Subaru is getting ready to welcome a new rear-wheel drive hero to Australia.
Online expressions of interest for the 2022 Subaru BRZ are now open ahead of the car’s arrival Down Under late in 2021.
“The level of dealer enquiry and calls to our own customer service centre indicates massive interest among sports car fans and we look forward to sharing more details closer to launch,” said Subaru Australia general manager, Blair Read.
Stock of the outgoing BRZ is now extremely limited; Subaru says just 50 cars are available.
The 2022 BRZ has already been revealed in the USA, while its Toyota twin was unveiled for Japan.
It’s longer and lower than the first-generation car, and the interior has been given a makeover.
As for the engine? Gone is the 2.0-litre engine from the outgoing BRZ, replaced by a 2.4-litre unit with 170kW of power and 249Nm of torque.
Peak torque comes on tap at just 3700rpm – just before the last engine fell off a cliff – while peak power doesn’t arrive until 7000rpm.
It’s still a four-cylinder, still horizontally-opposed, and still naturally-aspirated.
Six-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmissions will be offered.
Pricing and specification details haven’t been revealed. The current BRZ is priced between $38,520 before on-roads and $46,680 before on-roads.
The BRZ will be joined by a new WRX late in 2021, and the Levorg wagon will be repositioned locally with a stronger performance focus, as Subaru Australia gives its halo cars a much-needed overhaul.
Given the WRX has combined turbocharged, four-cylinder boxer power with rally-inspired all-wheel drive since the badge’s creation in 1992, it isn’t a stretch to expect the same basic layout in the 2022 model.
The current WRX produces 197kW of power and 350Nm of torque in standard guise, with the STI amping that up to 221kW of power and 407Nm of torque.
Both models come with a six-speed manual transmission as standard, though the regular WRX has an optional continuously-variable transmission.
BestCarWeb reports the new generation Subaru WRX will go on sale in Japan in August.
The long-awaited fifth-generation of the nameplate is expected to migrate to the Subaru Global Platform underpinning the current Impreza, XV and Levorg, as well as the sixth-generation Outback.
It will reportedly upgrade to a version of the turbocharged 2.4-litre flat-four offered in the North American Ascent SUV.
While the Ascent produces 190kW of power and 376Nm of torque, the WRX’s application of the 2.4-litre will reportedly pump out upwards of 213kW.
The Levorg bound for Australia is expected to share some of its DNA with the new WRX.
