The New Subaru BRZ tS Is Here, And It's Brought Along A WRX STI RA Friend

Subaru has revealed a new US-bound BRZ tS plus a WRX STI Type RA, both arriving in early 2018
The New Subaru BRZ tS Is Here, And It's Brought Along A WRX STI RA Friend

A new version of the Subaru BRZ is here, and as suspected, it’s not packing a single horsepower more than the standard model. It’s the latest BRZ tS, and unlike the original, Japan-only version, this one’s heading Stateside.

500 examples will make their way to US Subaru dealers - and US Subaru dealers only - in early 2018, with a raft of aero and chassis improvements.

The New Subaru BRZ tS Is Here, And It's Brought Along A WRX STI RA Friend

On the bodywork front, it’s rocking a massive, manually adjustable carbonfibre wing, STI front, rear and side “underspoilers” and a Cherry Blossom Red grille accent.

The BRZ’s handling has been spruced up thanks to the addition of Sachs springs and dampers, backed up by V-bracing in the engine compartment and draw stiffeners under the body to reduce flex.

Lightweight 18-inch STI wheels have also been added, wrapped in 215/40 R18 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres front and rear. Peer through the new multi-spoke rims, and you’ll spy beefy Brembo brake callipers.

The New Subaru BRZ tS Is Here, And It's Brought Along A WRX STI RA Friend

On the inside, you’ll find a massive serving of Alcantara, splashes of red for contrast, and a smattering of tS logos. You also get a unique gauge cluster visor, a “cast black” finish for the centre console and a frameless rear-view mirror.

So it’s another Toyobaru BR-86 with a bunch of tasty changes, without the boost in power we’re - rightly or wrongly - craving. But don’t worry, as this isn’t the only car Subaru is revealing today.

The New Subaru BRZ tS Is Here, And It's Brought Along A WRX STI RA Friend

The company has also cooked up a special edition WRX STI that revives the legendary Type RA (Record Attempt) name. Unlike the BRZ tS, it’s actually been given a small increase in power: it produces 306bhp, thanks to the presence of a new STI cold air intake and freer-flowing performance exhaust. It’s also been given beefier pistons and a fettled ECU.

It’s lighter than a standard STI too, thanks to its carbon fibre roof, missing spare tyre, carbon fibre rear wing and lighweight forged BBS wheels. On the subject of the rims, they’re wrapped in Yokohama Advan Sports boots.

The New Subaru BRZ tS Is Here, And It's Brought Along A WRX STI RA Friend

The six-speed manual gearbox has been given a shorter ratio third cog, plus a short shifter. The suspension meanwhile has been thoroughly re-worked with inverted struts at the front, double wishbones at the rear and Bilstein dampers all round. Bringing things to a stop are Brembo six-piston callipers at the front backed up by dual piston jobbies at the rear, squeezing cross-drilled rotors.

Like the tS, only 500 will be built, all available through US Subaru dealers in early 2018. Pricing and full specifications for each will be available later this year.

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Comments

DJ N

At least the WRX STI Type RA will have a small bump in power…all of our guesses for the BRZ tS power bump was right-there was none after all

06/09/2017 - 00:20 |
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Anonymous

Oh please Subaru.

06/09/2017 - 00:36 |
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unknown243

Never in Canada. Who wants to help me import?!

06/09/2017 - 02:55 |
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Anonymous

Is anyone actually surprised that it’s a tS? I’m not, especially because the Toyota-Subaru agreement (GT86-BRZ) only allows 1 BRZ to be made/sold per 10 GT86s, and as such it’s extremely unlikely that toyota, or the contract, would allow production of a full-fat BRZ STI.

06/10/2017 - 09:30 |
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Nerdy moustache

No its going to be a Subaru brz wrx sti.

06/10/2017 - 18:10 |
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Soni Redx (MD Squad Leader) (Subie Squad Leader)

I would love to drive it

06/11/2017 - 01:20 |
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Niemiah G.

I like what Subaru is doing. They aren’t jumping on to this idiotic hype bandwagon of more power= better. And they still offer manual transmissions instead of overrated Dual Clutches. Subaru’s philosophy on cars is much different from the rest of the market. Notice how much they invested into things like the transmission, suspension, aero, chassis, weight reduction and brakes on this model. This is a REAL track car, folks.

12/04/2017 - 00:15 |
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