The All-New Subaru BRZ Doesn’t Have A Turbo - It’s Time To Stop The Whining

After Subaru revealed the next-generation BRZ sports coupe, there were many stories about how, even though the Subaru has more power, the Japanese automaker didn't do enough. They said the new 2022 BRZ still needs a turbocharger.

Dominick Infante, Subaru Director, Corporate Communications, told Road and Track, the non-turbocharged engine was critical in preserving the sports car's low center of gravity, keeping it lightweight, and continuing its affordability.

Subaru of America's Car Line Planning Manager, Todd Hill, said recently, The BRZ sports coupe is already perfectly balanced with the boxer engine sitting low in the chassis, and a turbo would change it. The reasons should be enough, but there's more.

What he didn't tell them is the FA24 2.4-liter Boxer engine they put in the BRZ is not the same as the Ascent and Outback powerplant. Subaru engineers reworked the FA24 for the rear-drive BRZ sports car.

The Ascent and Outback turbocharged engine is direct-injection only. The 2.4-liter Boxer engine stuffed into the BRZ gets a unique combination of direct and port fuel injection. Why does this make a difference?

Developed with Toyota, the BRZ utilizes direct and port fuel injection (Toyota D-4S fuel system). Direct injection is good, but it has a downside. The direct injection needs the engine to be warm to atomize the fuel fast enough and mix with the air. So it takes a lot more fuel on a cold start.

The direct-injectors are strong enough to run the engine at high RPMs, but for better cold start-up, the system splits the work between the two sets of injectors at cold start. Subaru and Toyota used the technology in the previous-generation BRZ's 2.0-liter Boxer engine.

The second-generation BRZ with the naturally-aspirated 2.4-liter Boxer engine gets this new fuel system. It has excellent cold start capabilities along with high RPM performance without a turbocharger.

Additionally, Subaru upgraded the valvetrain over the Ascent FA24. BRZ comes with double overhead chain-driven camshafts, four valves per cylinder, dual Active Valve Control System that controls valve timing on intake and exhaust camshafts.

The sports car is also lighter and has a lower center of gravity than the outgoing model. Subaru didn't bring a turbocharged engine in the new 2022 BRZ sports coupe because it doesn't need it to be the best version yet.

You Might Also Like: Subaru WRX/STI and BRZ are the 10 Fastest-Selling Used Sports Cars

Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Subaru Report - We’ve got you covered! Check back tomorrow for more unique, informative SUBARU news, reviews, and previews you can trust.

Leave your comments below, share the article with friends and tweet it out to your followers!

Photo credit: Subaru