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.
