New Subaru BRZ Races to Spot on Car and Driver's 10Best Cars List

RAYNHAM, MASS. (12/27/2012)(readMedia)-- Subaru has hung its hat on all-wheel-drive vehicles for decades, but when it broke outside that comfort zone this past year with its new BRZ sports car, it left nothing on the drawing board. As the automaker's first rear-wheel-drive car since the 1950s, the 2013 Subaru BRZ has quickly made its impact on the industry, recently earning a coveted spot on Car and Driver magazine's 2013 10Best Cars list.

Car and Driver magazine has been compiling its annual 10Best list since 1983, comparing the newest vehicles against each other to determine the best-of-the-best. For the 2013 awards, editors brought together all-new and significantly revised models, as well as last year's winners and vehicles that weren't available for testing for the 2012 list. All nominees had to be available for sale in January 2013 with a base price of less than $80,000.

"Subaru has been building world championship-winning rally cars for years, so its ability to build a great rear-wheel-drive sports car shouldn't come as a total surprise," said Chris Dunn, general sales manager of Mastria Subaru, a Raynham, MA Subaru dealer. "While the recipe may be different, many of the ingredients are the same, like the BRZ's lightweight chassis and responsive engine, which are hallmarks of Subaru engineering."

The Subaru BRZ earned praise from Car and Driver editors for its balanced chassis and willing handling, as well as the communicative nature of its electric power steering. During testing, the BRZ posted some impressive numbers, even matching the performance of the much more expensive BMW M5 on the skid pad.

The editors at Car and Driver magazine aren't the only industry experts lauding the BRZ, as WardsAuto recently chose the sports car's 2.0-liter four-cylinder Boxer engine for its annual 10 Best Engines list. Subaru's powerplant stood out among 40 other nominees, which included new or significantly updated units, as well as last year's winners. WardsAuto editors lauded the BRZ's engine for its smooth mid-range torque, robust exhaust note and its ability to deliver an equal mix of power and efficiency.

Producing 200 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque, the four-cylinder engine can return up to 34 mpg on the highway, proving that performance doesn't have to come at the expense of fuel economy. That power is channeled to the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic transmission with steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles.

"Subaru has created an affordable sports car that offers a premium driving experience without punishing your wallet at every turn," added Dunn. "The BRZ is another excellent example of Subaru's dedication to building cars that are practical yet exciting to drive, and that approach has earned the brand so many loyal customers over the years."

About Mastria Subaru:

Since 2004, Mastria Subaru has served its customers with outstanding Subaru service, sales and parts. With a customer-first attitude and a willingness to go the extra mile, Mastria offers Massachusetts Subaru fans a wide selection of Subarus, whether it is an Outback, Legacy, BRZ, Forester, Impreza, WRX or Tribeca. With a state-of-the-art Subaru service center, their dealership is well equipped to service all your vehicle's repair needs. Located at 1255 New State Highway in Raynham, Massachusetts, Mastria can be reached by phone at 888-820-9015 or online at www.mastriasubaru.com, and they can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MastriaSubaru.