Subaru is set to launch its long-awaited all-new 2022 Subaru BRZ on 18-November. However, there’s some bit of unfortunate news. The BRZ will be a US-only model according to reports.

There are no plans for the next-gen sports car to be brought over into Europe, a spokesperson told Autocar. This is similar to the Nissan Z Proto which will only be sold in Japan and U.S.A if it enters production.

The 2022 BRZ will retain the sleek coupe profile as the outgoing BRZ and sport 18-inch wheels similar to the Toyota GR Yaris.

Powertrains are still under wraps but we speculate that it would receive a new 2.4-litre naturally-aspirated boxer engine that produces 220 PS and 240 Nm. A 6-speed manual will be featured along with a possibly new 8-speed automatic.

The outgoing BRZ is one of the most fun cars to drive even if some find it underpowered. It embodies the essence of a traditional, affordable sports car.

However, the sad reality is that sports car sales are down globally and have become more of a niche segment. Even in Europe which has some of the most fantastic roads ever, stricter emission rules force companies to focus more on electrification technology.

In 2019, the European Union announced new regulations in which car companies must provide an average of 95 g/km of CO2 emissions from its entire lineup. This will be enforced starting from 2021. Subaru would struggle to meet the average based on their small lineup.

Another reason would be crossovers and SUVs which quickly become bread and butter for many manufacturers. The idea of a sports car is no longer a feasible solution to bring in buyers.

Akio Toyoda-san might be right in saying that the Toyota Supra is one of the last globally-available sports cars. The Toyota GR86, the GT86’s replacement is speculated to be a JDM-only model but Toyota hasn't announced anything officially.

Toyota has a better chance of selling the GR86 in Europe since its hybrid and EV lineup could offset the average CO2 emissions. But, if the JDM-only rumours turned out to be true, the only way we could get our hands on one would be through grey imports.