I don't understand the logic of keeping the new BRZ naturally-aspirated. Really cool driver's car though.
This is a thing I hear constantly about the 86/BRZ and something that I feel is heavily misunderstood by western/American buyers. A key point that many western car enthusiasts might not get is that cars like the 86/BRZ is first off, it was conceived with the Japanese market heavily in mind, and with a clear cut philosophy from the start. That philosophy is obviously being a modern spiritual(key word) successor to the AE86 corolla(not a fast car by any measure). The key tenants being front engine rear wheel drive("FR" is all over the marketing), fun to drive, light and CHEAP. This is extremely evident if you watch Japanese commercials and promotional videos of the car from Toyota, clips of the original AE86 drifting around and carving up tracks and mountain passes is extremely prevalent, and the language such as " the joy of driving" is all over. Power and 0-60 times, and ripping from stoplights are not present or mentioned at all. It is supposed to be a car that is 単純に楽しい、simply fun.
It is not trying to compete with M sport BMW, base model neo muscle cars, 370/400Z's, or uber hot hatchbacks, at least in terms of outright speed and power. Making it forced induction would have made it impossible to keep the MSRP at $28k USD, and NA 220hp is more than enough for their original design goal of the vehicle.
So why not have it as an option or upgraded model? Another often overlooked fact is that while they will never outright admit it, JDM OEMs know that their niche cult cars are being bought by people that modify cars. They even acknowledge a bit now, the main Japanese promo video for the new GR 86 featured clips from old professional drifting competitions ,old school Japanese tuner/racing magazine DVD clips of the AE86, and footage from big tuner car meets in Japan, something fairly unthinkable 10-20 years ago. There were 2-3 true bolt-on turbo and supercharger kits from near or at OEM quality manufacturers like HKS that were available for a few thousand dollars basically as soon as the cars launched. Why spend the dev money to fit in a turbo and deal with emissions and MPG reqs when for the same final price a consumer can buy the car and fit in a kit to their liking. It would have gotten more press/social media praise in the American market to go FI, but is it worth it for a car that will sell less in its entire run than a Rav4 does in a year, and that praise primarily coming from people who will never buy one?
I personally would have thought it cool to have a stock turbo 86/BRZ available, but I can certainly understand their logic not to do so. I also would have preferred that they developed a base chassis from scratch and put in their own inline 4 instead of basically sculpting a subaru unibody and powerplant package as best they could into a 2 door RWD sports car, but the project would not have made any financial sense and never would have happened if they had not gone that route, so I understand their logic there too.
Sorry for the long winded post and I'm not trying to berate you for your completely valid opinion at all, just something that IMO is a bit misunderstood and hear a ton.