The auto world was on edge this past week when Subaru leaked pictures of the above sports car, appearing to be their fabulous 2014 Subaru BRZ tS Concept in the tuned and turbocharged “STI” trim. Every sports car enthusiast has been waiting for the day when the BRZ’s 200-horsepower, 2.0-liter I-4 got a little extra oomph, but closer examination reveals that our wait is not quite over.
The model in Subaru’s leaked pictures has been confirmed only to be the concept “tS” variant of the BRZ family, a lighter, sportier version of the already impeccable sports car revealed this week at the 86 Auto Festival in Japan. The tS’s improvements over the base BRZ, unfortunately, are exclusively cosmetic–so yes, the same naturally-aspirated 2.0-liter 4-cylinder still sits under the hood. Moan as you may, this newest trim level gives the BRZ an impressive road presence that almost makes you overlook the 200 horsepower.
Sources have confirmed that two distinct BRZ models will be available within the tS trim level: the more expensive tS GT-Package, pictured above, receives a massive carbon fiber wing, side extensions, exclusive black lightweight wheels, Recaro seats, and Brembo brakes, among other performance enhancements. The standard tS trim level receives all of the above features minus the Recaro seats, the blacked-out wheels, and the carbon-fiber spoiler.
Just 750 units of the BRZ tS will ever be produced, with 500 of them in standard tS trim and 250 of them as GT-Package BRZs. Though still not the BMW M4 challenger we had hoped for, the tS trim BRZ will surely be a desirable model for collectors due to its bold looks and super-low production numbers. There will always be cult followings for cheap, light, beautifully-handling vehicles, and the BRZ, especially in tS trim, will prove no exception. However, for those of us dying for drifts, burnouts, and the rush of boost pressure, follow the coming year’s major auto shows – the BRZ STI is just around the corner.
Please enjoy this TFLcar.com mashup video of brother vs. brother: the Subaru BRZ vs. the Scion FR-S.
