When it comes to making the perfectly balanced sports car, there are a few essential ingredients that can’t be overlooked like a lightweight chassis, low center of gravity, perfect weight distribution and rear-wheel drive architecture. A price most people can afford would be nice, too.

 

As simple as these elements may sound, a car of this nature has been absent from the automotive world for a long time, until now. The 2013 Subaru BRZ two-door possesses all of the characteristics that define a pure, unadulterated everyman’s sports car, and what’s more, the much anticipated 2013 Subaru BRZ is expected to start at about $24,000.

 

In a world of sports cars pushing nearly two tons, the four-seat 2013 Subaru BRZ is a featherweight at only 2,762 pounds. With components like an aluminum hood and lightweight, yet rigid high-tensile steel, the Subaru BRZ weighs in at a remarkable 160 pounds lighter than a Porsche Cayman and more than 500 pounds lighter than a Hyundai Genesis Coupe.

 

Another unique feature of the 2013 Subaru BRZ is its new, signature SUBARU BOXER^® engine design, which boasts one of the lowest centers of gravity of any production car in the world at a mere 18.1 inches above the ground. This horizontally opposed, flat four-cylinder layout not only endows the BRZ with remarkable stability and agility, but the all-new 2.0-liter BOXER also produces a healthy 200 hp and 151 lb/ft of torque without the aid of any complicated turbochargers. An advanced direct fuel injection system combined with a high compression ratio (12.5:1) extracts maximum power and fuel efficiency.

 

The 2013 Subaru BRZ is available with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Purists will appreciate the manual transmission’s seductive short-throw shifter and perfectly placed pedals for precise heel-and-toe shifting. The optional six-speed automatic features steering wheel-mounted paddleshifters, and a switch toggle between “Regular” and “Sport” modes for quicker, more athletic shifting including rev-matched throttle downshifting.

 

A standard TORSEN limited-slip rear differential helps maximize traction in spirited driving conditions, and for those occasional track days, the standard Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system offers five settings. Electric power steering helps minimize weight and load on the engine, and its precisely tuned, 13:1 steering ratio makes it a natural choice for driving enthusiasts who enjoy effortlessly drifting through corners.

 

Because of its remarkably low center of gravity, the 2012 Subaru BRZ has a correspondingly low-slung appearance. Standing barely more than four feet in height, the BRZ has an irresistibly eye-catching design, complete with swept-back roofline, bulging front fenders and short overhangs that hearken back to the classic Japanese 2+2 GT Coupes of the 1960s and 70s.

 

The Subaru BRZ also shows its respect for Japanese GT heritage with its timelessly classy and simple interior design. Every component and control is exactly where you would expect it to be, so drivers need only seconds to get acquainted with the essentials. A center-mounted tachometer with an integrated digital speedometer sits directly in front of the driver.

 

Subaru practicality is another BRZ virtue. The BRZ features a lift back hatch and rear seats that fold down, so you can easily fit cargo, a bicycle or even your set of track tires for those days when you absolutely have to get out and go autocrossing.

 

The BRZ is a remarkable sports car and, like every Subaru, it’s remarkably safe. The Subaru Ring Shaped Reinforcement Frame body structure not only provides a stiff, flex-free chassis for maximum performance, it also helps protect occupants in the event of a collision.

 

Every single piece of the 2012 Subaru BRZ, right down to the very last nut and bolt, was designed to culminate in one of the lightest, best handling and most affordable sports cars in a generation. It’s a car that has put smiles on the faces of all who have experienced it including the editors at Motor Trend who called it “off the chart” and said “Subaru nails it,” and the editors at Car and Driver who called the BRZ a “knockout” and said it “appears to be the car we’ve been waiting for.”

 

The 2013 Subaru BRZ will be produced in limited numbers, so contact us for information on availability and the pre-order list. You’ll want to be among the first to get behind the wheel of this exhilarating new machine.