2018 Subaru BRZ tS, WRX STI Type RA coming to North America

Subaru’s performancetuned STI family is growing with two new cars

had also been tweaked to improve response. On the drive, the steering was faster to obey input and the brake pedal was easier to modulate at speed. The 1.5-L turbocharged four-cylinder, married to an eightspeed twin-clutch transmission certainly brought a high degree of alacrity.

The much anticipated Civic Type R is slated to land in Canada in late fall. Pricing and final specifications will be announced closer to that time, although expect around $40K for the Type R.

Subaru is (finally) bolstering its STI offerings in North America with two new models.

Limited to 500 examples, the WRX STI Type RA is essentially a hardcore variant of the standard WRX STI, replete with a laundry list of engine and chassis upgrades. The turbocharged 2.5-litre flat-four under the hood is familiar, but it’s fitted with a new cold-air intake, stronger pistons, a reprogrammed ECU and a high-flow exhaust system. All that translates a whopping fivehorsepower bump to 310 hp.

But the WRX STI Type RA is more than just engine upgrades, however modest they may be. It also receives a six-speed manual transmission with a short-throw shifter and a revised third gear, along with Bilstein suspension bits and inverted struts, a double-wishbone suspension setup out back, 19-inch BBS wheels wrapped in sticky Yokohama Advan Sport tires, a carbon-fibre roof and wing, and Recaro racing seats inside.

On the other hand, the BRZ tS — tS stands for “Tuned by STI” — is a bit more divisive. Like the WRX STI Type RA, it receives extensive chassis upgrades, including Sachs dampers and springs all around, plus beefier engine bracing, Brembo brakes, 18-inch BBS wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires, and an aero kit with a manually adjustable carbonfibre wing all around.

Unfortunately for many enthusiasts, the BRZ tS sees no additional power upgrades. Yes, that means the 2.0-L boxer four-cylinder engine under the hood still pumps out 205 horsepower and 156 pound-feet of torque. Contrary to what fans and critics have been pining for, the BRZ still isn’t turbocharged. Or supercharged. That being said, the chassis and suspension enhancements are sure to make the BRZ tS a bona-fide track car.

Subaru hasn’t dished any performance data for either model, but those numbers will likely surface, along with pricing and on-sale dates, toward the end of the year.