The Subaru BRZ is a cool little piece that, along with it’s Scion FR-S/Toyota 86 twin, is meant to be a return to the small, lightweight and tossable rear-wheel-drive coupe that Toyota used to build. It’s a decent coupe, but one thing that the entire platform has been criticized for is a distinct lack of power from the 200hp 2.0L boxer four. Originally meant to be just enough power to have fun, it hasn’t been enough for the enthusiasts who have clamored for a turbo or a supercharger. While those options haven’t come to fruition, JUN Auto, a Japanese tuner, has found one very novel way of making the BRZ more lively.
They start by ripping the flat-four out and replacing it with a 2.4L V8 that, simplified, is two Kawasaki ZX-12R four-cylinders mated together, which creates about 362 HP and can rev to 11,000 RPM with no issues whatsoever. Hearing this thing on a dyno is sweet, but listening to it tear around a track is another form of beauty altogether. The music is annoying and all of the writing is in Japanese, but the engineering behind this car is awesome and the noise it makes is otherworldly.
(Courtesy: Autoblog)
I like the BRZ, but it REALLY needs a turbo. Slap some SRT badges on it and call it a day. Personally I would like the Subaru variant to have AWD, but I understand with the packaging/engine setback it would be impossible. How long is it until a LSX gets stuffed in.
Vorshlag Motorsports in Texas was working on an LS swap for these, but I don’t think they have it completed yet.
The engine is built in New Zealand by a company called synergy v8. They use them in tq midget race cars.
The music has to be straight from Final Fantasy 7, pretty sure I heard the car ‘level up.’