Subaru gives BRZ sport coupe more horsepower, styling

Subaru is freshening its BRZ rear-drive sport coupe for 2017, giving it more power, suspension changes and styling tweaks.

Outside, the 2017 BRZ gets a minor face-lift that includes a new front bumper and full LED headlights that incorporate the turn signals and new daytime running lights. The 2017 BRZ will come in Premium and Limited trim levels, and both will have a new aluminum rear spoiler and 10-spoke, 17-inch alloy wheels.

A new Performance Package for Limited models with the manual transmission includes Brembo brake calipers, larger front and rear rotors, Sachs Performance shock absorbers and 17-by-7.5-inch black alloy wheels.

Under the hood, the 2017 BRZ still uses the 2-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine. But when teamed with the standard six-speed manual transmission, there's a five horsepower increase to a total of 205 horsepower. Subaru also said it shortened the final drive ratio to improve acceleration with the stick shift. Power ratings and the final drive ratio are unchanged with the optional six-speed automatic.

Suspension updates include new coil springs and shock absorbers, a larger rear stabilizer bar and reinforced strut-tower braces. Thresholds for when the stability control system activates have been raised as well to increase handling limits.

The new BRZ goes on sale in September, and prices will be announced closer to its on-sale date. Subaru says the Performance Package will become available in winter 2017.

The BRZ coupe debuted as a 2013 model as the product of a partnership with Toyota, which sold its version as the Scion FR-S. With the demise of the Scion brand, the FR-S will be rebadged for 2017 as the Toyota 86, the name used in other markets. That model also gets a host of updates for 2017.