Subaru will show a BRZ concept that's not a see-through plastic teaser at the Los Angeles motor show but - apparently as part of a gentleman's agreement with Toyota - it will not have a single body panel in common with the production versions of the BRZ and its sister car the Toyota FT-86 II, which will make their debut together at the Tokyo motor show in December.
Subaru has been responsible for the rear-wheel drive sports car's engine and running gear, while Toyota took over the styling. So power comes from a two-litre Subaru-based boxer four with Toyota direct fuel-injection, developing about 150kW and driving through either a six-speed manual or six-speed auto tranny.
The cars will be built at Subaru's Gunma plant in Japan, starting in the second quarter of 2012, and will be mechanically identical. Sorry Scooby fans, there won't be an all-wheel drive model behind a Southern Cross badge.
The FT-86 will be sold in North America as the Scion FR-S, a de-specced model aimed at the huge US customising market for which, being rear-wheel drive, it is ideally suited, while the Subaru BR-Z will come with all the bells and whistles.
Outside the US the Toyota FT-86 II and Subaru BRZ will be identical except for their front plastic and badging.