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RHYTHM AND BLUE
Subaru’s BRZ HyperBlue moves like Jagger

This article is from our archives and has not been updated and integrated with our "new" site yet... Even so, it's still awesome - so keep reading!

Published on Thu, Aug 25, 2016

By: The LACar Editorial Staff

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Subaru BRZ HyperBlue (Harvey Schwartz)

Words and pictures by Harvey Schwartz The new 2016 Series HyperBlue BRZ is a follow-up to the 2015 Blue BRZ that grabs the eye with exclusive Hyper Blue paint and matching black with blue stitching on the inside. Production is limited to just 500 cars in the USA. For 2016, the car receives the Subaru STARLINK 6.2 Multimedia system with a 6.2 inch single-touch gesture display. This great infotainment system includes pretty much every connection possible, from the radio waves in the air, to the cell in your pocket. Great sounds come through a 196-watt, eight-speaker audio system. Also new is a standard rear vision camera for added safety when in reverse. On the inside, the cabin features an equally exclusive design theme. The leather and Alcantara seats feature Hyper Blue leather seat bolsters and head restraints. Blue stitching accents the seats and the blue/black leather-wrapped steering wheel, as well as the shift lever boot and leather-wrapped parking brake handle. The Blue motif is also seen on the center console knee pads and door trim, accented by an embroidered silver BRZ logo on the front seat-backs. The aluminum foot pedals further give the car a sporty feel and look. The unique exterior styling includes a low height of just 50.6 inches with a swept-back roofline, bulging front fenders, short overhangs, dual exhausts and pronounced rear haunches. This gives the BRZ a lean, athletic stance similar to a classic GT coupe. Up front the car’s hawk eye HID headlights, hexagonal lower grille, and six-star ornament convey Subaru’s identity. The BRZ Limited adds a body color trunk spoiler and standard fog lights, and the black 17X7 inch wheels give the car a more menacing look.

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It\'s all over now, Baby Blue (Harvey Schwartz)

The car is a thrill to drive and put through its sports coupe paces starting with the basic low weight and ultra-low center of gravity gives it a pure sports feel. Using a large proportion of high-tensile steel with an aluminum hood the BRZ weighs only 2,764 pounds with a low 18.1 inches center of gravity. The BOXER engine with its inherently low height and its mass concentrated low in the car further contributes to a low center of gravity. The rear-wheel drive allows placement of the engine lower and farther back in the BRZ. Moving the engine closer to the center of the chassis also helped make the BRZ more compact, at just 166.7 inches long sitting on a 101.2 inch wheelbase. Pushing the new BRZ out to speed is the BRZ FA-Series BOXER engine that uses ‘square’ architecture, meaning that its bore and stroke dimensions are identical—3.8 inches. That geometry gives the engine a quick revving nature with a 7,400 rpm redline. This hot engine makes 200 horsepower at 7,000rpm and 151 pound-feet of torque at 6,400 rpm, which equals 100 horsepower per liter. Outstanding. On the way to the tires, the power travels though a standard short-throw 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Giving the driver a thrilling ride with excellent performance is the BRZ’s exclusive platform with a rear suspension architecture from the WRX STI. Chassis tuning take maximum advantage of the BRZ’s low enter of gravity and high-strength body structure allowing for a tuned suspension for both agility and a compliant ride. The front setup uses struts and coil springs and the front struts are mounted low and optimized for a low hood line while retaining a long stroke for ideal handling enhancing ride quality.

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Rhapsody in blue (Harvey Schwartz)

The standard front strut brace further enhances rigidity when turning and the quick steering (2.48 turns’ hock-to-lock) and 14.4 inch diameter three-spoke steering wheel gives razor sharp response and a great feeling. A double-wishbone rear setup provides outstanding bump absorption to enhance tire grip over various surfaces. Putting the power down is a standard Torsen-limited slip differential that helps the inside wheel maintain traction during hard cornering and offers five driver-selectable settings including Sport mode and Traction Off. The HyperBlue BRZ is the real deal with great sports coupe styling, and inviting yet sporty interior. The engine, suspension, steering, and brakes all combine to make the HyperBlue BRZ an exclusive yet inexpensive thrill ride. © Story supra and photographs by Harvey Schwartz SUMMARY JUDGMENT The next time you attend your neighborhood 86FEST, consider wearing the Subaru BRZ HyperBlue. It’ll kill on the dance floor. For more information about Subaru products, go to subaru.com.

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The blue view from within the BRZ HyperBlue (Harvey Schwartz)

SPECIFICATIONS Name of vehicle: 2016 Subaru BRZ HyperBlue Price: $26,500.00 (base) $31,000.00 (as tested) EPA fuel mileage: 22mpg city/30 mpg highway Horsepower: 200 at 7,000 rpm Torque: 151 lb.ft. at 6,400 rpm Transmission: 6-speed manual/6-speed automatic/paddle shifters Steering: Electric power-assisted rack & pinion Suspension: Four-wheel independent with front MacPherson-type struts lower L-arms, coil springs, stabilizer bar, strut tower brace and anti-dive geometry, and rear double-wishbone type with coil springs, stabilizer bar and anti-lift geometry Brakes: Front 11.6 inch ventilated dual piston calipers, and rear 11.4 inch ventilated disc with single piston calipers Wheels and tires: 17X7 inch aluminum alloy/215/45R17 inch summer performance Dimensions Length: 166.7 inches Width: 69.9 inches Height: 50.6 inches Curb weight: 2,764

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