The Subaru BRZ’s order books have reopened for the MY23 model, which will arrive as music to the ears of anyone who missed out on the first 500 vehicles which quickly sold out in Australia.
Slightly less musical, though, is the news that the 2023 BRZ will introduce range-wide price increases of between $1300 and $1400.
To be fair, the changes represent a roughly 3.3 per cent price hike (using the entry-level BRZ Coupe Manual as our example), which Subaru squares away with “increased production costs” for the new model.
“The reasoning for the marginal increase is due to the increase in production in costs,” Subaru’s public relations manager, Adriana Saviane, told CarsGuide.
2023 Subaru BRZ pricing:
Coupe manual: $40,290 (was $38,990)Coupe auto: $44,090 (was $42,790)Coupe S manual: $41,590 (was $40,190)Coupe S auto: $45,390 (was $43,990)
So while early adopters nabbed one of 500 cheaper examples of the BRZ, it’s nowhere near as big a jump as the Toyota GR Yaris, which was initially offered at a heavily discounted $39,950 drive-away for the first 1000 examples, before settling at $49,500 before on-road costs.
“We’re delighted to reopen the order books for the iconic BRZ and that more new-generation BRZs will be finding their home with Australian sportscar fans,” says Blair Read, Subaru Australia’s managing director.
So what else has changed with the BRZ? Not much. Though this time the brand tells us there’s no production cap to limit supply, which means anyone who wants one should be able to secure an example this time around.
Specification across the range is unchanged, which means a 2.4-litre, four-cylinder ‘boxer’ engine, delivering 170kW and 249Nm to the rear wheels, a significant boost from the old car’s 152kW and 212Nm. You can choose between a six-speed manual or a six-speed auto with paddle shifters and Sport mode, which will pick and hold a lower gear for longer when cornering, ensuring you’re in the power band when it’s time to power out the other side again.
Coupe models get 18-inch alloys wrapped in Michelin Sport 4 performance rubber, a performance-themed digital driver display in the binnacle, with adjustable modes including Track, as well as an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android auto, plus nav and digital radio.
Manual-equipped cars get blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and lane change assist, and LED active headlights. Auto cars add EyeSight, and reverse auto braking and high-beam assist.
Coupe S models then add leather and suede seats that are heated in the front.
Deliveres of the MY23 BRZ are expected to kick off in Q3 this year.
Keyword: Good news - the Subaru BRZ is back on! Bad news - price hikes across the board for Toyota GR 86 twin as order books reopen for 2023