What do you get when two Japanese auto manufacturers join forces to develop a formidable yet affordable 2+2 sport coupe? You come up with an incredibly capable, reasonably priced vehicle that is a ton of fun to drive under the guise of two distinctive marques. The vehicles in question are the 2013 Subaru BRZ and the 2013 Scion FR-S, which are nearly identical in terms of design and mechanical composition. The two cars differ only in the front and rear fascia treatment, content, headlamp styling and of course badging.
We’ll deal here with the 2013 Subaru BRZ, with power delivered to the rear wheels through either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with Sport and Winter modes, paddle shifters and downshift rev matching. The engine is a 2.0-liter horizontally-opposed Subaru “Boxer†four-cylinder with D4-S (featuring combined Direct and Sequential Port Fuel Injection) that cranks out 200 horses at 7,000 rpm, while developing 151 pound feet of torque at 6,400 rpm. Premium fuel is required.
Using a large proportion of high-tensile steel, with aluminum for the hood, the 2013 Subaru BRZ weighs just 2,762 pounds. Contributing to its agile handling, the Subaru BRZ has one of the lowest centers of gravity of any production car in the world at only 18.1 inches. The Boxer engine design, with its low height and its mass positioned low in the chassis, contributes to a low center of gravity taking maximum advantage of this characteristic.
The rear-wheel drive configuration allows placement of the engine lower and farther back in the BRZ than in any other Subaru model in order to attain the best possible center of gravity and polar moment of inertia. Moving the engine closer to the center of the chassis helped make the BRZ quite compact, at just 166.7 inches long on a 101.2-inch wheelbase.
The 2013 Subaru BRZ will be available in two levels of trim: Premium and Limited. Both models include all of the BRZ’s performance features, such as the sport-tuned suspension with front strut brace and TORSEN limited-slip differential.
The BRZ Premium model’s list of standard fare includes: a comprehensive infotainment configuration anchored by a touch-screen navigation system that comes with a 6.1-inch LCD screen, AM/FM stereo with HD radio, voice activated controls, map upgrades via SD card, a single-disc in-dash CD player, a 196-watt amplifier, 8 speakers, MP3/WMA capability, Bluetooth hands-free phone and Bluetooth audio streaming connectivity, iPod control capability, iTunes tagging capability, a USB port, Sirius XM Satellite Radio with NavTraffic (subscriptions required), SMS text messaging capability, and a 3.5mm auxiliary audio input jack.
Externally, the BRZ Limited is distinguished in front with fog lights and in the rear by a body-colored trunk spoiler. In terms of its stunning and stealthy exterior visual appeal, the BRZ reflects its inner power with a low, sleek roofline that directs airflow cleanly and efficiently over the gracefully curved cabin. The stance is low and the face delivers a menacing competitive look with its sharp expressive lines and forms, such as the wide lower intake and angular headlight assembly that houses projector-beam headlamps. Front fenders protrude aggressively upward, while moving to the rear, the fascia sits low and wide, with a diffuser panel that encases the sporty dual exhaust system. LEDs showcase the edgy taillamps along with center-mounted backup lights.
Inside, drivers are treated to a 3-spoke, tilt and telescoping, leather wrapped steering wheel, accented with red stitching. A multi-function display provides current and average fuel economy. There are carpeted floor mats, and each door panel integrates a cup/bottle holder, with the center console offering two additional cup holders. There are also two 12V power points, one in the glove box and another in the center console.
The 2013 Subaru BRZ features 2+2 seating with deeply bolstered, supportive and comfortable seats up front, with a rear seatback that folds flat for added versatility and functionality. A large, center-mounted tachometer is the focal point of the three gauge main cluster that also features a programmable shift indicator, allowing the driver to set rev limits in 100-rpm limits beginning at 2,000 rpm. Speed is measured by both digital and analog gauges.
A soft skin dash cover delivers a flat horizon design with a raised centerline rib, which in combination with the pronounced front fender bulges aid in keeping the driver intuitively oriented with the car’s position.
The BRZ is equipped with a host of standard safety features including: six airbags, traction control, electronic brake-force distribution, vehicle stability control, brake assist, and ABS with “Smart Stop†technology.
Despite its powerful 100-horsepower per liter engine, the BRZ yields an estimated EPA rating of 34 mpg on the highway with the automatic transmission or 30 mpg with the manual gearbox. Weight is kept to a minimum by the implementation of an aluminum hood, a solid roof and by a trunk rather than a hatch design. The low weight is complemented by dynamically tuned suspension componentry consisting of MacPherson struts forward and a double wishbone setup aft. Positive steering feel is provided by electronic power steering and the BRZ rides on lightweight 17×7-inch alloy wheels. Ventilated disc brakes are standard at all four corners. Experienced performance driving enthusiasts will appreciate the vehicle stability control and traction control systems, which may be set in varying configurations.
Pricing for my test 2013 Subaru BRZ which came in Premium trim with the 6-speed manual gearbox was set at $25,495, which came to $26,265 after adding destination charges. It sported a Blue Pearl exterior and a Black cloth interior. The BRZ, due to its heightened content is priced at roughly $2,000 more than the Scion FR-S.
Considering the starting price point of the 2013 Subaru BRZ sports coupe along with its performance credentials, it’s clearly destined to become a popular model in the Subaru stable. It serves up a most attractive and appealing design, with harmonious and well-balanced lines and contours. while evoking a bold and athletic image even when parked.
Acceleration is impressive, as are the precise handling characteristics. The ride quality is comfortable, but not benign. To put BRZ through its paces, I piloted it over one of my favorite California backcountry roads, where it performed admirably.
In the final analysis, the 2013 Subaru BRZ Premium 2+2 sport coupe delivers fun in large, heaping doses under normal driving conditions, as I’m sure it would on a racecourse with an almost unbelievable price of $26,265. Let’s face it — the BRZ is a no-brainer for the 2+2 sports coupe set.
– Article by Arv Voss
TEST DRIVES
Callaway Returns With a 602-HP Silverado Street Truck
Callaway and Waldoch Crafts have teamed up on a limited-edition Chevrolet Silverado with a supercharged V8, lowered suspension, and a stealthy appearance.
Callaway is back in the street truck business, partnering with Minnesota-based Waldoch Crafts on a heavily modified Chevrolet Silverado 1500.
The new truck combines Callaway’s performance upgrades with Waldoch’s custom styling.
602 HP From a Supercharged V8
The centerpiece is Callaway’s SC602 package, which adds a 2.65-liter Roots-type supercharger to GM’s 6.2-liter V8.
The result is 602 horsepower and 560 lb-ft of torque, with power sent exclusively to the rear wheels.

The Callaway-Waldoch Silverado produces 602 horsepower from its supercharged 6.2-liter V8.
A stainless-steel Callaway exhaust adds a selectable Sport mode for a more aggressive sound.
The truck also gets a lowered suspension, coil-overs up front, and adjustable dampers.
Performance Hardware Goes Beyond the Engine
The upgrades continue with 22-inch Callaway-Waldoch wheels wrapped in 305/45 Toyo Proxes ST III performance tires.
Stopping power comes from a Callaway big-brake package with six-piston front calipers and 15-inch rotors.

The Silverado gets a lowered suspension, 22-inch wheels, performance tires, and upgraded brakes.
Because the truck sends all its power to the rear wheels and weighs considerably less than vehicles such as the Cadillac Escalade-V, Callaway and Waldoch are aiming for serious straight-line performance.
Just 100 Launch Edition Trucks
Waldoch handled much of the visual transformation.
The Silverado gets color-matched exterior details, rocker extensions, a custom grille, and a leather-and-Alcantara interior.

The Launch Edition combines a subtle exterior with a customized leather-and-Alcantara interior.
TEST DRIVES
2026 Toyota GR Supra MkV Final Edition
Few modern sports cars generate as much debate as the Toyota GR Supra. Some enthusiasts still point to its collaboration with BMW, while others see that partnership for what it ultimately produced: one of the most compelling rear-wheel-drive sports cars available today.

After spending a week with the 2026 Toyota GR Supra MkV Final Edition, our conclusion is straightforward: the BMW connection does not diminish this Supra. In many ways, it helps make the car better.

Our test vehicle was particularly special. Finished in Burnout Matte Silver with a black Alcantara-and-leather interior, its window sticker showed a $73,300 total suggested retail price, including the Driver Assist Package, GT4-inspired equipment, carbon-fiber mirror caps, matte graphics, and other accessories.
What Do You Get for $73,300?
Under that long hood is the heart of the modern Supra: a 3.0-liter twin-scroll turbocharged inline-six producing 382 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque. Our car paired it with the six-speed intelligent manual transmission, sending everything to the rear wheels. Toyota also gives the Final Edition additional chassis, suspension and braking development intended to make this the most focused version of the MkV.

The numbers only explain part of the experience.
During our week with the Supra, what impressed us most was how usable it remained. This is a genuine performance car that doesn’t punish you for driving it normally. The inline-six delivers effortless torque, the manual gearbox adds the involvement enthusiasts increasingly struggle to find, and the compact two-seat cabin makes the Supra feel like something you wear rather than simply drive.

Push harder and its personality changes. The short wheelbase, low seating position, rear-wheel-drive layout and near-ideal weight distribution make the Supra eager to rotate through corners. Toyota originally engineered the MkV around classic sports-car fundamentals, including a very low center of gravity and 50:50 front-to-rear weight balance.
Yet you can still commute in it, enjoy the JBL audio system, heated power seats and modern driver-assistance technology, and even return surprisingly reasonable fuel economy. The sticker rates our manual Final Edition at 19 mpg city, 26 highway and 21 combined.

Yes, There Is BMW Underneath. That’s Not a Bad Thing.
Let’s address the elephant in the garage.
The fifth-generation Supra was developed in collaboration with BMW and is related to the BMW Z4. Toyota itself acknowledges that the Supra was developed in collaboration with BMW and based on the Z4 platform.

It also uses BMW’s excellent B58 inline-six architecture, and both cars are assembled by Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria.
But calling the Supra simply a “BMW with a Toyota badge” misses the point.
Toyota developed the Supra as a fixed-roof sports coupe with its own body, chassis calibration, steering character and driving mission. Toyota Gazoo Racing engineers have continually refined the MkV through motorsports and track development; the Supra has competed in Formula Drift, Super Taikyu and the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

Think of the BMW partnership less as compromising the Supra and more as giving Toyota access to one of the best modern turbocharged inline-six powertrains available.
Why This Supra May Hold Its Value
This is where the 2026 model becomes especially interesting.
Toyota is closing the chapter on the MkV with the Final Edition, and Toyota says only 1,300 Final Editions are planned for North America. That combination, Final Edition status, limited availability, 382-hp inline-six, rear-wheel drive and an available six-speed manual is exactly the formula enthusiasts tend to remember.

There is already evidence that the Supra holds value unusually well. Current iSeeCars analysis estimates the GR Supra retains approximately 76.1% of its value after five years, ranking it among the strongest luxury two-seat sports cars for resale value.

That doesn’t guarantee appreciation, and we wouldn’t buy one purely as an investment. But a low-mileage, original, well-maintained manual Final Edition has several characteristics that could make it particularly desirable years from now.
The Carsfera Verdict
The 2026 GR Supra Final Edition isn’t perfect. Visibility is limited, cabin storage is minimal, entry and exit require some flexibility, and buyers looking for four seats should look elsewhere.
But none of those things change what matters.
The Supra feels special.

For $73,300 as tested, you’re buying one of the final examples of an increasingly rare formula: a compact, turbocharged inline-six, rear-wheel-drive sports coupe available with three pedals.
BMW supplied some of the ingredients. Toyota turned them into a Supra.
And after living with it for a week, we’d argue that instead of worrying about who baked the cake, enthusiasts should enjoy a slice while they still can.
TEST DRIVES
2025 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands: The Adventure SUV You Can Drive Every Day
If you are considering a 2025 Ford Bronco Sport, the first thing to understand is that it offers more than rugged styling. After four days behind the wheel of a Bronco Sport Badlands, traveling between Port St. Lucie and Miami, visiting the beach, dealing with Florida’s summer weather, and attending a Shakira concert, we discovered an SUV that combines genuine capability with everyday usability.

Our test vehicle arrived in Ruby Red Metallic with a Dark Space Gray leather-trimmed interior. With its squared-off body, upright stance, and Bronco lettering across the grille, it has a stronger visual identity than most compact crossovers.
More importantly, the Badlands has the performance to support that appearance.
The Bronco Sport Badlands Has the Right Engine
While most Bronco Sport trims use Ford’s smaller 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine, the Badlands receives a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. It is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and an advanced four-wheel-drive system.

That extra power makes a noticeable difference. Highway merging feels confident, passing requires less planning, and the engine has enough low-end torque to make the Bronco Sport feel energetic despite its upright shape and off-road equipment.
The steering is easy enough for Miami traffic but still gives the driver a reassuring sense of control. Its suspension feels firm and substantial, particularly with the Sasquatch Package, but it remains comfortable enough for longer trips. Buyers should expect a slightly more rugged ride than they would experience in a Toyota RAV4 or Honda CR-V, but that firmness is part of what gives the Badlands its more purposeful personality.
Easy to Live With in South Florida
The Bronco Sport’s upright seating position and large windows provide excellent visibility. During the drive between Port St. Lucie and Miami, the seats remained supportive, the cabin was comfortable, and the Bronco Sport felt stable at highway speeds.
Its compact exterior dimensions are another advantage. It feels tougher and more substantial than many small SUVs without becoming difficult to park or maneuver through crowded city streets.

For 2025, the Bronco Sport received a major technology upgrade. A 13.2-inch SYNC 4 touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster are standard across the lineup, bringing its cabin closer to what buyers expect from a modern SUV. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, remote start, multiple USB connections, and Ford Co-Pilot360 driver-assistance technology make it an easy vehicle to use every day. Ford’s 2025 update also introduced the available Sasquatch packages and additional off-road technology.
After spending the day on the highway, the Bronco Sport transitioned naturally into Miami nightlife. It may be designed for the trail, but it did not look out of place arriving in the city for a Shakira concert.
Where the Badlands Separates Itself
The Bronco Sport Badlands is not simply an appearance package. Its advanced four-wheel-drive system uses a twin-clutch rear drive unit capable of directing torque across the rear axle. It also includes seven G.O.A.T. drive modes, Trail Control, and off-road-focused 1-Pedal Drive.
Our vehicle added the $2,990 Sasquatch Badlands Package, which further emphasizes its trail capability with more aggressive all-terrain equipment and the HOSS 3.0 off-road suspension.

These features may be more capability than the average Florida driver needs, but they provide extra confidence when dealing with sand, muddy access roads, heavy rain, or uneven terrain.
The interior is equally suited to outdoor use. Rubberized flooring, a washable cargo area, rubber-backed rear seats, under-seat storage, adjustable liftgate floodlights, and a 60/40 split-folding rear seat make it easier to carry sandy towels, beach chairs, wet clothing, and luggage.
This is an SUV designed to be cleaned after an adventure, not protected from one.
How It Compares with the Competition
The Subaru Forester Wilderness is one of the Bronco Sport Badlands’ strongest competitors. It offers more passenger space, 9.2 inches of ground clearance, and a lower starting price of $34,995. However, its naturally aspirated engine produces considerably less power, and its continuously variable transmission does not deliver the same punch as the Bronco Sport’s turbocharged engine and conventional eight-speed automatic. Subaru’s official specifications confirm the Forester Wilderness’ pricing and ground clearance.

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Woodland Edition is the better choice for drivers focused on fuel economy. Its 219-horsepower hybrid system and EPA estimate of 38 mpg city and 35 mpg highway easily outperform the Bronco Sport at the gas pump. It also started at $36,070 for 2025. However, its electronic all-wheel-drive system and trail-focused upgrades are intended more for light off-road use than the more advanced hardware found in the Badlands. Toyota describes the Woodland Edition’s hybrid system, TRD-tuned suspension, and trail equipment here.
The Jeep Compass Trailhawk is another alternative for buyers seeking authentic off-road ability. The Jeep is capable, but the Bronco Sport counters with a stronger personality, cleverer cargo-area features, and a more modern infotainment system.
Fuel Economy and Price
The Bronco Sport Badlands is rated at 21 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined. Those figures are reasonable for a 250-horsepower compact SUV with genuine four-wheel-drive capability, but buyers prioritizing maximum efficiency should consider a hybrid competitor.

Our Badlands started at $40,115. After $5,010 in options, including the Sasquatch Badlands Package, and a $1,595 destination charge, the final MSRP reached $46,720.
Nearly $47,000 is substantial for a compact SUV. At that price, buyers should be certain they want the stronger engine, specialized off-road equipment, and distinctive Bronco character. If most of your driving involves paved roads, a less expensive Bronco Sport Outer Banks may provide a better combination of comfort, style, and value.
Should You Buy the Bronco Sport Badlands?
Buy the Badlands if you want the most powerful Bronco Sport, plan to explore beyond paved roads, or simply prefer an SUV with personality and legitimate capability. Consider the RAV4 Hybrid Woodland if fuel economy is the priority, or the Forester Wilderness if you need more interior space at a lower price.
After four days of Florida highways, beaches, summer rain, Miami traffic, and an unforgettable night with Shakira, the Bronco Sport Badlands proved that it can handle both sides of an owner’s life.
It is comfortable enough for the daily commute, compact enough for the city, practical enough for beach weekends, and capable enough for a real adventure.
The competition may offer more space, better fuel economy, or a lower price. What the Bronco Sport Badlands offers is something harder to measure: it makes even an ordinary drive feel like the beginning of a trip.
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