Subaru BRZ sports car to make U.S. debut at North American International Auto Show

Subaru of America Inc has announced that the production version of its all-new, rear-wheel drive 2013 Subaru BRZ sports car will make its United States debut at the North American International Auto Show at Cobo Hall in Detroit on Monday. The BRZ will add a new product line to the hot Subaru brand, which announced its fourth consecutive year of sales growth and a new all-time vehicle sales record for 2011.

The 2013 BRZ, which arrives in Subaru dealerships in late spring, was designed with one goal in mind---exceptional handling. To reach that goal, Subaru engineers developed a chassis that would deliver the lowest center of gravity (CoG) possible utilizing the excellent packaging of the brand's Boxer engine design.

An all-new naturally aspirated 2.0-liter, 200-horsepower horizontally opposed (Boxer) engine was created. The new FA engine was developed to be more compact so that it could be placed lower and farther back in the chassis. To achieve the low CoG, a rear-drive layout was deemed necessary so the engine could be mounted as low as possible in the chassis. The engine placement allows for low polar moment and near-perfect balance for pure sports car handling.

With a low vehicle weight of just over 2,700 lbs, the direct injected 2.0-liter provides quick acceleration as it revs to its 7,400 RPM redline. The Subaru BRZ is available with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

With a height of just 50.6 inches, swept-back roofline, bulging front fenders, short overhangs and pronounced rear haunches give the sleekly styled BRZ a lean, athletic stance.

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