2021 Subaru BRZ’s engine heard for first time in new video

Subaru has previewed the sound of its next-generation BRZ’s engine ahead of the sport's car's official reveal on 18 November.

An official video, released on the brand’s social media recently, shows little of the BRZ's appearance, being shot from the driver’s perspective, but leaves no doubt as to what its 252bhp turbocharged powerplant sounds like at full throttle.

A spokesperson told Autocar that the coupé will be a US-only model and that there are "no plans" to launch it in Europe, as is the case with Nissan's similarly positioned new 400Z.

It remains unclear whether the BRZ's Toyota GR86 sibling will be a global model.

A recently released preview image gave little away beyond the design of the car's new 10-spoke alloy wheels, but a prototype of the next-generation BRZ was spotted earlier this year, giving us a first look at the hotly anticipated coupé's styling.

As reported earlier this year, It will get 252bhp from a turbocharged petrol engine. Like its predecessor, it will be mechanically - and likely visually - identical to a Toyota model. A reveal date for the BRZ's twin hasn't yet been confirmed, however.

The images reveal that the BRZ's familiar curved silhouette forms the basis for the styling of the next-generation car, but we can see for certain that the front grille has been significantly enlargened and there are new light designs at both the front and rear.

POV you’re the driver. Watch the full video at https://t.co/eHldHNemEv. #SubaruBRZ #POV pic.twitter.com/AXJT75keMn

— Subaru (@subaru_usa) November 11, 2020

A similarly compact footprint to the outgoing model tallies with earlier reports that the Toyota-Subaru duo will swap from their current Subaru-derived underpinnings onto the TNGA architecture that underpins Toyota's Toyota Corolla family hatchback and can be adapted to suit a rear-wheel-drive powertrain. Subaru has now confirmed that the second-gen car will be rear-wheel drive.

As with the previous model, however, the BRZ and its GR86 sibling will use an engine from Subaru's current line-up, likely the 2.4-litre four-cylinder boxer motor found in the US-market Ascent SUV. Its 252bhp output represents a substantial upgrade over the 197bhp offered by the current BRZ's naturally aspirated motor, which suggests Subaru and Toyota are looking to target more potent sports cars, such as the Alpine A110.

Also on the cards is a comprehensive interior overhaul for both models, with improvements made in material quality, infotainment functionality and usability. The size and shape of this new prototype suggests, however, that there hasn't been a move to significantly extend rear leg room to enhance the car's grand touring potential.