Subaru boss says a series production BRZ STI is coming
When Subaru Tecnica International (STI) unveiled the BRZ STI Concept at the 2015 New York International Auto Show, it was the global launch of the STI brand and signaled new STI models were coming. At the Tokyo Motor Show this week, STI launched a new 2016 WRX STI S207 for the Japan market and STI’s boss spoke with Motoring.com.au about future plans for Subaru’s motorsport division.
Subaru Tecnica International (STI) President, Yoshio Hirakawa told Motoring.com.au he wants to see more stand alone STIs and says a Subaru BRZ STI is in their plans. Hirakawa told them, “It’s my dream to make STI a global brand” and more vehicles like a BRZ STI are the key to making it happen.
The Subaru lineup currently has only one series production STI product, the popular 2016 WRX STI performance sedan. BRZ fans have been asking for a more powerful sports coupe since its launch in 2012 and it could be getting closer to becoming reality. Don’t count on a turbo BRZ just yet.
At the Tokyo Motor Show, Hirakawa told Motoring.com.au the number of stand alone Subaru STI models could triple in the next year and that four models could be coming soon. One of those models is likely a BRZ STI performance coupe. Hirakawa “controversially” confirmed STI engineers are working on potential advanced technology that could make a BRZ STI a reality.
Subaru has always been a conservative company and they won’t produce a BRZ that will change the crash test scores. BRZ is an IIHS top safety pick and that’s very important to the brand as safety is one of their core values they won’t compromise. Hirakawa says until now, Subaru has ruled out a turbocharged version of the BRZ sports coupe because of turbo, intercooler and crash test incompatibilities.
What could be coming is a new electrically powered turbocharger that is “one option to overcome these challenges” that STI is looking at for the BRZ says Hirakawa. Subaru stated at the 2015 New York International Auto Show that more STI models were coming and it looks like a series production BRZ STI will be coming soon. Stay tuned.
Media source: Motoring.com.au
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