The LS2-Powered “BRZ06” Could be the Goodest of a Good Driver’s Car.
Photos by harshcougar AKA Chris Demorro
I have been fortunate enough to drive both the Subaru BRZ and its slightly more over-steer-inclined cousin, the Scion FR-S, multiple times. I even got to drive them back-to-back at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. I’m not bragging, I’m just pre-emptively striking against the usual internet comment, “I bet this *insert tired insult here* hasn’t even driven one.” I have. Some of the other writers at those events (and enthusiasts at large) have said the cars are fun, but too slow. I disagreed, but that’s because I’m easily distracted by sliding. Put me in a car that is prone to predictable over-steer and everything else in the world gets the mute button. If I’m mid-drift, you could tattoo whipped cream covered cigars on my cheeks without me noticing.
Straightaways? Those are just breaks between incredible cornering speed and downshifts, right? When I took one to a highway and focused solely on power and acceleration, then I understood what they were talking about. These cars are pretty slow. Fun to a factor of ten, but slow.
Naturally everyone looked at Subaru, pointed at the “STI” badge on a certain other Subaru, and, like a 5-year old pointing at a puppy in a store said, “Make BRZ with this stuff in it!!” That solution—while inevitable—is years away. In the meantime people have looked for their own solution. Companies like Crawford chose turbos, but Weapons Grade Performance did what I think is the best, most exciting, and reliable solution: V8 LS power.
One of WGP’s owners got a BRZ, the other found a GTO LS2, and the surgery began. Owner Doug Ross said, “It was my first swap…And it couldn’t be easier.” Easy is a relative term, considering he’s an engineer, but they didn’t have to move the firewall, cut the fenders, or any of that. We’ll call it an outpatient procedure then. (They also installed carbon ceramic brakes and new springy parts, but you can read about all that at the link below.)
The result must be a laugh riot. Light cars with too much power cause you to vomit a maniacal laugh. It’s like a cocktail made of fear, omnipotence, and the best joke you ever heard. A butler for burnouts and noise. And because the LS motor is so good, it’s only 60lbs heavier than the stock 2.0 liter. If the weight balance isn’t affected too much, this might be one of he best automotive recipes ever. What do you think?
Zack Klapman is a Senior Editor for The Smoking Tire, and produces “TUNED” and “BIG MUSCLE” on the /DRIVE Network.