Subaru BRZ tS, WRX STI Type RA revealed

Subaru has revealed a pair of 'track-ready' special editions, with the BRZ tS and WRX STI Type RA limited to just 500 examples each for the United States market only.

The BRZ tS is the latest track-focused version of the Japanese company’s two-door coupe, engineered by the STI team, with the sportscar gaining a raft of aerodynamic, handling and chassis improvements.

These include Sachs dampers and coil springs tuned to optimise the BRZ’s low centre of gravity, as well as grippy 215/40 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres wrapped around black-coloured lightweight 18-inch alloy wheels.

The new BRZ special is all about handling and stopping and there are no changes to engine specs or driveline.

Lurking behind the rims are bright-red Brembo brakes, four-piston up front and two-pot at the rear.

To help increase responsiveness while offering superior chassis performance, the rear-wheel drive tS features flexible V-braces in the engine bay and draw stiffeners for the subframe.

The new BRZ special is all about handling and stopping and there are no changes to engine specs or driveline – meaning the 152kW/212Nm 2.0-litre boxer four-cylinder petrol engine carries over paired with a six-speed manual gearbox.

Exterior changes are cosmetic and see the foglights removed and replaced with STI covers in a red-accented front bumper with mesh inserts, as well as the addition of side skirts and a rear bumper with red highlights.

The WRX STI Type RA workover goes a little deeper on the mechanical front.

Interior upgrades extend to red seatbelts and door grips, STI-branded speedometer and a red-stitched steering wheel with the front seats upholstered in leather and Alcantara.

The WRX STI Type RA workover goes a little deeper on the mechanical front with a revised engine control unit tune, reinforced pistons, cold air intake, air cleaner and a high-flow exhaust with rear tailpipes.

Those modifications extract an extra 10kW from the 2.5-litre turbo four-cylinder boxer that now cranks out 231 kW, while torque on the US-spec engine remains at 393Nm. A six-speed gearbox with a revised third ratio sends power through Subaru's traditional all-wheel drive system.

Silver Brembo callipers over cross-drilled discs are on each corner, six piston up the front and two at the rear.

Gold-coloured lightweight 19-inch BBS wheels wearing 245/35 Yokohama Advan Sports rubber conceal new Bilstein dampers and coil springs.

The stability control system has been recalibrated so it can manage these changes.

A revised front grille with red highlights and carbon-fibre roof panel, as well as a red-accented rear bumper and air outlet grille cover off the external differences on the Type RA.

The special editions come in only three colours: 'Crystal Black Silica', 'WR Blue Pearl' or 'Crystal White Pearl'.

Inside there are STI-branded Recaro front bucket seats, a suede-trimmed steering wheel and an individual build-number plate on the centre console.

The spare wheel has been removed to save weight.

The special editions come in only three colours: 'Crystal Black Silica', 'WR Blue Pearl' or 'Crystal White Pearl'.

The 'RA' tag on the limited edition WRX STI stands for 'record attempt' in a nod to Subaru's intention to to set a new Nurburgring lap record in its class.

A WRX STI Type RA NBR Special, especially prepared for the exercise, will this European summer tackle the circuit dubbed by three-time world Formula One champion Jackie Stewart as the 'Green Hell'.

Would you like to see the new WRX STI and BRZ tS specials made available in Australia? Tell us what you think in the comments below.