It's the return of the affordable rear-drive sports car, for which purists have been crying out.

First comes the Toyota 86 to be followed by its kissing cousin, Subaru’s BRZ.

The decision by Subaru Australia to add the rear-drive coupe to its portfolio is a risk because the company has staked its credentials on all-wheel drive only.

But Subaru was not prepared to give Toyota a free reign with the sports car expected to provide the Japanese giant with some flair in an otherwise competent but dull model range.

So Toyota and Subaru will slug it out in this sector where there are few competitors, except for Mazda’s iconic MX-5 which is a two seater only.

Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior has confirmed it will add the sports car to its line-up in 2012.

“We have been an exclusively all-wheel drive car company since 1997, so the decision to import the Subaru BRZ was not taken lightly,” he said.

“However, several factors swayed our decision, the passion and persuasion of the FHI engineers involved in the project was telling.

“They have poured their DNA into this car, so it drives like a Subaru. And because it is built in our spiritual home in Gunma prefecture, it has to be a Subaru.

“It’s a driver’s car, so is in keeping with our fun to drive philosophy.

“Secondly, the testing and development we have undertaken for the Australian market has left me in no doubt that this is a Subaru specifically for our unique Australian conditions.

“Thirdly, we have been overwhelmed by the response to the BRZ since its unveiling in Tokyo.

“People have been pleading for us to bring the BRZ into the country. Dealers have been astonished at the level of interest. Indeed the first BRZ has already been sold in Adelaide, despite no pricing or specification being released.”

The BRZ will go head-to-head with Toyota’s mechanically identical 86 coupe from June.

Australian pricing and specification are yet to be confirmed but Toyota expects prices to start at less than $35,000.

It is understood the BRZ has different springs and dampers to the 86 in order to better appeal to Subaru customers.

Both the BRZ and 86 are based on a new Impreza-inspired platform and powered by the latest version of Subaru’s trademark “boxer” (flat-four) engine, fitted with Toyota’s direct and port-injection induction system.

The new 2.0-litre engine is a higher-revving (7400rpm redline) version of the FB unit that is already in the Forester and will power the new Impreza and XV next year.

It is positioned 120mm lower and 240mm further back than in the new Impreza, contributing to 53/47 per cent front/rear weight distribution.

Both cars are expected to feature a centre of gravity as low as 460mm, bettering some of the world’s most popular sportscars including the Mazda MX-5, RX-8, BMW M3, Volkswagen Golf R and Subaru WRX STI.

Product planning and styling was undertaken by Toyota, while Subaru was responsible for engineering, development and production of both models, the interiors of which feature many Subaru hallmarks.

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