Subaru Mulls Electric Turbo for BRZ

Subaru-maker Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. is considering adding a performance version of its BRZ coupe fitted with an electric turbocharger, reports Australia’s Motoring magazine.

Subaru previously has said a conventional exhaust-driven turbo wasn’t viable for the BRZ due to packaging and potential safety issues. But Yoshio Hirakawa, who heads the carmaker’s Subaru Tecnica International (STI) unit, tells Motoring that an electric compressor would alleviate these challenges.

So called “e-boost” systems use an electric motor to spool up a turbo’s compressor and force air into the system at low engine speeds. This minimizes turbo lag and improves fuel efficiency. The design also has less hardware than a traditional turbo but uses significantly more power, which likely will require a 48-volt electrical system.

In addition to more powerful engines, future STI models also will get improved driving characteristics. This includes tuning the company’s Lineartronic continuous variable transmissions to feel more like a manual gearbox, with dynamic shifting and faster launches, Hirakawa says.

Subaru aims to launch two new STI performance models per year. The only such car currently available under the sub-brand is the Impreza WRX STI hot hatchback.

If approved, an e-boosted BRZ STI model likely won’t be added until the base model is redesigned in 2018, other media reports note. Subaru co-developed the car’s platform with Toyota Motor Corp., which markets its own GT86/Scion FR-S variants.