Subaru gets the blues

SUBARU has announced pricing for its limited edition BRZ and WRX models that are rocking a new bright blue paint colour as well as offering some extra visual flourishes.

The Hyper blue exterior paint scheme – reminiscent of the Polestar blue found on tuned and tweaked Volvo models – is available on the BRZ sportscar, WRX Premium and WRX STI Premium performance sedans and adds a $2000 premium to the price.

The Japanese car-maker is offering just 50 examples of the option pack in BRZ guise, and buyers can choose a version with a manual gearbox for $40,650 driveaway, or $43,230 driveaway when paired with an automatic transmission.

As part of the BRZ option pack, buyers also get leather and Alcantara trim on the seats, and the two front seats are heated.

On top of the Hyper blue exterior colour, the BRZ also features black door mirrors, badges, alloy wheels and side strakes, as well as a front and rear lip spoiler and strut-brace.

Inside it gains push-button start, custom mats and blue stitching on the gearshift knob, steering wheel, shift boot, the Alcantara seats, instrument panel and door trim.

There are 200 examples of the WRX Premium in the bright blue paintwork, all matched with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), and they feature black door mirrors, badges and BBS performance alloy wheels. The WRX gains the same blue stitching in the cabin as the BRZ, but swaps the the stitching on the instrument panel for the centre console.

The blue WRX Premium is priced from $48,890, plus on-road costs.

Just 50 WRX STI Premiums are available, and they are offered with a manual gearbox only, priced from $57,590 plus on-roads, and they feature most of the exterior flourishes of the WRX Premium, but add short-shift gear selector and a front lip spoiler.

Interior touches include blue stitching on the shift boot, steering wheel, Alcantara seats, centre console and door trim.

The BRZ – the twin of the Toyota 86 – is powered by a 147kW/205Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine matched with a six-speed manual or auto.

The WRX Premium produces 197kW/350Nm from its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder unit, while the WRX STI Premium swaps up that engine for a 2.5-litre turbo pumping out 221kW/407Nm.

Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior said the exclusive variants will gain the attention of local Subaru performance emthusiasts.

“There’s a hyper blue to suit every Subaru sportscar fan, whether it’s the compact coupe represented by the BRZ or the turbocharged thrills of WRX and WRX STI,” he said.

“These specials will certainly earn the respect of our Subaru blue army of performance car fans.”Subaru Blue performance model pricing*

WRX Premium (a)	$48,890
WRX STI Premium	$57,690
BRZ	$40,650
BRZ (a)	$43,230