AFTER months of teasing and accepting customer orders, Motor Image Pilipinas (MIP)—the country’s distributor of Subaru vehicles—last week officially introduced the Subaru BRZ.

The car’s much-awaited, much-hyped arrival marks the Subaru brand’s unrelenting offensive in the Philippines as the BRZ follows the launches of the new-generation Subaru XV and Impreza models—both released earlier this year. And the carmaker may not be through yet, as an all-new Forester, already sold in Japan, is likely to hit MIP showrooms next year.

“There has been mounting anticipation for the BRZ since it received outstanding reviews at the Los Angeles Auto Show and Tokyo Motor Show late last year,” said Glenn Tan, executive director of Tan Chong International Ltd., under which group Motor Image Enterprises in Singapore belongs. “With a low center of gravity, a sleek and sexy look, and a newly developed engine, the BRZ delivers a driving experience that will surpass all expectations, which is in line with Subaru’s ‘Pure Handling Delight’ philosophy.

“For those who have long anticipated the arrival of the BRZ on Philippine shores, the wait is finally over,” Tan said.

For his part, MIP General Manager Mike Luyon at the BRZ’s launch program said that a “batch of BRZs are now on a vessel,” indicating that more units of the car have been allocated to the Philippines. Luyon also bared that MIP is enjoying a 59-percent on-year growth, and may finish the year with a 70-percent improvement over 2011’s tally.

The boxer
The BRZ, which Subaru jointly developed with Toyota, is the twin to Toyota’s 86 model that debuted earlier this year. The cars are identical, only differing in the arrangement of the LED in their headlamps, front fascia and cabin materials. Subaru designed and built the car, with Toyota contributing the gasoline direct-injection system for the engine.

Speaking of which, the BRZ may have eschewed Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive system in favor of rear-wheel drive, but it retains the brand’s other signature feature—a horizontally opposed “boxer” engine. Two gearboxes—a six-speed automatic and manual—can be paired with the engine.

Fitted under the BRZ’s long hood is Subaru’s newly developed FA engine that Subaru said is “highly efficient, with superior output and environmental friendliness.” It’s also the first engine of its kind to combine Toyota’s direct and port fuel injection technology, which benefits the car’s responsiveness and fuel efficiency.

With an inherently low center of gravity, the BRZ promises a new level of handling precision. Subaru said this is possible because it had carefully integrated every single element of the car, which counts its streamlined body and roofline, seat positioning, and the flat boxer engine. Its lightweight and highly rigid body is also constructed from high-tensile steel to reduce weight while making the chassis solid and precise, according to the carmaker.

Incidentally, both the BRZ and its 86 twin are built at Fuji Heavy Industries’ plant in Japan. Fuji is the parent company of Subaru.

The shape of the car has been specifically designed to optimize airflow and aerodynamic performance, all while retaining an elegant and stylish look, Subaru continued. It added that the BRZ’s “clever interior design paves the way for exceptional views from all angles, giving drivers greater command over their surroundings.” Other cushy features of the BRZ include keyless access with push-button start, dual-zone automatic air-conditioning, and paddle shifters for the automatic-transmission variant. In terms of electronica, the car has a vehicle stability control that acts on braking, steering and cornering.

MIP prices the BRZ—with whatever gearbox choice—at P1.928 million.