Australian plans still not locked in as Subaru BRZ tS emerges in US with enhanced chassis hardware
The hotly-anticipated new 2024 Subaru BRZ tS debuted at the Subiefest in California overnight, building on the standard BRZ sports car’s impressive fundamentals with enhanced suspension and upgraded brakes.
It also heralds the first application of Subaru’s new manual gearbox-compatible EyeSight safety suite, which is already confirmed for the BRZ range in Australia later this year – and will be crucial for not only achieving a five-star ANCAP safety rating but ensuring the car can remain on sale Down Under.
The sharper BRZ tS is not yet confirmed for Australia, however, with a company spokesperson saying “we don’t have any specific news to share about the recently unveiled model at Subiefest California”.
“Stay tuned for more information about the MY24 Subaru BRZ Australian specification, which will be released in due course,” the spokesperson added, which is a reference to the looming safety upgrade.
Hopefully, the BRZ tS also becomes a reality for keen Australian buyers, with the latest ‘tuned by STI’ model distinguished from its lesser stablemates by its black wing mirrors and shark’s fin antenna, matching black alloy wheels, exterior ‘tS’ badges and gold Brembo brake callipers.
The interior is defined by its black upholstery and blue contrast stitching, plus a couple of subtle STI badges and revised graphics for the 7.0-inch digital driver’s display.
More about an enhanced driving experience than added gear, the BRZ tS rides on STI-tuned Hitachi dampers in all four corners and features four-piston Brembo front brake callipers, complemented at the rear by a pair of two-pot callipers.
The upgraded stoppers clamp enlarged and ventilated 325mm front and 315mm rear discs while the black 18-inch alloys are shod with the same 215/40-profile Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres as the standard BRZ.
As is the way with all modern tS products, the flagship BRZ doesn’t develop any more grunt than the existing variants and instead focuses on chassis enhancements, meaning the rev-happy 2.4-litre flat four-cylinder petrol engine continues to output 174kW/250Nm and drive the rear wheels exclusively via a six-speed manual transmission and Torsen limited-slip differential.
There’s no continuously variable transmission (CVT) version of the tS at this stage – something that reflects its more focused persona and intent.
Given it’s based on the upper-tier ‘Limited’ grade – the equivalent of our S – in the US, the BRZ tS will come as standard with keyless access and start, full LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, incline start assist, express power windows, welcome lighting and an eight-speaker sound system.
The new manual-compatible Subaru EyeSight suite includes adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking system, lane departure and sway warning and lead vehicle start alert.
The new safety gear is expected to push the BRZ well clear of its current $40,290 plus on-road costs starting price, with similar changes expected to be implemented within the local WRX portfolio in the near future.
The previous-generation BRZ tS was sold here in both manual and CVT form between 2017 and 2021, with a similar range of upgrades including Bilstein dampers and a slightly more aggressive aesthetic.
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Keyword: Track-honed 2024 Subaru BRZ tS sports car revealed