Subaru will give the world its first good look at the sporty BRZ coupe next week at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
The BRZ is Subaru's version of a rear-wheel-drive 2+2 jointly developed with Toyota Motor Corp.
The BRZ goes on sale next spring. Last week, the company released photos of the BRZ Concept STI, which will debut in Los Angeles. The low and aerodynamic body is a radical departure from Subaru's current lineup. The BRZ has short front and rear overhangs and sits 4.7 inches lower than any other Subaru.
Toyota did the planning and design. Subaru handled the engineering and will build the BRZ and its Toyota sibling, the Scion FR-S, at its Gunma plant in Japan when production begins next year.
Subaru expects to sell 5,000 to 7,000 BRZ units annually, said Bill Cyphers, senior vice president of sales for Subaru of America in an interview last month. The niche car is expected to be priced at about $25,000.
The Scion FR-S also goes on sale next spring. The FR-S and the BRZ will be nearly identical aside from some badging and equipment.
The BRZ is not expected to get all-wheel drive -- a pillar of Subaru's brand identity and the only drivetrain available on its current U.S. models.
The concept has a new Subaru 2.0-liter four-cylinder horizontally opposed, or boxer, engine with direct injection.
Subaru said it mounted the engine low and toward the rear of the engine compartment for optimal balance and a low drag coefficient.
The concept car sports a low front spoiler, rear wing and a carbon-fiber roof. It also has rear fender flares, quad-tailpipes and vented rear bumper corners. Subaru has not said whether an STI version will be offered to the public.
