We recently got to spend a week the 2018 Subaru BRZ tS, a special edition model of the little driver-oriented sport coupe, of which only 500 are being made. The verdict? Run out and get one before it’s too late!
Slip behind the wheel and it doesn’t take long to get amorous about the Subaru BRZ. The little car becomes fun quickly, with its ready-for-action appeal and genuine love of the road. While the naysayers will deride it for not having a turbocharged engine or “more power” in general, the rest of us see that this entry-level sport coupe is phenomenally awesome.
For the 2018 Subaru BRZ tS, Subaru dialed things up a notch, incorporating some fast-paced tuning from the company’s STI performance division.
The most noticeable addition to the BRZ is a large carbon fiber aero wing sitting on inverted V-shaped brackets. Those braces can be tuned to angle the spoiler for various performance tweaks, should you be headed to the track. Adding additional downforce at certain speed ranges, in corners, etc. is possible through those adjustments.
Larger wheels are also obvious on the BRZ tS model, as are added side skirts. Those 18-inch wheels are the largest yet on any Subaru BRZ and accommodate Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires that are measured at 215/40 (thin wall, wide track). The additional side skirts are the visible part of several aerodynamic tweaks made to the BRZ tS for added slipperiness in the wind.
The chassis of the 2018 BRZ tS now sports SACHS dampers and coil springs tuned by STI for the car. Flexible V-braces in the engine compartment add rigidity to the car. Draw stiffeners for the chassis and subframe have the same affect. Also of note are the Brembo brakes added to boost stopping power and reduce brake fade under heavy usage.
Inside, the 2018 Subaru BRZ tS is very similar to the BRZ Limited model, but with added tS and STI logos on the seats plus the STI hallmark of red seatbelts.
The powertrain for the little 2018 Subaru BRZ tS remains the same as it does in other versions of the sport coupe. The 2.0-liter boxer-style four puts out 205 honest horsepower and the six-speed manual transmission (in the tS, available in most other trims) exhibits short throws and a very positive clutch. It’s easy to fall in love with the tS, with its on-the-road feel and active driving engagement.
It’s also easy to get the BRZ tS to turn sideways almost at will.. Especially on a dirt surface. Jerking the wheel one way then the next usually results in some drift. Practice will make this easy. On pavement, more finesse is necessary to elicit the same response, but it can be done. All without turbos or complicated braking techniques. The Subaru BRZ tS loves curve carving, sharp corner drifting, and is a perfect learner car for heel-toe engagement.
The 2018 Subaru BRZ tS has a starting price of $33,495 and has three exclusive color options to match its STI roots. Toyota will offer similar enhancements to the BRZ’s twin, the Toyota 86, next year as the 86 TRD Special Edition.
What do you think of the 2018 Subaru BRZ tS?
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