2012 Subaru BRZ review

The Subaru BRZ is a low-slung, lightweight, rear-wheel-drive coupe. It represents the first fruits of an engineering partnership between Subaru and Toyota; marriage that also spawned the Toyota GT86.

Side by side the only differences between the two cars are to the front bumper and badges, while the two cars are mechanically identical, bar the Subaru's slightly stiffer suspension.

What's the 2012 Subaru BRZ like to drive?
Perhaps the best way to sum it up is to say that the BRZ is a bit of a rough diamond.

The engine is a 2.0-litre horizontally opposed flat-four much like the one in the legendary rally-inspired Impreza WRX.

Instead, the BRZ's engine produces a relatively modest 197bhp. That's not a lot in this day and age, but because the BRZ is also relatively light at 1239kg, that's more than enough puff to produce sub-7.0 second 0-60mph times.

Of course, you'll need to rev it until it's about to explode to produce these kind of figures. That's because the engine is very flat below 4000rpm; you find yourself working it for all its worth before grabbing another gear from the short-throw gearshift and spearing the accelerator back against the floor.

Due to its marginally firmer suspension, the Subaru feels slightly less at ease over lumps and bumps at low speeds than the GT86, but it also feels that little bit sharper as speeds build.

Get it flowing down a country road and it changes direction smoothly and accurately, thanks to its low centre of gravity and slick steering.

Turn the traction control off and let rip with the accelerator and the BRZ goes from being neutrally balanced to extremely tail-happy.

More tellingly, the BRZ's firmer suspension does impact on comfort, but it also gives a slight handling edge, which is more in keeping with the brief of a sports coupe.

Courtesy: whatcar.com