When Toyota and Subaru came out with 2 totally new, rear drive sports cars sharing the same platform, it sent a shockwave through the industry. For many years, the king of affordable sports cars was the MX-5 as it faced very little competition. The 86 and BRZ twins were a total revelation, giving enthusiasts a new entry point into the sports car market. Not long after, a whole bunch of aftermarket modifications popped up including the first ever “Rocket Bunny” widebody kit. It kickstarted a new styling trend that’s still in fashion today, and this particular BRZ called Sonic has the insane kit with a few little extras that make it a true showstopper.
Can you really call a Subaru that isn’t blue a Subaru? I suppose you still can but the colour has become synonomous with the brand due to the badge that houses the famous stars of pleiades. Blue is also the colour of a certain hedgehog that inspired the name of this manic machine. Even the wheelnuts are blue on the black Work 5 spoke wheels which are far wider than the skinny stock wheels. Same goes for the tyres of course. Whilst this car is primary painted in the signature metallic blue, it does feature a carbon-fibre bonnet because how else are you going to let people know you’re serious about performance?
I don’t think I’ve seen an interior quite like this one. It’s not often you see artwork on the dashboard and around the gear lever. The car also features a retro steering wheel that doesn’t have an airbag with some interesting stitching and interior lighting down in the footwell. A handful of people soo often focus on making the exteriors of their cars pretty that they sometimes neglect the interior, making for a car that may not stand out from the crowd as much. Being able to get a good look inside gave me a lot more respect for the build, which I initially fobbed off as just another widebody BRZ.
If the widebody kit on it’s own wasn’t mad enough, there are some extra pieces added on that really set it off. The massive front splitter looks like it’s been borrowed from a time attack car and the wing extension on the back is the sort of part that a rag-tag group of tuners would add to their car for some extra aero performance. Whether it makes a difference I don’t know, but I honestly don’t care. The rear diffuser is more aggressive than the standard item and a seemingy perfect addition for a wild bodykit. Moreover, louvres for the side quarter windows and rear window add yet more retro tuning charm from the 80s. Nothing is done by halves on this car.
Neon lights may not be a thing anymore but putting LEDS underneath your car definitely is, as it’s both a cheaper and smarter option for those who can’t go without creating a light show as they drive. You can program them to do all kinds of funky stuff, which is not something you can easily do with old-fashioned neons.
It’s actually crazy just how many styles and influences combine on this small, rear drive sports car with a manual gearbox. Toyota and Subaru built their cars with tuning in mind, and aftermarket manufacturers jumped in like ducks to water. Sonic may not be the biggest fan of water but metaphors aside, this BRZ encapsulates the modern tuner scene like very few cars can. Controversial? Maybe. Boring? Absolutely not.
