First official Subaru BRZ images

Subaru BZR

After months and months of teasers and spy shots, Subaru has released the first official images of its BRZ coupe

Subaru has been teasing us with its BRZ coupe for ages. A couple of teaser pictures here and there and spy shots are all we’ve had, but now the Japanese firm has released the first official pictures of the car.

Sibling to the Toyota FT-86, more and more information about which is being leaked every day, the Subaru BRZ boasts an incredibly low centre of gravity and that should make it a handling gem. This is in part thanks to its rear-wheel-drive layout, which allows for lower mounting of the two-liter boxer mill than Subaru’s usual all-wheel-drive systems can accommodate.

Subaru BZR

Although many mechanicals are shared between the BRZ and the FT-86, including the four-cylinder engine, Subaru’s coupé will be more powerful. A differently programmed ECU will give it in the region of 200kW.

While this is still technically a concept, it’s close enough to the real thing (which will be unveiled in Los Angeles soon) to take seriously. The absolute final production model will be shown in Tokyo shortly thereafter.

The Subaru has a boxier rear end than its Toyota counterpart and a few other styling differences set it apart. The taillights are more aggressive on the Subaru, as are the taillights. Both are of a more flowing design on the Toyota. Most notable, perhaps, is that Subaru indicates its intent with a quad exhaust set-up as compared to the Toyota’s dual system.

But what’s Subaru going to use to keep us on tenterhooks now that it’s unveiled its BRZ? Well there could be a roadster version in the works, so I guess we’ll have to start our waiting all over again.