We Know We Should Give Up On A Proper Subaru BRZ STI, But We Can't Do It
We need to talk about the new US-only Subaru BRZ tS. When the original Subaru USA tweet emerged, we dared to dream. We’ve known that they and Toyota have resisted putting more power into the platform, other than in concept form, ever since the car was launched. We’ve known that they’ve always said it most likely won’t happen, but Subaru’s concept teaser got us thinking it just might be possible.
Unlike when we got overexcited about a potential Mazda RX-9, where we should never have considered it commercially possible, let alone likely, this time I think we can hold our heads up and argue the point. I think a more powerful BRZ genuinely could happen, or could have happened, until we learned the new car’s name for sure.
For one thing, more power is what the car’s fans (and haters) have been crying out for since its launch in 2012. Those of us who’ve driven the BRZ and GT86 in anger know what a beautiful chassis balance it has, how responsive it is and how easy it is to enjoy, but more straight-line go is what a lot of people want. Another 50bhp would give it the sort of legs that would bring out even more talent from the finely-honed skeleton. It sounds like a win-win, to us, and for that reason a power upgrade has always been – and will always be – a plausible factory upgrade. Until the model is canned altogether, it will have to stay on the table from our point of view.
When we learned that the special 500 units would be badged ‘tS’, we obviously knew that was it; no extra horses this time. A previous tS car built for the Japanese market had set the bar very clearly at the brakes, aero, wheels and springy bits, and no further. We have to say that it’s a bit disingenuous to slap either of them with a suffix that means ‘tuned by STI,’ when no actual tuning has taken place.
Sure, lighter wheels should mean that it’s faster-responding on the throttle, grippier rubber should increase corner speeds on track, and the aero add-ons will help it stick to the road even better still, but this is a car that deserves more power. It always has. That’s the second reason we feel we were right to let ourselves dream a little.
Raising its maximum corner speeds as part of the tS mods will only exacerbate the feeling that it could do with more straight-line shove. It’s a curious tactic. Any other car bar the MX-5 would have been given at least a token 10bhp for a more focused limited-edition run like this; possibly more. If it was a BMW you’d probably expect at least 30bhp on top. The fact that five years down the line, while hot hatchbacks have been getting faster and faster, this car and its twin have remained the same is odd. Odd enough to suggest that it really is by rigid company mandate.
It might be time to admit defeat. Let’s be honest: if it was going to happen we’d have seen some sign of it by now. More powerful BRZs and GT86s will have to stay limited to the aftermarket tuning scene. If only we could truly let go of our hope of a full-blooded BRZ STI… which we can’t.
Comments
In theory, wouldn’t Toyota not be too happy with Subaru if they created a faster version. Toyota probably doesn’t have a faster GT86 in the works and doesn’t want Subaru to create a faster BRZ. Give up on a BRZ STi, it ain’t happening.
Well Toyota could make a TS or GRMN version of the 86.
There are tons of reasons why BRZ doesn’t need more power. But I’m too lazy to write all of them
Right now the BRZ is set up to be balanced with how much power it has. So does it need more power: no. If they were to make a full STI version, they would upgrade the suspension, brakes, etc and in that case more power would balance the whole package of the car. It is kind of like the fact that if the dodge demon was just a more powerful hellcat it would be ridiculously stupid because the car already couldn’t handle the power it had. Instead they gave it fatter tires, less weight and other systems to compliment the power (yes, it still didn’t need that power, but they still set it up for that amount of power)
They keep deciding to tease and bait us, so we’ll just keep expecting then to eventually release the BRZ STI. They can’t fool us forever
They won’t release it
The Toyobaru isn’t a power car, but if you’re going to increase grip with that aero, you should increase power just enough to maintain the overall balance. That doesn’t mean adding a turbo, but it can’t be too hard to get a little more power (say 15hp more)?
Subaru just doesn’t want it to disturb the WRX sales, so not anytime soon
So does the STi premium represent a good deal for what you get?
Or should you skip it entirely, enjoy lower insurance premiums, and turn to the aftermarket for a better bang for the buck on the performance - and power - upgrades?
Purchasing these are only good for warranty on your body kit
Recipe for a BRZ STi:
EJ25
Unequal length headers
AWD
Gold 8 spoke Enkei wheels
TRD Spoiler
Double the price tag
No AWD
Subaru’s AWD wouldn’t work on the BRZ, as in a WRX (or any other AWD Subaru) the entire engine block is in front of the front axle, allowing for the Symmetric AWD transmission to be placed behind it (The center and front differentials are inside the casing, and the front half-shafts come out of the sides of the casing). However, in the BRZ the engine is right on top of the front axle, or a solid 50cm further back that it’d need to be to fit a Subaru AWD system. Shifting the engine half a meter forward would completely destroy the car’s weight distribution, specially with the 2 extra differentials and axles. So as simple as it initially sounds on paper, it’s simply not viable with the BRZ’s platform. Besides, Subaru Tecnica International isn’t a matter of AWD, it’s a matter of performance.
The toyobaru is about corners, but they forgot they also had to put power in it.
The GT86 chassis hit its intended market. It doesn’t need more power from the factory. They made it underpowered most probably anticipating aftermarket support, like the AE86 had.
Stop whining guys.
Guys, I know the BRZ/86’s power output isn’t that high, why hate it when it’s predecessor is the AE86 which was built under the same philosophy of being a cheap, reliable, small sports car?
To be honest, i’ve a close friend of subaru (panama-colombia owner and only seller) and he said that they will put a 300BHP BRZ for the end of the year. I can get a video of him telling that also.