Sunday 11th June 2017

Subaru WRX STI Type RA and BRZ tS

That Nurburgring NotImpreza? It has 310hp...

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Now this is rather confusing. Accompanying the video of a very racy WRX STIon the 'ring recently was a press release from Subaru saying "Stay tuned for information on the production Type RA". Although 'NBR Special' had been dropped from the production car name - and we still don't have any kind of Nurburgring record, or even lap - expectations were still pretty high. Type RA was introduced to a lot of people through Gran Turismo, the 'Record Attempt' (or is it 'Rally Altered'?) cars always pretty special: this one in the PH classifieds, for example, looks like an absolute gem.

And what about the Nurburgring chaps?

While this latest STI RA has some interesting upgrades, it is neither significantly beyond a standard nor in a record-breaking spec. There's a carbon roof, carbon spoiler, forged BBS wheels and six-piston front brake calipers, which are all worthwhile tweaks. But with an "estimated" 310hp and "revised third gear ratio", it's not going to be night-and-day different to a standard car. Bilstein dampers and a recalibrated VDC help on the dynamic side, though it still comes across as a little half-baked given the excitement generated by the video. Let's see. 500 are going to be made, with availability and pricing to follow soon.

As if to compound the disappointment, there's the BRZ STI tS. That's 'tuned by STI', which sounds a bit like getting a Heston sandwich from Waitrose; yes, some influence is good, but what you want is the full ice cream pork pie. Or a properly quick BRZ, if you see where we're getting at. Come on Subaru!

Looks fast; goes like a normal BRZ...

As it is this BRZ tS gets an adjustable carbon spoiler, Sachs dampers, additional chassis bracing, Michelin PS4 tyres and Brembo brakes at each corner. Otherwise known as handy modifications to make to handle more power. But, alas, this car is mechanically standard.

To appease the angry mob, this BRZ gets some additional interior Alcantara, contrast stitching and red accents. Probably not going to cut it, Subaru. Still, another BRZ is better than no BRZ, isn't it?

Subaru USA says the BRZ tS offers the "highest level of... pure handling delight", which is certainly a bold claim. Buyers will be able to find out for themselves in the first quarter of 2018, although it looks like being only for those customers in the United States.

[rossub]

RA = Race Altered, not Rally Altered.

[tonyb1968]

No doubt the STI will be (still) using the EJ20 engine (the FA seems to have issues with con rod design, new engine and they make it weaker than the previous generation).

Looks to be good but 310bhp is nothing, these cars were pushing that 10 years ago, come on Subaru, catch up with the competition.

[Henno196]

If Subaru created a c.300bhp BRZ it would sell like hot cakes, lift the name to new heights and be a proper hot little sportscar. It seems so backwards that they don't give in to demand and create it. And the WRX STI is so out of its time its laughable. Hot hatches provide more power and are better to use daily, who is buying the Subarus? They peaked some time ago but now seem outdated and so left field only people with too much money or incredibly rose tinted spectacles /a burning feeling of nostalgia for the Gran Turismo and Colin McRae days / or a Japanophile must buy them.

[MJ85]

A friend bought a very lightly used latest shape STI saloon. Sold it back to the dealer after 6 weeks! Wasn't impressed at all.

[Regiment]

MJ85 said:

A friend bought a very lightly used latest shape STI saloon. Sold it back to the dealer after 6 weeks! Wasn't impressed at all.

Wow, I bet he lost a lot of money on that mistake.

[MJ85]

Regiment said:

MJ85 said:

A friend bought a very lightly used latest shape STI saloon. Sold it back to the dealer after 6 weeks! Wasn't impressed at all.

Wow, I bet he lost a lot of money on that mistake.

£1,500 I think. I had a little drive, but it was chucking it down and didn't fancy trying to be a rally god, so couldn't say honestly say if it was good or bad.

[culpz]

For me, personally, these new WRX STI models have really lost their way. Now that the Civic Type R has gone turbocharged, these now just look obsolete and i barely ever see any of them on the roads.

I'm a fan of the Toybaru but i'm not quite understanding this version, whether it's for the US only or not. The standard car is fine but i'm struggling to see why the handling would be tweaked but not the power.

Obviously, no GT86/BRZ PH article is complete without using the dreaded "P" word. This car is all about customisation by the owner where necessary, so why have they decided to intervene here specifically?

[tankplanker]

Henno196 said:

If Subaru created a c.300bhp BRZ it would sell like hot cakes, lift the name to new heights and be a proper hot little sportscar. It seems so backwards that they don't give in to demand and create it.

Agreed. The only sensible reason I can see is that a new Celica/Supra is coming and that a higher powered BRZ/GT86 would tread on its toes.

Part of me would love the tS as it would be the perfect base car for me to get Turbo'd as I wouldn't need to do anything else to it apart from sort the engine, which is what I guess is the point of this version.

[ZX10R NIN]

The press release should have said 310bhp BRZ Ts & 400bhp RA & then we'd have had something to talk about.

[BlackPrince]

culpz said:

For me, personally, these new WRX STI models have really lost their way. Now that the Civic Type R has gone turbocharged, these now just look obsolete and i barely ever see any of them on the roads.

I'm a fan of the Toybaru but i'm not quite understanding this version, whether it's for the US only or not. The standard car is fine but i'm struggling to see why the handling would be tweaked but not the power.

Obviously, no GT86/BRZ PH article is complete without using the dreaded "P" word. This car is all about customisation by the owner where necessary, so why have they decided to intervene here specifically?

Yet somehow most reviews seem to laud the STI and say that they are welcome "analog" alternatives to the A45 AMG, Golf R, S3 and so forth. Obviously Subaru didn't do enough here to justify new models, but the STI and BRZ are great cars, and we should be lucky to have them in this era