First pictures: Production Subaru BRZ

Published Nov 29, 2011

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With Toyota having blown the gaff on the GT 86 over the weekend, Subaru (taciturn as always) felt constrained to release these two pictures and a specification sheet for the production version of its sister car, the BRZ concept, also due to premiere at the Tokyo motor show on Wednesday (November 30).

Which tells us that the two cars are mechanically identical (147kW and 205Nm, six-speed manual or paddle shift on 17” alloys and 215/45 rubber) and cosmetically almost indistinguishable.

Gone are the spoilers and wing of the recent STI concept; the only differences we can see in the pictures are the resculpted front bumper (blunt and forceful on the BRZ, crisp and edgy on the GT 86) different rims, chunkier fender trims on the Scooby and different tail light graphics - even the shape is the same.

And we'll be surprised if the interior is any different.

Subaru's spec sheet lists a 'specially tuned electronic stability control', and that's about it.

But the bottom line is: it doesn't matter whether it's wearing a Suyota or Tobaru badge, it's still the Real Deal - a cute, compact, lightweight (1220kg), accessible and, most important of all, rear-wheel drive, sports coupé.

We reckon the only way Toyota or Subaru can screw this one up is in the pricing. No matter how you slice it, this is not a premium car, and it will need to be a lot more affordable than a Mini, a Citroen DS3 or an Audi A1 - or for that matter, its only competitor, the Mazda MX-5.

Given that, their only problem will be making enough of them.

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