Toyota family since 2013 and the plan is that it will continue to be a part of Toyota’s sports car line-up.” 

2019 Toyota 86 GT
The 86 still has beautiful lines, despite getting on in years. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

A quick look at sale numbers makes it easy to understand why many were in doubt of its future, with 2017 to 2018 calendar year-over-year deliveries down 40.2 percent in Canada, which was only outdone—to the negative—by Fiat’s 124 Spider that saw a decline of 52.7 percent, while the 86’ near identical Subaru BRZ saw its sales drop by 23.3 percent, but then again it didn’t have as far to fall. Those two models actually switched places for the first time at the close of 2018, with more Canadians choosing the BRZ than 86, the final tally being 604 for Subaru and 550 for Toyota. This last number might not seem like much when compared to the 1,825 FR-S coupes Scion sold in its first full year of 2013, but once again considering that it hasn’t changed all that much since it debuted just prior, and then factoring in that all car sales have taken a beating against the growth of crossover SUVs, the 86 is actually holding up quite well. 

2019 Toyota 86 GT
Toyota added these standard LED headlamps for its 2017 refresh. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

Incidentally, the entire front fascia was modified for 2017, and its nicely detailed LED headlamps added for a more sophisticated look. Another change saw the front fender vent elongated and the “86” insignia redesigned and placed lower on the side panel, while revised taillight lenses filled with LEDs modernized the seven-year-old model’s look. 

The interior has always been pretty nice, but the 2013, 2014 and 2015 model year FR-S examples I drove never let me inside with proximity-sensing keyless access, started via pushbutton, kept me warm via dual-zone automatic climate control, skinned their seats in leather trimmed with microsuede, or covered their primary instrument hoods and passenger-side dash sections in padded and stitched microsuede like this 2019 86, while this new model boasts other improvements as well. 

2019 Toyota 86 GT
Make sure to return for our full road test review, but until then check the photo gallery above for loads of detailed images… (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

Certainly there are some that petition Toyota for more power, but this lightweight 1,252-kilo (2,760-lb) rear-drive sports coupe makes the most of its 205 horsepower and 156 lb-ft of torque with one of the nimblest chassis’ in its price range. 

Make sure to come back for our full road test review to be reminded of why sports car enthusiasts the world over keep the Toyota 86 close to their hearts, even if fewer are anteing up with $30k of their own to take one home. We’d certainly love to keep ours for as long as Toyota would let us.

If you feel like we do, check out CarCostCanada to learn about exact pricing for each trim, package and option, plus don’t forget to check if there are any rebates, and make sure to find out about the 86’s dealer invoice pricing that will help you get the best price when negotiating with your local Toyota dealer…

Subaru Canada, Inc. (SCI) capped off calendar year 2017 with its best December on record, helping the Japanese automaker to achieve its sixth consecutive year of annual sales growth. December 2017’s…

Subaru Canada achieves six consecutive record years of sales growth

2018 Subaru Impreza
The Impreza experienced growth of 42.4 percent in 2017. (Photo: Subaru)

Subaru Canada, Inc. (SCI) capped off calendar year 2017 with its best December on record, helping the Japanese automaker to achieve its sixth consecutive year of annual sales growth.

December 2017’s total was 3,876 units for a 4.6-percent gain over the same month in 2016, pushing Subaru’s total annual deliveries to 54,570 vehicles for an 8.7-percent year-over-year sales increase when compared to 2016’s 50,190-unit tally.

2018 Subaru Crosstrek
The Crosstrek found 14.9 percent more buyers for a total of 11,168 deliveries last year. (Photo: Subaru)

“More Canadians than ever before drove Subaru’s sales with a record-setting results streak, which gave rise to Subaru’s highest sales ever,” said Yasushi Enami, chairman, president and CEO of Subaru Canada, Inc. “With our sixth consecutive annual sales record in the books, we are ready for 2018 as our strong dealer network steps forward into 2018 and we bring our best product offering yet.”

2018 Subaru WRX STI
The WRX and WRX STI collectively increased from 4,217 to 4,616 units for a 9.5-percent gain in 2017. (Photo: Subaru)

Movers and shakers included the Impreza compact four-door sedan and five-door hatchback, plus the Crosstrek subcompact crossover SUV that achieved 38.6 and 48.0 December growth respectively. The Impreza’s yearly sales were even more impressive, with growth of 42.4 percent to 10,617 units overall in 2017, while the Crosstrek found 14.9 percent more buyers for a total of 11,168 deliveries last year.

2018 Subaru Outback
The Outback crossover’s 2.1-percent year-over-year growth was more modest last year. (Photo: Subaru)

Additionally, the WRX and WRX STI performance models collectively increased from 4,217 to 4,616 units for a respectable 9.5-percent gain in 2017, while the mid-size Outback crossover’s year-over-year growth was more modest, from 11,255 to 11,490 units for a 2.1-percent upward trend. Despite its smaller numbers, BRZ sports coupe growth was a solid 6.3 percent from 740 units in 2016 to 787 last year, although it should be noted that the BRZ’s 2016 sales represented a significant drop when compared to much stronger sales in years prior.

2018 Subaru BRZ
BRZ sports coupe growth was a solid 6.3 percent from 740 units in 2016 to 787 last year. (Photo: Subaru)

Ironically in a market that predominantly favours utilities, Subaru’s best-selling Forester compact SUV was one of the only models to slip backward due to sales of 13,441 units in 2017 compared to 13,798 in 2016, this being a 2.6-percent slide, the other model losing ground year-over-year being the Legacy mid-size sedan that dropped from 3,001 units in 2016 to 2,451 deliveries last year, representing an 18.3-percent downturn.

2018 Subaru Forester
Ironically in a market that favours SUVs, Forester sales fell backward in 2017. (Photo: Subaru)

On the positive, the 2018 Legacy has received a refresh that should boost interest, while the Forester will receive a dramatic redesign later this year. Available even sooner, the all-new 2019 Ascent mid-size crossover SUV, which just made its Canadian debut at the Montreal auto show, will arrive this summer. The Ascent is Subaru’s largest-ever crossover SUV with the choice of seven- or eight-occupant seating, expanding the Japanese brand’s market reach to a much broader market than ever before. This should help Subaru continue its sales growth momentum.