Subaru BRZ turbo likely coming as 2014 model

A turbocharged Subaru BRZ has made sense from the very beginning, and now it looks like the more powerful two-door coupe will be getting a turbo for the 2014 model. We reported here back in May that Subaru has already developed the first supercharged version of the 2.0-liter FA-series four-cylinder naturally aspirated engine that is currently used in the BRZ, Scion FR-S and Toyota GT 86. The Japanese automaker has put the turbocharged powerplant into the recently updated Japanese-market Legacy sedan and Outback wagon.

Subaru is listening to their customers

A recent report from Automotive News is saying that the new turbo engine will also be used in the 2014 Subaru BRZ. This isn’t a surprise because from the very start, Subaru has been flooded with requests from media and customers for them to come out with a more powerful version of the popular two-door coupe. Global Subaru marketing manager Atoshi Atake, was recently quoted as saying, "We have already had many requests from interested customers regarding a faster version. Let me say this, we will certainly satisfy our customers. We are already working on a faster version."

The current 2.0-liter boxer engine develops a satisfactory 200 horsepower and 151 lb ft of torque which is fine for most auto enthusiasts. But for those who know what kind of performance Subaru is capable of producing, it’s just not satisfactory for a rear-drive sports car like the BRZ. And Subaru is listening to their customers.

BRZ turbo will have considerable power upgrades

Initial reports said the new turbo engine developed for the Japanese-market Legacy would develop an impressive 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. When the final BRZ turbo arrives, it could be around 280 horsepower and 250 lb ft of torque according to Automotive News. Either way, it is a significant jump from the current naturally aspirated 2013 BRZ. That engine uses a direct injection system that was jointly developed with Toyota for use on the Scion FR-S and Toyota GT 86. But the new BRZ will use in-house Subaru technology.

The Subaru turbocharged 2.0-liter engine will use the current boxer engine with a twin-scroll turbocharger and straight direct-injection that will increase combustion efficiency resulting in both higher engine output and better fuel efficiency. Subaru needed to address fuel-efficiency with the turbo engine and it looks like they have the right combination of performance and fuel economy. Part of the issue with developing a turbocharged BRZ was the task of of fitting the additional hardware around the exhaust of the low-slung boxer engine. Engine placement is vital in the BRZ as it has a low center of gravity which is ideal for a rear-drive sports car.

Additional BRZ turbo upgrades

As well as developing more power, the higher-performance turbocharged BRZ will likely weigh even less than the 2,755 lb. standard car. The new BRX turbo could get lighter racing bucket seats and potentially a carbon fiber roof and hood. Other performance tweaks may include a new bodykit, stiffened and lowered suspension, larger 18-inch alloy wheels and upgrades to the brakes for additional stopping power. 

We will likely see this new turbocharged Subaru engine in the next two years in the next generation WRX, replacing the current 2.5-liter turbo in the WRX and STI. That engine could be tuned to produce more than 300 horsepower for the WRX STI high performance model. The 2014 Subaru BRZ turbo could also be a called BRZ STI, but that hasn’t been confirmed yet.

Source: Automotive News