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2022 Subaru BRZ: Right-hand-drive model unveiled with STI accessory range

The 2022 Subaru BRZ has made its right-hand drive debut, ahead of its full Australian launch understood for later in 2021.


Unveiled alongside the global debut of its Toyota GR 86 twin, the Japanese-market BRZ (unsurprisingly) looks all but identical to the US-market model revealed in November 2020 – and is joined by an expanding catalogue of Subaru-designed accessories.

Power comes from the same 2.4-litre naturally-aspirated 'boxer' four-cylinder as the American model, mated to a choice of six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions driving the rear wheels – the latter gearbox featuring paddles and a Sport mode.

However, whereas 'estimated' figures for the US variant pegged the mill at 170kW and 249Nm, Subaru claims Japanese-market 2022 BRZ prototypes develop 173kW and 250Nm – up 3kW and 1Nm, matching the new GR 86.

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It's unclear whether showroom-spec cars sold in different regions will offer different power and torque outputs, or simply that nearly six months of additional development time has seen a bump in performance.

Alternatively, the differences in listed power could be accounted for by the use of different measurement systems in different regions – namely SAE in the US, and DIN elsewhere – that could lead to an apparent circa-3kW ‘gain’ in the latter.

Either way, both sets of figures are provisional, and are subject to change – meaning the car that graces Australian showrooms later this year could offer more grunt than any new BRZ unveiled to date.

The mechanically-identical GR 86's unveiling also confirms exactly how quick the new BRZ will be from zero to 100km/h, with the Toyota completing the dash in 6.3 seconds – partly thanks to the Subaru's identical 1270kg kerb weight.

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The Japanese model's exterior styling is identical to the US-market example unveiled in November, with the interior all but a carry-over, differing solely through the fitment of a larger infotainment screen with touch buttons – a unit understood to be destined solely for the car's home market, with Aussie cars likely to get a smaller 8.0-inch screen.

Similar dimensions to the outgoing BRZ mean the new model will retain its predecessor's ability to carry four full-size wheels and tyres with the rear seats folded down, a set of golf clubs, or a mountain bike.

Subaru has also confirmed the suite of active safety technologies that will be offered on automatic models, comprising autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning and blind-spot monitoring – none of which were available on the outgoing model.

As before, seven airbags are available, covering dual front, front side, curtain and an airbag for the driver's knees. No centre airbag is available.

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2022 Subaru BRZ STI accessories

Subaru's Japanese arm has also unveiled a selection of aesthetic accessories, which will form part of a wider range of 'extras' once the 2022 BRZ goes on sale in its home market in the northern summer of this year.

Headlining the catalogue is a fixed carbon-fibre rear wing (below) – a spiritual successor of sorts to the original Toyota 86's aero kit – plus 18-inch forged BBS alloy wheels, a sports rear muffler (with unique exhaust tips), and an STI-badged strut brace under the bonnet.

Other exterior add-ons – some of which wear STI branding – include an extended black front splitter, black rear diffuser, front and rear wheel-arch 'winglets', black front wheel-arch vent trim, a black rear lip spoiler, roof-mounted vortex generator strip, and secondary LED daytime-running lights integrated into the lower front air intakes.

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While Subaru Australia hasn't confirmed whether we'll see the add-ons offered with the new BRZ locally, it's likely the accessory range will make the journey Down Under, given similar appointments are offered with the current model locally, either as individual options or part of $6995 S Pack and $3500 Styling Pack packages.

The 2022 Subaru BRZ will go on sale in Japan in the northern summer of 2021 (Australia's winter), with an Australian launch set to occur by the end of 2021.

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Alex Misoyannis

Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family.

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