The BRZ Finally Given The 280-BHP It Deserves

Having owned Subarus and still own a WRX, I’m a massive fan. For one, I love the unique thrum and rumble of the boxer engine, and two, I like the power and handling. I’ve owned my current Prodrive WRX for eight months now and it hasn’t missed a beat.

Anyway, onto the car above. The Subaru community have been teased with the concept of a BRZ STI, but as yet we haven’t seen one or heard anything else about it in the UK. However, the Litchfield Subaru BRZ Spec S – the S stands for supercharged – is something to get excited about.

Before you assume this version comes with a hefty price tag for the extra 80+bhp over the standard model, the supercharger including fitting will only cost you £3,495.

Okay, to some this may sound like a lot to have the extra power, but believe me, that extra grunt transforms a pacy coupe into a serious contender, pushing the big boys like Porsche and BMW.

To put it’s power into context I’ll compare the BRZ Spec S power-to-weight ratio of 226bhp/ton to some other cars.

Nissan 370Z – 206bhp/ton

Audi TTS – 188bhp/ton

Porsche Cayman – 199bhp/ton

Astra VXR – 187bhp/ton

So the BRZ has a whole 20-bhp per ton more than its nearest competitor, the Nissan 370Z, which in its own right is a excellent car.

0-60-mph comes in an M3 threatening 4.9 seconds, where as the standard BRZ takes 6.7 seconds.

Apart from the supercharger, the Litchfield has upgraded brakes, oil cooler, intercooler and Ecutek ECU. It sits slightly different due to the set up and new dampers.

I’ve always been used to the big turbochargers delivering the power, so when I drive one of these supercharged BRZs I’ll be interested in how it feels to stomp the gas pedal down and hear the whine of the supercharger as apposed to the spool and hiss from a turbo.

So for under £30,000 you get a supercharged sports car with Porsche performance and a combined mpg of 28… count me in!

The Subaru BRZ tS Is Here!

Finally, the STI version of the Subaru BRZ will be made. This car shows some great tuning and modification potential, which is great news considering its well-balanced rear-wheel drive chassis is capable of handling much more than the stock 200hp. As it stands, the STI version of the BRZ is more of a handling upgrade package than a performance boost.

Some may be gutted at this news, but the way I see it, STI are supplying us with a professionally designed and built racing chassis, one in which a few engine and turbo tweaks will take it up to the next level. If I were to own one, I’d be glad to know a simple re-map and a cat back exhaust would hopefully bump it up to the 240+bhp mark and I’d have a chassis more than capable of handling the extra grunt.

Under the tagline “Road to the Purity,” STI will sell 500 units of the BRZ tS, the tS meaning tuned by STI, denoting a suspension and handling upgrade. The BRZ tS gets a larger-diameter driveshaft, 18-inch wheels, Brembo 17-inch four-pot front and two-pot rear brakes, rear suspension link, struts, dampers, retuned stability control, and the trademark flexible strut tower bar.

Exterior bits include a front under spoiler, front fender garnish with STI logo and various badge ornamentation. The GT version, limited to 250 units, features a large carbon fibre rear wing as well. Interior includes leather steering wheel, shift knob, speedometer, engine push putton, and side sill plates. The GT adds Recaro front buckets and Alcantara trim.

The BRZ is miles away from their original Impreza and the WRX but I’d definitely own the tS version.