Subaru introduced the second-generation BRZ for 2022. It features a new, sharper exterior and an updated interior, but it rides on the old BRZ platform. The new engine is larger and a bit more powerful, but some enthusiasts are still annoyed by the fact that it doesn't have a turbo yet. But does the BRZ actually need a turbo? The old BRZ came with an annoying torque dip and you needed to rev the boxer engine like crazy to get that push, but it seems Subaru fixed that with the new a larger 2.4-liter flat-four. And the video below explains why.
The old 2.0-liter flat-four came with 205 horsepower and 156 pound-feet of torque on tap. Some complained that it was underpowered, but the first-gen BRZ was actually on par with most of its competitors. The big issue was that the boxer engine suffered from a big torque dip between 3.000 to 4,500 rpm. That's where torque should come to life in naturally aspirated engines. Instead, the engine had to be revved really high to benefit from all the torque and, on top of that, it sounded really bad getting there. This video by Hagerty explains why the second-gen BRZ no longer has this problem.
Using simple math and some graphs, the video shows that the new BRZ no only packs notably more torque, but it also got rid of that nasty dip. The 2.4-liter engine still has a torque dip, but it's smaller (only five pound-feet versus more than 15) and it stretches over a narrower rev range (3,600 to 4,600 rpm). The video also compares the second-gen BRZ to the Mazda MX-5 and reveals that the Subaru boasts a slight advantage.
Subaru BRZ facts
The second-generation BRZ features a naturally aspirated, 2.4-liter flat-four engine versus the old 2.0-liter unit. The mill packs 228 horsepower, a solid 23 horses more than the previous coupe. Torque-wise, it cranks out 184 pound-feet, 28 more than its predecessor. The second-gen BRZ is marginally heavier than the previous model, but the extra oomph makes for a superior power-to-weight ratio. Just like its predecessor, the 2022 BRZ is available with a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic gearbox.