Subaru fans have longed for an STI version of the BRZ sports coupe. While Subaru is still not giving those loyalists a formal STI offering, they decided to give them the next best thing, an all-new model, with the unveiling of the 2024 Subaru BRZ tS.
Upgraded BRZ Suspension Aims To Make Car Skate On Tarmac
While the BRZ tS is not a formal STI model in name, it does come with several STI-sourced upgrades, including a beefed-up STI suspension with Hitachi dampers and a Brembo brake kit with gold-painted calipers at all four corners. The car also gets grippier Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires for improved handling and 18-inch black alloy wheels. The rest of the changes are minor, with the model getting tS badging and a special black finish on the exterior mirrors and the shark fin antenna.
Performance for the tS is largely unchanged, with the model being powered by the carryover 228-horsepower, 2.4-liter, flat-four engine. A six-speed manual is standard, and it appears that it will also be the only transmission available. While it’s mostly unchanged as a whole, the transmission also gets an interesting trump card, with the BRZ being the very first manual-equipped Subaru to come equipped with Subaru EyeSight technology. While Subaru has still not disclosed what hurdles it had to overcome to bring the technology to a manual-equipped model, this application gets many of the EyeSight features that buyers expect, including adaptive cruise control, pre-collision alert, and lane keep assist.
Meanwhile, the interior gets tS exclusive blue accents in its black interior, and it even gets a special STI graphic that appears in the digital instrument display in perhaps the most prominent bit of irony that exists with this unique Subaru.
When Can I Buy One?
The 2024 Subaru BRZ tS first made its debut at the 2023 Subiefest event in Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, but buyers looking to add one to their garage will be in for a bit of a wait with the company confirming that the first production examples will not make their way to dealerships until the early part of 2024.
We look forward to hearing more about additional details, including final pricing and more information about how Subaru finally helped EyeSight crossover to the manual transmission.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.