Why Subaru and Toyota won’t axe the global BRZ two-door sports coupe

The 2015 Subaru BRZ is making its debut at the Taipei Motor Show from July 4-7 in the capital of Taiwan. The global BRZ is at the 2014 Taipei Motor Show that opened Friday at Nangang Exhibition Hall. Subaru brought the new 2015 BRZ along with the new-generation WRX STI for performance fans. At the Subaru booth during the show, fans could get an exclusive 15 percent off on all Subaru merchandise. Why will Subaru keep producing the global BRZ?

There have been reports that Subaru will axe the BRZ and it will be a one-generation car. But the BRZ two-door sports coupe is a global car that is sold in Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, UK, U.S., Australia, Canada, Europe, Russia and South Africa. Even though sales of the rear-drive coupe are somewhat slower here in the U.S., they are selling the sports coupe all over the globe to sports fans.

Will BRZ be limited to one generation?

It’s been reported that Toyota’s partnership with BMW to build a new sports car will limit the BRZ to a single generation. But that partnership with BMW will enable them to build a Toyota supercar. This supercar won’t take away sales from the affordable BRZ/GT86/FR-S sports car. The Toyota BMW partnership will be a way for Akio Toyoda to bring a true supercar to the Toyota lineup. This new sports car will cost many thousands of dollars more than the BRZ.

Toyota won’t pull the plug on BRZ/GT86/FR-S

The Subaru BRZ isn’t going to be a one and done car for the brand. The sports coupe that is sold under the Toyota GT86 badge in most of the world, and Scion FR-S brand here in the U.S. is selling well around the globe. It’s a global car with a global connection with sports enthusiasts. It’s the most affordable sports car in the world and Toyota won’t pull the plug on it. Toyota owns a 16.5 percent stake in Subaru and won’t risk hurting that relationship.

Toyota needs BMW for a future supercar plus more

When the announcement was made in Munich two years ago, the two auto giants Toyota and BMW, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that would form a long-term strategic collaboration in four fields: joint development of a fuel cell system, joint development of architecture and components for a future sports vehicle, collaboration on powertrain electrification and joint research and development on lightweight technologies.

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2015 Subaru BRZ
Chris Elek Subaru BRZ Images

BMW needs Toyota’s hybrid and fuel-cell technology to further their goals, but Akio Toyoda needs BMW’s performance know-how to develop the kind of cars that will transform his company from being known for building the Toyota Camry, to a company that will be known for its high-performance sports cars. Toyota will build another sports car in addition to the BRZ/GT86/FR-S.

Subaru and Toyota aren’t going to pull the plug on the successful two-door rear-drive sports coupe. The 2015 Subaru BRZ arrives at the Taipei Motor Show this weekend, and it's a global car that’s going to stay around for a long time.

Other 2015 Subaru BRZ stories of interest.
Three things that make the 2015 Subaru BRZ a special sports car