Subaru Brz test drive since 2012

Subaru Brz. Atypical euphoria

Napoleon's road. The tourist route that is popular today is owed to the French emperor and the commander, who in 1815 fled from the island of Elba and returned to Paris through the mountain passes of crazy beauty. The goat trail rolled into asphalt after more than a hundred years, but the highway is in demand not only because of delightful landscapes. In the part that rises from the azure coast through the perfume capital, the town of Grass, it is impossible not to fall in love with a person with gasoline in blood. And how lucky I was to be on this segment behind the wheel of Subaru Brz!


Subaru BRZ visually different from the Toyota GT 86 only by the details here is another front bumper and the radiator grille, other decorative inserts in the front wings, as well as a slightly changed optics. And in the suspension a little more rigid shock absorbers were used

BRZ is deciphered simply by Boxer Rear-Wheel Drive Zenith. That is, the opposition engine, rear -wheel drive and zenith. The Russian football club has nothing to do with it, although the Subaru compartment is related to it like a similar color. Zenith is an astronomical term meaning that the observed object is at the highest point of the sphere. No wonder the Subaru emblem is a stellar galaxy. But to the question, why, after all, Zenith, no one could unequivocally answer the presentation. So it is unlikely that anyone would be surprised if the new Subaru called BRC (Coupe) or BRS (Sport).


The BRZ suspension scheme does not fundamentally differ from the improvisation of the MacPherson rack in front and double transverse levers from the back. But the wheelbase was reduced from 2625 to 2570 mm. And, of course, the BRZ is lower than the WRX 1425 mm versus 1475. The equipped mass ranges from 1202 kg in a machine with a mechanics up to 1262 kg in BRZ in the Premium configuration and a machine gun. The hood is made of aluminum alloy, and the weighting of the axes is 53:47 in favor of the front

But there is some logical explanation for the name. Subaru this year takes three new models to the market at once besides BRZ, this is the XV crossover and the next generation of improvisation. A triple blow is designed to increase European sales of brands from 52 to 70 thousand cars, and world from 617 to 700 thousand. And by 2015, Subaru hope to reach the level of 900 thousand cars. And it is BRZ who should become the main image maker, attracting the Pleiades of new buyers under the banner. The Subarovites also want to achieve 30% of the fuel consumption throughout the model range in three years. But do I want to think about these numbers, looking at the car? And let the partners from Toyota were responsible for the design, thanks to the financial power of which the sweet couple GT 86/BRZ was born. We are excited completely different! The fact that a two-liter 200-horsepower opposite is hidden under a low and long hood, thanks to which BRZ accelerates to hundreds in 7.6 seconds. Looking ahead, I’ll say that Subaru turned out to be more honest, because Toyota claims to be 86 6.9 seconds at the same maximum speed of 230 km/h.


The compact Opposite engine FA20 (2 liters, 200 hp, 205 N ∙ m) with a compression degree of 12.5: 1 specially designed for BRZ. Among its features, the same piston stroke and cylinder diameter (86x86 mm), that is, it is shorter than the FB20 unit stands in the new Subaru XV. The proprietary Toyota direct injection system D-4S is also integrated here. Thanks to her, the motor turned out to be not only very elastic, but also economical - even in the annealing mode on serpentines, the consumption did not exceed 12.5 l/100 km.
For the sake of a low center of gravity and better weighting, the power unit is shifted compared to Impreza 120 mm down and 240 mm back. I even had to develop a new crankcase in order to maintain a road clearance at a normal level (120-130 mm, depending on the modification). By the way, the center of gravity here is 20 mm lower than that of Mazda MX-5 and 60 mm than WRX STI

Inside, everything is familiar with the 86th, on which in February I had a chance to drive several circles along the Spanish Avtodroy Haram. The landing is low, athletic, with elongated legs, and the body wraps the chair with tenacious alcantara in the center. A convenient steering wheel is almost vertically, and a high central tunnel is crowned with a short gearbox handle. Fighting spirit! Therefore, Subaru easily forgive the interior asceticism large silver inserts on the front panel are made of cheap plastic, and the radio and electronic watches send us to the Japanese 20 years ago. Nostalgia?


You can really complain only to the mentioned silver inserts and a strange audio system. The rest of the interior is assembled from fairly high -quality materials, the front panel made of soft, rubberized plastic is especially good. Red string of leather elements, soft upholstery of doors and central console in places of possible knee contacts and is Subaru? We like such changes!

Toyota really has something to recall GT 86, in fact, revives a bunch of lost brand sportsmen. And BRZ for Subaru the car is completely atypical. Yes, there were already SVX and Impreza coupes in the range, but they were equipped with an all -wheel drive transmission. However, the language does not turn to call BRZ the first Subaru with the drive to the rear wheels. If you delve into history, you can find that Subaru 1500, the very first Subaru car, had two leading from behind! Although it was released with a tiny circulation.


The radio, which is strange, is illuminated by green, although in all other respects are also prevailing amber and red tones. It looks simple, but it plays quite energetically thanks to good speakers.
The climate control has separate temperature adjustment for the driver and the front passenger and pleases with pretty nuts, but works according to the strange logic in Full Auto mode by default, the recirculation system is turned on and, when the air conditioner compressor is turned off, the glasses begin to fog.
The machine has two additional operating modes: Snow is designed to move on slippery coatings, Sport does not need a presentation.
The analog speedometer here only for beauty for all the time of the test, I never looked at him once. The display on the tachometer scale is much more informative.
Please note: the right button only converts the stabilization system into sports mode. And the tries and VSC is disconnected on the left

The Japanese sell BRZ under the brave slogan Pure Handling Delight, that is, promise the driver a true pleasure. Well, the car is really made in the classic formula for pleasure small dimensions (4240 mm in length, 1775 mm in width), a modest mass by modern standards (1202 kg), rear -wheel drive and a responsive atmospheric engine. And Subaru added to this recipe another win -win ingredient of a low center of gravity. It remains only to understand whether the cooks were able to prepare this dish correctly. I press the engine start button, gearbox lever to position D.


Front seats class! Territory upholstery, good profile and back does not get tired, and the body is fixed perfectly. But behind ... I honestly tried to climb there and even could sit down. But for this, you need to almost stop the driver or front passenger forward. So, in fact, this is only an additional trunk. However, the children will be quite convenient there. By the way, both front windows are automatic. In Japanese cars, this has not yet become a mass phenomenon

So, stop! What is the position D? Sports compartment for fans and with a machine gun? Yes, I chose the first BRZ with such a box. The fact is that the first route before the change of cars was quite short. And if so, then why not leave the mechanics for dessert? Although even with automatic transmission, Subaru BRZ will not disappoint fans of fast driving. You just need to get used to sharp feedback on gas. It feels like an accelerator of the right pedal was put on BRZ. It seems to have pressed slightly, and BRZ is already torn forward. In urban conditions, the accelerator pedal has to be literally stroked with your foot.


The BRZ trunk is flat and small (243 l), but if you need to transport, for example, a TV (of course, liquid crystal or plasma), then you can fold the rear sofa. Although in Subaru it is still more appropriate to transport tires. Or racing equipment

But otherwise there are no complaints. BRZ with a machine gun accelerates to a hundred slower than a car with a handle (8.2 s versions of 7.6 s), but in practice this difference is not so noticeable. It is worth getting comfortable with the obstinate pedal, and now you are no longer in a hurry to roll on Cannes, collecting surprised looks. The car is new! And after a few minutes you note the BRZ is quite convenient in the city. The sightseeing is good, the engine fills the salon with a roar only when accelerating to the floor, and the suspension does not strain with stiffness, although it repeats the road profile at low speeds too detail. Even music with such a simple design of the head device sounds assertively and powerfully.


I was pleased with the noise insulation, she is here! Even on the highway, the noise of wind and tires remains at an acceptable level

I liked the work of the machine gun on the mountain serpentine. Of course, there you need to immediately transfer the box into a sports mode in D, it shuts down lowered only when you press the gas pedal when you exit from the turn. It turns out to be torn and slowly. But how good s! You fly up to the hairpin, slow down, and Aisin’s six -dyiapas automatic machine, without a shadow of doubt, immediately moves down with juicy infusions. Class! I stelain petals are here only for furniture, there is virtually no need for them. It is a pity that the motor is not burdened with excess traction (205 N ∙ m), in the hill BRZ does not go as willingly as in the opposite direction.

And on the road of Napoleon, of course, I went on a compartment with mechanics. Here, too, there is a nuance when touched from the place of the free course of the clutch is too long, and the worker, on the contrary, is very short. To avoid jerks, you have to jewelly dose the force on the left pedal. However, it is a matter of habit. The switching mechanism itself is a good lever is fixed clearly, the transfers are selected unmistakably. I would like to wish only one so that instead of the plastic top of the handle there is metal


Small rear spoiler contribution to design and ecology. Thanks to him, not only the clamping force grows slightly, but the streamliness improves. The bottom is covered with plastic shields, so the BRZ aerodynamic resistance coefficient is not so large 0.27. It is curious that to my question why ordinary tires were chosen instead of sports, the Subarovites answered instantly: below fuel consumption. Indeed, there is no need to put more tenacious tires if a low center of gravity and an effective chassis allow you to go quickly and on civilian

I surprised the elasticity of the engine in the sixth gear, you can accelerate from 1000 rpm, and in the region of 2.5 thousand a pleasant pickup is noticeable. But, of course, for a dynamic driving, it is better not to lower the tachometer arrow below 4 thousand. Then BRZ pleases not only with an impressive sound, but also with a daring acceleration. The motor, by the way, willingly twisted up to 7400 rpm, and shortly before the cutting, the signal lamp is on the time to turn on the next gear.

The asphalt tape, meanwhile, continued to rise uphill and became everything already. I try not to lose the gained pace. To the left and right-left-right, on the right of the rock, on the left, a modest stone chipper high in the wheel and cliff. Breathtaking! I experienced something similar only on the famous Pass of Kol-de-Turini, where one of the special stages of the Monte Carlo rally passes. However, it is not so far from these places. Tunnels cut down in the rock, the treacherous narrow and blind turns. Scary, but damn exciting!

Subaru Brz is like a fish in water. The coupe willingly changes the direction of movement, as if I should be driving, as if I are giving commands, bypassing the electrical power (brilliant setting!). And no rolls! I was no less surprised and the very tenacious BRZ chassis literally bite into the asphalt, not letting it go either in even turns or in the crest. With an increase in speed, the car seems to strain all the muscles, becoming dense, firmly knocked down. It seems that nothing can push her from the intended trajectory. And only sometimes the yellow eye of the stabilization system wakes up, the rear axle should be slightly unloaded in the wake of the coating. By the way, you can slightly loosen the VSC grip, switching it into a sports algorithm, otherwise it too zealously besieges BRZ in steep turns.

And you can completely turn off all the collars both the anti -boom system and VSC. But do not hope to go through every turn in a spectacular drift! BRZ must be constantly provoked to such hooliganism somewhere to swing, somewhere it is more sharply to quit the clutch when moving down. And just alas, alas, it will not work. Even the frankly civilian tires Michelin Primacy HP dimensions 215/45 R17 are able to fully realize 205 N ∙ m of torque. This is not only a wide track, a low center of gravity and a good weight, but also a self -locking differential between the rear wheels.

The chassis is so effectively so that you want a more powerful motor. Turbo? The Japanese say that the layout of the engineering space is optimized to the extent that the supercharger with the intercooler simply will not fit there. Yes, and the brakes then quickly be bought up, you have to put pancakes of larger diameter. And this is all a mass, a mass, the mass will eventually get a WRX, only without the drive to both axes. And then what is the charm of BRZ?

Yes, the fact that she does not try to send you to the wall with every careless pressing of gas, does not kick, like an unprofitable horse. In BRZ there is no place for fear, but there is a complete understanding with the driver. And even if in steep turns, she nevertheless slipping out the front, if you overdo it at speed (you can’t deceive physics), but the miracle is like good in S-shaped ligaments and on high-speed arcs. And this lightness, joy, the ringing of an atmospheric opposition with quick feedback? BRZ as a Mazda MX-5, only announced for five years! I believe that Porsche Cayman was the main reference point, which can rightfully be called the best compact sports car.

As I believe that BRZ, the most atypical Subaru, will attract many buyers who had never previously been interested in their products. Marketers expect that in the case of BRZ there will be at least 70%! The components of the classic layout around the world are included in connoisseurs. And for practical Europeans, Subaru gives data emissions of 159 g/km in a mixed cycle the lowest indicator among atmospheric engines that produce about 100 horses from a liter of working volume. Although this figure is hardly worried about Russian fans of sportsmen.

Subaru counts on enthusiasts. Since June (when we have the first BRZ) and it is planned to sell 60-70 cars by the end of the year, and they will all be with mechanics. But what about the machine so popular in Russia? It turned out that the WRX STI with automatic transmission is not in special demand, most chosen them with a mechanical checkpoint. The price, alas, will not be attractive to Japanese manufacturers still leads a high exchange rate of the national currency. In Russia, BRZ will cost about 1.6 million rubles well at least that for the most expensive modification with 17-inch wheels, xenon headlights, separate climate and upholstery of the alkantar leather. The basic versions of BRZ are not going to supply us yet.

Alternative? The 160-horsepower Mazda MX-5 costs 1.3 million, and the BMW 125i (218 hp) can be purchased for at least 1,364,000 rubles, though in a very modest configuration. Hyundai Genesis has a powerful compartment with a two -liter turbo engine (213 hp) costs 1,279,900 rubles. But BMW and Hyundai pull the scales for 1480 and 1570 kg, respectively. It turns out that the main competitor BRZ is Toyota GT 86, which will also appear in Russia in the summer. The Japanese found a way out of the slippery situation up to 70% GT 86 is planned to be sold with a machine gun. And against this background, BRZ sales plans no longer seem fantastic. We still have enough lovers of honest sportsmen. Those who are able to understand the slogan Pure Handling Delight.
 




Vadim Gagarin
Photo by the author and Subaru
 

Source: Auto.mail.ru