OREANDA-NEWS. May 14, 2012. Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the manufacturer of Subaru automobiles, announced that Vehicle Dynamics International magazine of UK-based UKIP Media & Events Ltd. elected the Subaru BRZ "Car of the Year" at the 2012 Vehicle Dynamics International (VDI) Awards and named FHI's Toshio Masuda "Dynamicist of the Year" for his leading role in the engineering of Subaru's latest sports car. The awards were jointly presented to the Toyota GT 86 ((the "86" in Japan) and its Chief Engineer, Mr. Tetsuya Tada, Masuda's counterpart on the joint development project.

The Subaru BRZ was crowned with the 2012 VDI Car of the Year award for its good balance of handling and stability along with excellent response and driving pleasure. The Dynamicist of the Year title was awarded in recognition for creating the new generation of affordable, stylish rear-wheel drive coupes.

The VDI Awards were first presented in 2008 to recognize the excellence of vehicle ride and handling technologies. In each of six categories ("Car of the Year", "Dynamicist of the Year", "Dynamics Team of the Year", "Innovation of the Year", "Development Tool of the Year", and "Supplier of the Year"), a shortlist of nominations is drawn up from submissions by the readership and with the input of the VDI editorial team. The shortlist goes to an independent, international jury of vehicle dynamicists and expert jounalists for judging.

The Subaru BRZ was unveiled for the World Premiere at Tokyo Motor Show in November 2011 and recently presented to the European press and public at Geneva show in March this year. Developed under the theme of "Pure Handling Delight", Subaru's new sports car is a lightweight rear-wheel drive 2+2 coupe featuring Subaru's latest and most advanced Boxer engine.

FHI offers "Enjoyment and Peace of Mind" to its customers through the Subaru brand statement "Confidence in Motion" and its consistent approach to "Engineering Excellence".