The IAG Subaru BRZ Project: A Balance of Power and Practicality
Sitting quietly in the back corner of our workshop is a pristine 2023 Subaru BRZ that has been parked and patiently waiting for a little attention. Wanting to showcase the potential of this car, we developed a plan, and the BRZ’s wait is finally over. While our focus often revolves around heavily modified, high-powered builds, we decided to take a more practical approach in the setup of this car. Our vision? To transform this BRZ into a track-worthy weekend warrior without sacrificing its functionality as a daily driver. We'll be teaming up with some of the industry’s top aftermarket manufacturers to try a variety of setups, and we’ll be carefully documenting our results on both the track and on the street. Join us in this series of blogs as we chronicle the outcomes of different modification and upgrade setups, aiming to strike the perfect balance of performance and functionality in our BRZ project.
SUBARU BRZ
The BRZ made its debut in 2012, with the first generation continuing a successful production run that lasted until 2020. The second generation was introduced in 2022, featuring significant performance upgrades and a more dynamic design. Our BRZ is a stock 2023 with the Limited trim package. If you’re wondering what that means in terms of mechanical specifications and features, here’s the breakdown; this sporty little coupe came direct from the factory with a naturally aspirated 2.4 liter flat-four engine, yielding 228 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. We opted for the standard six-speed manual transmission and the Limited package, which comes with 18-inch aluminum wheels, summer tires, and blind-spot monitoring. Only available in rear-wheel drive, the BRZ is a departure from Subaru’s typical all-wheel drive offerings. At the moment, in its stock format, our BRZ has a top speed of 140 MPH, and it can go from zero to 60 in about six seconds, but we wouldn’t be in this business if we settled for those numbers.
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A LOT TO LIKE
There is a lot to like about the BRZ in its stock configuration. What we like most about the BRZ is its exceptional handling balance, which is a result of its low center of gravity and 50-50 weight distribution. Of course, we’re all about the increased torque; generation 1 was at 151 lb-ft, so gen 2’s jump to 184 lb-ft was a welcome enhancement, providing a noticeable difference in power delivery and acceleration. This car is considered to be a favorite among driving enthusiasts, so we’re feeling lucky to be working with a car that already has a pretty solid performance base to build upon.
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THE GOAL
Our goal with this project is to showcase a number of mod options to elevate the performance of the BRZ in a way that will still maintain its reliability as a daily driver. We’ll be focusing on modifications that we believe most new BRZ owners would consider, featuring a selection of primarily bolt-on options that are readily available and easy to install. We'll also experiment with different versions of the same part to compare performance gains and provide detailed recommendations. From aftermarket exhausts and engine management systems, to upgraded suspension components and racing pads, we’ll give you the full rundown of how these parts affect the performance of the car.
For a little extra downforce, check out our selection of spoilers, wings and more-
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PROVING GROUNDS
In addition to testing the BRZ around town, we’ll also be making regular trips to Summit Point Raceway in West Virginia. For the sake of comparison, we’ll be sticking to the Main Circuit track each time to ensure our results are as accurate as possible. Not only will this serve as an opportunity to shake down a pretty cool car, but we’ll also have a chance to do a bit of testing on some of our own products under development. We're hoping that our methodical approach will yield some useful data and maybe even a little inspiration for both BRZ owners and the wider Subaru community.
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STAY TUNED
From its humble beginnings in the back of our shop, this BRZ is set to undergo a transformation that we’re hoping will strike the perfect balance between a high-performing track car that you won’t have to trailer. With a focus on practical, bolt-on modifications and collaborations with top aftermarket manufacturers, we aim to push the boundaries of what this car can achieve without sacrificing its reliability. We invite you to stay tuned to this blog series for the latest insights and performance data on our BRZ project.
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Additionally, if you happen to be the proud owner of a BRZ and are looking for some tried and true mod suggestions, or you’re a Subaru fan in general, you’ll definitely want to check out our YouTube channel for more in-depth coverage on the BRZ project and beyond. We have tons of videos to give you the lowdown on the best in Subaru mods, swaps, and more. Our channel is packed with detailed tutorials, expert reviews, and all the latest tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your Subaru. Visit our channel, subscribe, and stay tuned for all the latest updates and expert advice. As always, if you have any questions or need a bit of advice on your own Subaru, feel free to call us at (410) 840-3555 or email us at sales@iagperformance.com.