Subaru is considering a European return for the BRZ sports coupe in its third generation – and it could be electric.
Bosses have told Autocar it is part of a wider debate in how to return to the European sports car segment in a bid to cater to the strong enthusiast customer base.
The brand has not offered a performance car on the continent since the first-generation BRZ in 2020. While that car’s second generation was launched in markets such as the US and Japan in 2024, only its Toyota GR86 twin came here – and strict European emissions and safety regulations meant it was only sold in limited numbers.
But, Subaru’s European boss David Dello Stritto said that the nameplate could return to Europe in the form of an EV. “Our options are open,” he told Autocar.
His comments were backed by the brand's global EV product boss Inoue Masahiko. Speaking to Autocar, he confirmed that an electric version of the BRZ “was under consideration” and had also been heavily looked at in the past with its long-term partner Toyota.
However, he added that the timing needed to be right: “We did consider electrifying the BRZ and GT86, but the win-win relationship is more important, and for the moment we can’t get the kind of benefits for both sides.”
The Japanese brand has teased the idea of an electric sports coupé with the chunky, high-riding Subaru Sport Mobility concept of 2023.
Subaru is currently on an all-out offensive in the family car market with a line-up that consists of the Crosstrek, Outback and Forester, as well as the new electric Uncharted, E-Outback, and updated Solterra.
Stritto said for any sports-focussed models to come to Europe, these need to first perform – especially the Uncharted. “We feel very positively about Subaru enthusiasts, but we need to see how Uncharted does first,” he said.
Asked if the current BRZ could instead come to Europe with an electrified powertrain, Masahiko said it “would be difficult” due to the car’s packaging limitations, and that an electric version would be “easier” to develop.
From a business perspective, Stritto said that bringing “100 examples to Europe” of the current BRZ – following the limited-run GR86 – wouldn’t make long term sense.
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What was Subaru UK's excuse for not bringing in the second generation BRZ? neither for that matter didn't put much effort into selling the first generation car either. Speaking as a former BRZ owner I could never understand why the importer never made much effort to sell this fabulous car here, not that Toyota did much better in selling the GR/GT86 either