Reports on the wires this morning suggest Subaru is working on a turbocharged BRZ with as much as 280hp going through its (hopefully gold) wheels. Subaru engineers are busily developing a turbocharged version of the brand’s new 2.0-liter flat-four engine. Slated to power the next-gen WRX, the mill could also find its way under the hood of the BRZ coupe.
2014 Subaru BRZ STI – Front 3/4 view
The boxer engine will feature a single twin-scroll turbocharger to help reduce lag and a direct fuel injection system that Subaru is developing on its own. Thanks to these and other internal modifications, the flat-four will make up to 280 horsepower and 250 lb-ft. of torque, a big bump over the normally-aspirated BRZ’s 200 ponies and 151 lb-ft. of twist.
while Subaru appears to be embracing the cries from auto journalists and the General public to offer the BRZ with more power, Co developer Toyota/Scion remains quite. We have previously heard that the Toyota’s TRD division was considering bolting on a supercharger however the Scion drift team is running turbo’s under the hoods of their cars so we will have to wait and see.
2014 Subaru BRZ STI – Rear 3/4 view
W would expect the STI version of the BRZ to be offered as a 2014 model and are hoping that TRD takes a different approach to so that these two cars can finally obtain their own unique personalities.
Our insiders have been telling us all along that the Subaru BRZ 2.0-liter flat four boxster engine would be receiving a turbo. Subaru and Toyota have been vehemently denying the rumor during the initial launch of the “Tokyo Triplets” who would be the Subaru BRZ, Scion FRS and Toyota GT-86 models. Yesterday we saw the first official confirmation from Subaru that what we have been reporting all along has the possibility of coming true in the year 2014.
It was announced yesterday that a turbocharged version of the BRZ’s engine will be used in the Japanese market to power the refreshed Subaru Legacy and will find its way in to the next generation Subaru WRX. The turbo FA20 engine has been reported to be output just under 300 hp and will tip the scales at a very impressive and capable 296 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. These stats are staggering as our insiders were previously suggesting that the Turbo BRZ STI would be tuned to 270 hp. Either or the current engine in the BRZ is capable of outputting a clean and even 200 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque.
Subaru’ s FA20 Turbocharged 2.0-liter Boxer Flat Four
The new turbo FA features Subaru’s own direct-injection setup, as opposed (boxer-engine pun intended) to the BRZ’s Toyota-derived direct- and port-injection heads. We think the 2013 BRZ is an extremely capable car and with its 200 hp powering the rear wheels, it is incredible well balanced and predicable. A version of the car that has an increase in power of 33% sounds like pure lunacy and we can’t wait to drive it.
Subaru BRZ STI Concept Car
Stay tuned to Car Rolodex for Toyota’s TRD division when the step up to the microphone and announce that they will in fact be bolting a supercharger on to the same engine and equipping the FRS and GT-86 with it.
To read more about the Toyota/TRD, Supercharger Rumor Click Here: http://wp.me/p1sgG3-HF
An extremely short posting today as we are in the mist of our Annual New York International Auto Show show review as we are sure you noticed yesterday was Media Day. So since we are creating a literary gem about the new Altima, Viper, F-Type, Santa Fe, RLX, ES 300h and 350 and Impala. So until then check out this cool video on the Toyota GT-86 or Scion FRS as it will be called here in North America.
Would you be interested in a convertible version of a Toyota GT-86 or the Scion FR-S here in North America? How about a Subaru BRZ that has blown its top right off? Well hold on to your hats or tops even because Toyota has announced that they will build a convertible version of at least the Toyota edition of the Tokyo Triplets.
2013 Toyota GT-86 - Imagine it with its top off
Earlier today the chief engineer of the GT-86, Tetuya Tada was Speaking with German car magazine Autobild. During that interview he confirmed that the company is working on the development of an open top model. “The GT 86 was designed from the outset to be built as a convertible,” Tada told the publication.
So look out Mazda Miata or MX-5 Toyota and possibly even Subaru has you in your sites and they are hungry to take back some market share to reassert themselfs as the number one auto market in the world.
Imagine no more - We present the 2014 Toyota GT-86 Roadster
No timeline was given on when the car was looking to be developed by but when we find out we will let you know.
Very rarely does Chris Harris miss the mark on a car which is why our excitement level has just increased 10 fold after watching his review of the Toyota GT-86. For those of us in North America the car will be known as the Scion FR-S or the Subaru BRZ however in Chris’ native Europe it will be branded as a Toyota. Even though we personally feel that the car is under powered Chris still manages to get the rear a little sideways as he runs around a track in Spain.
The video is clearly the best one yet on the newly created drive channel and is the first true review of the newest front engine rear wheel drive car coming out of Japan. Chris seems like a kid in a candy store to be able to drive the car and truly has made us think that this car is truly something to get excited about. If you have a few minutes to kill this Friday afternoon or of you come across this posting during the weekend you will have to trust us when we say it is well worth watching.
Well we have been telling you all that this car has been coming ever since the 2013 Toyota GT-86 was officially revealed last month at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. Today we can make it official as Toyota’s performance division Toyota Racing Development or TRD for short have officially launched the car at the Tokyo Auto Salon. The Tokyo Auto Salon is the largest Japanese’s aftermarket show, think of it as a SEMA type event for the land of the rising sun.
For those of us here in North America who are receiving the car as the Scion FR-S the parts will of course also bolt right on. Modifications include a new front lip and rear trunk-lid, as well as larger, wider and lighter 18-inch wheels, a brake upgrade kit, a suspension lowering and stiffening kit, and a reworked exhaust system.
2013 Toyota GT-86 TRD - New Rims and Brakes
No mention on pricing or when they will be available however we are hoping that they will be for sale when the car goes on sale later this year. Curiously there was also no mention of a supercharged engine option which makes us think that this option will be included into an entirely new model of the car.
2013 Toyota GT-86 TRD - Rear Lip spoiller and Exhaust
If you liked this article you may also find these two informative:
Yesterday a story broke about a Turbo Scion FR-S being tested at Laguna Seca Raceway in California. Now don’t get too excited as this is not a production prototype or even the testing of an aftermarket accessory kit per say. What Motor Trend stumbled on to yesterday was the Scion Drifting team testing one of their race car prototypes for the upcoming drifting season.
Scion FR-S Turbo Drift Race Car - Testing at Laguna Seca Raceway
The work on the car is being done by GReddy, who is an aftermarket products company specializing in Japanese cars. The rumor form motor Trend is that the car has been equipped with a custom turbocharged power plant, which includes a turbo that could dry your hair in 5 seconds flat, a new air intake, and larger more free flowing exhaust.
We are still standing by the rumors that we reported last month about the Scion FR-S and Toyota GT-86 receiving a TRD developed Supercharger with the Subaru BRZ using a turbo for its forced induction high performance version of the 2 door sports coupe. However those versions of the Tokyo Triplets are not slated to be revealed to the world until the end of summer early fall of this year, as 2013 models.
Team Scion's new Lethal Drift Car - A Turbo FR-S
To read about the Turbocharging and Supercharging rumors check out the links below.
We have all heard the phrase that a picture is worth a thousand words and in case it certainly is as we track down the first pictures of the Toyota GT-86 / Scion FR-S receiving the TRD treatment. This rumour was started back in the summer when the then called Toyota FT-86 had its brochure leaked on the internet. On some of those pages there was evidence that Toyota’s TRD division had a slew of bolt on aftermarket part that would be ready to go when the car was released.
The 2013 Scion FR-S - Caught wearing its TRD socks and shoes
Well the cars were recently announced at the Tokyo Motor Show and the North American version will be branded a Scion wearing an FR-S name plate. We have now uncovered a photo of a lone FR-S sitting in a garage some were in Japan equipped with TRD parts. As you can see form the picture the brakes have been upgraded and the suspension appears to have been lowered. There have been some minor aerodynamic upgrades as well, mainly the lip spoiler that is now hanging off of the trunk lid.
The 2013 Scion FR-S - Showing off its new Aero Kit
We would have loved to have seen under the hood to confirm the rumors that TRD has a supercharger kit ready to go that will bump the horse power to the Subaru BRZ WRX level of 265 hp. We have also read rumbling on GT-86 fan sites that indicate a tuned exhaust system may also have been developed by TRD. You will have to check back to our site later to receive confirmation that the FA20 2.0-liter 4-cylindat boxer engine will receive forced induction like it’s Subaru stalemate. The TRD-tuned Toyota GT-86 / Scion FR-S are expected to be revealed at the Tokyo Auto Salon in January.
2013 Scion FR-S - All dressed up with no where to go
To catch up on the other rumors that are circling these Tokyo triplets see the links below.
It seems that the theme of the week on Car Rolodex has been the “Tokyo Triplets”, who are also known as the Subaru BRZ, Toyota GT-86 and the Scion FR-S. Our coverage of these highly anticipated cars continues today as we have uncovered a pair of Japanese based videos showcasing the Subaru variant of the trio.
The first vid is short but gets its point across rather well, which is of course that when you rev the co-developed Subaru/Toyota 2.0-liter engine the car will respond with what can only be described as a uniquely flat 4 sound track. We can’t wait to hear the addition of a turbo blow off valve as the FA20 engine has been slated to get the additional hardware when the WRX version of the BRZ is launched. Today however if you are curious as to what 200hp sounds like in a low slung 2+2 rear wheel drive sports car you will have to look no farther than below.
The second video released by “SubaruOnTube” is comprised of some slick looking CGI of the BRZ engine components in action. If you are not 100% familiar with what a horizontally opposed boxer engine looks like this video will help out. We can’t say that the Japanese techno beats were 100% necessary, fortunately it is also a short clip so it shouldn’t drive you to crazy.
Yesterday in an interview with Motor Trend’s new Editor-in-chief Ed Loh, Subaru confirmed that it will in fact be building a turbocharged version of newly co-developed 2-liter flat 4 boxer engine that powers the new 2013 Subaru BRZ. This comes just 2 days after the Tokyo Motor Show was buzzing about a supercharged version of the motor being placed under the hood of the Toyota GT-86, Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S triplets.
2013 Subaru BRZ 2.0-liter flat-4 engine bay. Do you see room for a turbo?
Now before you storm into your Subaru dealership demanding to put a deposit down on a turbocharged WRX BRZ, it is important to highlight that Subaru has only confirmed that the FA20 engine will be receiving a turbo. Subaru has not confirmed that the BRZ will be receiving that turbo motor, they have only said that they will build one. The leap of faith that we are taking is that since the FA20 motor is only found in the BRZ and there is an over whelming out cry for the car to have more power to compete with other segment rivals like the Hyundai Genesis coupe and Nissan 370Z. One can only assume that a turbocharged version will power that particular car, no? Can one then also assume that it will be branded the WRX model like other turbocharged Subaru’s that exist in their line-up?
We were never good a crossword puzzle growing up but we did excel at connect the dots and this puzzle has been the easiest one yet. That is unless Subaru decided that the newly confirmed turbocharged engine will appear in another of their cars, which would make the aftermarket scene very happy as well.
The big question that standouts in our minds is that fact that there are now confirmed rumours out there of the FA20 engine bolting on a supercharger as well as now a turbocharger. Could Toyota and Subaru be heading in different directions for their high performance models? Have the TRD and STI performance divisions’ agreed to disagree on how to soup up the co-developed 197bhp 2-liter flat 4 boxer engine?
We sure hope so as what is life without a little choice? Currently the only real choice between the 3 is based off of brand loyalty, exterior paint colour and price.
To read more about the supercharging rumour click here.
To read more about the WRX and Turbo rumours click here.
