It's one of the most highly anticipated models of the year and today, we finally get our first official look at the new Subaru BRZ Concept a couple of weeks before it makes its world premiere at the 2011 edition of the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 16.
The STI-badged Subaru study is a thinly disguised concept version of the upcoming production BRZ coupe that will be unwrapped alongside its sister model, the Toyota FT-86, at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show in the beginning of December.
"Built with Subaru’s core technology of the Horizontally-Opposed Boxer engine, this model has a low center of gravity that realizes a “Pure Handling Delight” driving experience," Subaru said in a short statement.
"Combined with motifs of Subaru’s iconic performance brand “STI”, the concept car embodies an ultimate handling performance," the company added.
The Japanese carmaker did not release any further information on its concept model.
The rear-wheel drive BRZ is the result of an ongoing joint-project between Subaru and Toyota Motor Corporation. It shares its platform, drivetrain and as we can see from the single picture, its body shell as well with the Toyota FT-86.
The only noteworthy styling differences between the Toyota and the Subaru that we can see from this angle aside from the aero kit, carbon fiber roof and STI alloy wheels, are the tail lamp, boot lid and rear bumper/diffuser designs.
We're not sure if Subaru will market the BRZ (which stands for “Boxer engine”, “Rear-wheel drive” and “Zenith”) with the STI moniker or if the company will offer an STI derivative based on this study.
Whatever the case, the BRZ will be offered with a 2.0-liter flat-four linked to a 6-speed manual gearbox, and possibly, a 6-speed automatic transmission driving the rear wheels.
It has been rumored but not yet confirmed that the boxer engine will be more powerful in the Subaru BRZ than in the Toyota FT-86 where we recently learned that it produces 200-horses.
