Subaru engineers built the BRZ from the ground up for both road and track. Their traditional approach designing the BRZ resulted in a vehicle that’s light, yet highly rigid, and that has a low center of gravity.
Light weight was achieved by using a large percentage of high-tensile steel, an aluminum hood, and thin glass in the rear and rear quarter-panel windows.
The high-tensile steel used in the upper part of the body helps lower the car’s center of gravity. Specifications show a drastically low 2,762-pound estimated base curb weight, which makes the BRZ the lightest rear-wheel drive 2+2 production GT sports car in the U.S. market.
Subaru engineers designed the BRZ engine, transmission, front suspension, body structure, and driving position to contribute to a lower center of gravity.
The body’s ring-shaped reinforcement frame has a perimeter type layout. The frame structure around the floor of the body enhances strength and rigidity, plus it allows the cabin floor to be set lower.
A horizontally opposed boxer engine design helps to lower the center of gravity of a vehicle, so it was a natural choice for a sports car built for awesome handling. The engine’s intake and exhaust manifolds were shortened to reduce its external dimensions, allowing it to be mounted lower in the vehicle to help reduce the center of gravity. Also, the engine was positioned farther to the rear of the car, which contributes to a balanced front-rear weight distribution for more predictable and responsive handling.
Along with the engine, the transmission was mounted as low as possible in the chassis. In addition, body design allowed occupant seating positions to be low in the cabin.
3-Zone Management
The rigid cabin section made of extra-high-tensile-strength steel lends to greater passenger protection and reduced weight.
The front section’s rigidity helps to optimize steering response.
The rear section helps transmit input from the front section to the rear tires, contributing to handling agility.
The body’s ring-shaped reinforcement frame is designed in a 3-zone management system (cabin, front, and rear sections) that helps reduce weight and increases rigidity. The added rigidity provides a strong foundation for chassis systems (for improved handling) and enhances crash safety as well.