The Subaru BRZ has always been a very intriguing automobile ever since it made its way into the spotlight back in 2012. Created to reflect an era when simplicity and handling were what defined a budget focused sports car, the BRZ (as well as its companion the Toyota 86) managed to develop a cult following with buyers. However, more power was always on the top of their wish lists, especially as the competition beefed up comparable entries. The 2022 Subaru BRZ keeps the rear-wheel-drive manual driving experience and brings sports car fans more power and poise.
2022 Subaru BRZ: More Boxer Power!
The biggest change here is what lies under the hood, with the 2022 Subaru BRZ receiving an all-new 2.4-liter Boxer engine. While an additional 23 hp (228 total) and 28 lb.-ft. (184 total) of torque might not seem like much, we suspect that it will produce noticeable extra punch when you mash the skinny pedal.
Perhaps the biggest achievement here is that Subaru managed to add more power while only adding 17-pounds to the car. The 2022 Subaru BRZ weighs in at only 2,815 lbs, which is among the lightest in its segment.
Unchanged Handling
A six-speed manual transmission is still standard, and it continues to be bundled with a limited-slip differential. A six-speed automatic will continue to be the lone optional transmission, and will still bring steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and auto rev-matching into the mix.
Thankfully, the BRZ did not lose any of its handling mojo for 2022, with Subaru claiming that the chassis received significant enhancements in an attempt to try and button down on body roll. Subaru claims that the chassis gained significant rigidity over the outgoing model. In particular, it says that: “Front lateral bending rigidity has been increased by 60 percent for the 2022 model to improve turn-in and response.”
The rest of the suspension is carried over from the 2020 model, with the car retaining its front strut suspension and a double-wishbone setup in the rear.
Race Ready Styling Is Sharper Than Ever
With the bulk of the changes being centered around the performance hardware, it should come as no surprise that the exterior styling has only been subtly altered for the 2022 model year. Subaru designers focused on smoothing out some of the rough edges, and it shows in a number of small ways.
The front fascia features an all-new grille design, and the jagged looking headlights have been smoothed out for a set that do remind us of the Porsche 718 to a degree. As for the rear, it too gets revised lighting and a tweaked rear bumper that draws some inspiration from European sport sedan offerings.
Our favorite update is the stylish multi-spoke wheels that appear to be standard issue for the Limited trim models. The wheels feature an attractive gloss black finish, and they really do work well with the sharp blue hue on the BRZ that Subaru is known for.
An All-New Interior To Spice Things Up
The Subaru BRZ was never known for its ability to be a luxury car, but the bare-bones interior was not exactly a very comfortable place to spend time in either. Subaru was out to remedy that situation and has added a number of updates to the cabin for 2022.
The instrument cluster can be equipped with an all-new 7-inch digital instrument cluster, with Subaru even thoughtfully putting the tachometer front and center. A separate meter to the left of the tach can be programmed to display information such as a g-meter, amps, and water pressure.
The rest of the cabin is still heavily focused on the driver, but it now comes with a number of improvements for drivers and passengers to enjoy. An eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system is now on board, and it’s now more capable with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Subaru also added higher-quality plastics and other materials throughout the cabin.
2022 Subaru BRZ: Patience Is A Virtue
If all of this sounds compelling to you, we might as well cover the lone bit of bad news that comes with the debut of the 2022 Subaru BRZ, the wait. Subaru claims that interested buyers will have to wait a full year for their chance to buy one, with the first units making their way to U.S. showrooms fall 2021. That’s a very long time to wait for a performance car, and also means that your fantasy summer driving plans with the new car have been axed.
With this long of a delay between its debut and its appearance in showrooms, it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise to hear that Subaru has also not released details such as fuel economy, pricing, and even formal performance figures for the car. We suspect that the long wait will be worth it, as we have little doubt this new every man’s sportscar will please a lot of people.
To stay up to date on all things 2022 Subaru BRZ be sure to follow the official webpage for the car HERE.
