2013 Subaru BRZ Limited First Test
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| 2013 Subaru BRZ Limited |
Bachelorhood
is what you want, but far from what you need when driving this "downright reasonable" Subaru BRZ,
according to Ron Kiino a member of Motor Trend's road test team. This new
sensation may cramp your legs or knees, but it sure won't mangle your
wallet. The redesigned Subaru provides an exceptionally affordable sports
car, for the young at heart.
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| BRZ side view |
Why a bachelor? Well, there is one lurking dilemma.
Kiino says it best, the "tiny back seat [is] barely befitting a
pair of shih tzus." The back seat is small. The BRZ is downright
tiny, to be more specific. This sporty Subaru may fit a family’s budget
with "a mortgage and the kid's college fund" it sure won't fit more
than you, your wife, and a pair of toddlers squeezed into the back.
According to Ron, "family and this small 2+2 Subaru go together like
Porsche and pickup." Just keep that in mind.
The perk to this Japanese
made sports car is the dramatically low price. With the
"Limited" price not a far off, only $2000 of additions
to the base Premium, which; "adds leather/Alcantara upholstery,
dual-zone automatic climate control, heated seats, fog lamps, a rear spoiler,
and push-button start with key-less entry." The BRZ stacks up with
the 4.4-inch-taller Honda Civic Si with
nearly as much front headroom and enough cargo room with the "...rear
seats folded to swallow a toolbox, a helmet, and a full set of wheels/tires."
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| BRZ rear |
Now down to the
specs. You need to know what you're dealing with. This speedster
strays from the mainstream Subaru, getting its push from behind. Yes, the
BRZ is RWD not your typical AWD standard Subaru used to fly. The
company's long-running tag line, "The
Beauty of All-Wheel Drive," was selected previously but was correctly
replaced with "Confidence in Motion." And that is what this
2013 BRZ Limited optimizes in, "Confidence in Motion."
According to Motor Trend Magazine the BRZ pops 0-60 mph in a solid 6.4
seconds. It runs the quarter mile in 14.9 seconds at 95.5 mph.
This is
all good information but let's do some comparison with another sports car in
its class. The 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition hardtop is a worthy
opponent weighing in at 160 pounds lighter than the BRZ. When examining
the weight-to-power ratio the "Subaru's... ratio of 13.7 pounds per pony
betters the Mazda's 15.5." This pays off in the acceleration game (0-60 mph.),
scooting ahead of the Miata with .1 seconds to spare. According to Ron
the "BRZ treats the driver to all the MX-5's chassis greatness..."
The team points out; that in terms of dynamics "the BRZ
resides with the Porsche Cayman... as Subaru points out, has a
slightly higher center of gravity..."
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| BRZ takeoff |
So I know you must be
saying, how? Well Toyota and Subaru partnered up to engineer and redesign
the BRZ coupe. From accumulated ideas/designs
from previous speedsters designed by Subaru; they created a car that
was "demonstrating the potential of the boxer," Riino says.
With a "4.7-inch-shorter height, a 2.6-inch-lower intake manifold, a
0.7-inch-lower exhaust manifold, and reversed intake plumbing that allows it to
sit 9.4 inches rearward."
These changes ultimately
created a low 18.1-inch Cg (center of gravity), and a low hood, roof, and
seating position. According to Motor Trend "in light of Impreza,
BRZ's hip point is 4.9 inches closer to the ground." This improves visibility and heightens feel – all
components of any superb sports car.
For the
money, with its "grin-getting" straight-line quickness, 22/30 mpg
city/highway fuel economy, safety features, pleasing cabin, and chassis
response this is one of Subaru's most creative creations yet.
Defiantly "a force to be reckoned with." Of course
it show faults, but for "unadulterated" driving the BRZ hits one
home.
