2013 Subaru BRZ priced, starting at just $25,495

The starting price of $25,495 for the 2013 Subaru BRZ includes the “Premium” trimline with a 6-speed manual transmission, an impressive touchscreen navigation system with Bluetooth compatibility and HID headlights. Those who want the ease of the 6-speed automatic transmission will see the price of their BRZ jump by $1,100 to $26,595. The BRZ Premium also includes items like a premium sound system with 8 speakers and a 196 watt amplifier, USB connectivity for iPod or MP3 files and leather finishes on the steering wheel and shifter.

Those who want a little more out of their new rear wheel drive Japanese sports coupe can select the 2013 Subaru BRZ Limited, which takes all of the amenities of the BRZ Premium and adds heated front seats with Alcantara (faux suede) inserts, fog lights, remote start, dual zone climate controls, dual vanity mirrors (hooray!), a rear spoiler and a built in security system. The BRZ Limited starts at $27,495 for those models equipped with the manual transmission while the automatic transmission with paddle shifters on the steering wheel raises the price by $1,100 for a total of $28,595.

We expected that the 2013 Subaru BRZ price would start around $26,000 so we were off by just over $500 and by The Price Is Right rules, we went over so we would have lost the showcase. However, with a price just north of the $24,200 starting price of the Scion FR-S, it will be interesting to see which Japanese sports coupe American buyers prefer. The Scion will save a buyer $1,300 bucks or so based on the base pricing but considering all of the goodies and gadgets you get with the Subaru…our pick would be to go with the BRZ. However, those buyers who want a sports car with supreme handling for something like autocross, the FR-S may be the better choice with less interior gadgetry and the lower price.

All of the 2013 Subaru BRZ sport coupes (as well as the Toyota GT86 and the Scion FR-S) are powered by Subaru’s naturally aspirated 2.0L Boxer engine, sending 200 horsepower and 151lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. Some critics of this new sports car believe that the BRZ is a little light on power even though the car itself is very lightweight. With just 200 horsepower, the Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S will have to go toe to toe with the likes of the entry level, turbocharged Hyundai Genesis Coupe as well as the 300+ horsepower V6-powered Ford Mustang, Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro. The key area where the BRZ could give the more powerful rear wheel drive coupes on the American market a run for their money is in the turns – where Subaru expects the low center of gravity, near perfect weight distribution and advanced suspension design to help the BRZ to shine.

There is no doubt that as the 2013 Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S hit the US market, we will see comparisons done between these new Japanese sport coupes and the other rear wheel drive sports cars that dominate the segment in North America. The BRZ has already been selling at 4 times the projected figures in Japan but with a much deeper talent pool of sports coupes in the USA - it could be a little tougher for the BRZ in North America. We can expect to see BRZ coupes arriving in American Subaru dealerships in June and in the Detroit area, there are already some on the open road. Click here for a look at the BRZ out and about in Metro Detroit.