A Subaru BRZ STI but without a turbo?

The Subaru BRZ is riding the crest of the wave, although the wave it is perched on is surrounded by two trends within the same Subaru: those who say the next BRZ STI will have a turbo, and a newer trend among those who believe a turbo version is unlikely to arrive.

The turbo BRZ option has many gaps. The first is that there is simply no room under the engine bay to fit a turbo (sic), an option that sounds more like wishful thinking than anything else, since many tuners around the world already offer them. The reality, though, is that Subaru would have to offer from the factory at least a full-time all-wheel-drive system, not only so that BRZ drivers could enjoy the turbo, pushing close to 300 horsepower, but also to live up to the STI badge.

For this reason, the turbo would be set aside, at least for now, in favour of modifications to the intake and exhaust to bring power close to 230 horsepower. Some even go further: Auto Express goes so far as to announce that an STI version would be ready in Japan by mid-2013.

The best evidence for all of the above seems to be one of Subaru’s recent outings on the Nürburgring circuit, where a BRZ STI was spotted lapping the German track. As observers were able to see, and as the reports say, this STI had everything except a turbo.

Which of the options will Subaru choose?

Technical specifications of this car

CoupeSubaru BRZ1 version · from 43,000 €