The Subaru BRZ is one of the most affordable and fun-to-drive sports cars on the market. It offers a balanced, agile handling, responsive, rev-happy engine, and sleek and lightweight body. But for some enthusiasts, the BRZ is not enough. They want more performance, exclusivity, and involvement from the legendary Subaru Tecnica International (STI) division. That's where the Subaru BRZ tS comes in.
The tS stands for "tuned by STI," and it's not a new concept. Subaru first introduced the BRZ tS in 2018 as a limited edition of 500 units. It featured some suspension, brake, and cosmetic upgrades but no power increase. The 2024 Subaru BRZ tS is different. It's not a limited edition but a regular trim level that will be available alongside the Premium and Limited models. It also benefits from the new 2.4-liter flat-four engine that debuted in the second-generation BRZ, which produces 228 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. That's a significant improvement over the previous 2.0-liter engine that made 205 horsepower and 156 lb-ft of torque.
But the Subaru BRZ tS is not just about more power. It's also about enhancing the already excellent dynamics of the BRZ with some carefully selected modifications. The most noticeable ones are the new 18-inch alloy wheels in dark gray metallic, wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires. These wheels are exclusive to the tS model, and they hide a set of gold-painted Brembo brakes with four-piston calipers in the front and two-piston calipers in the rear. The brakes provide more stopping power and better fade resistance than the standard ones.
The other major upgrade is the suspension system, which STI has tuned to provide more stability and feedback. The 2024 Subaru BRZ tS features new Hitachi dampers that replace the Sachs units from the previous model. These dampers are specially designed for the tS model, and they work with stiffer springs and a larger rear stabilizer bar to reduce body roll and improve cornering grip. The steering system has also been recalibrated to match the new suspension settings.
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The exterior of the Subaru BRZ tS also receives some subtle but distinctive touches that set it apart from the rest of the lineup. The side mirror caps and the shark fin antenna are finished in gloss black, while the front grille has a matte black insert with a tS badge. The rear spoiler is also unique to the tS model, and it's made of carbon fiber with red accents. The spoiler is adjustable and can be set to three different positions depending on the driver's preference and driving conditions. The rear bumper also has a matte black diffuser with four exhaust tips.
The interior of the 2024 Subaru BRZ tS is mostly similar to the Limited trim, but it also adds some exclusive features. The seats are upholstered in black leather and Alcantara with red stitching and tS logos on the headrests. The steering wheel, shifter knob, door panels, dashboard, and center console also have red stitching, while the instrument cluster has a red tachometer with an STI logo. The center console also has a plaque indicating each tS model's serial number.
The Subaru BRZ tS comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission, which is our preferred choice for this sports car. The manual transmission also comes with Subaru's EyeSight driver assistance system. This system is new for the BRZ and is standard on all models with a manual transmission.
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The Subaru BRZ tS will go on sale in early 2024, and it will be available in three colors: Crystal White Pearl, Magnetite Gray Metallic, and Sapphire Blue Pearl. Subaru has not announced the pricing yet, but we expect it to be slightly higher than the Limited trim, which starts at $30,000. The previous BRZ had a starting price of $34,355, so we wouldn't be surprised if the new one was close to that figure.
The 2024 Subaru BRZ tS is not a radical departure from the standard BRZ, but it's a welcome addition to the lineup that offers more performance, exclusivity, and involvement from STI. It's a sharper and more focused version of one of our favorite sports cars, and we can't wait to get behind the wheel of one.
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