Subaru Tecnica International (STI), Subaru's motorsports division, has worked its magic on the standard WRX sedan and BRZ coupe to create two serious, limited-edition performance cars.
The WRX STI Type RA will be capped at 500 examples when it officially goes on sale in the US at the start of 2018.
And, when it arrives in dealerships it will do so with a naked carbon fiber roof that cuts weight and lowers the center of gravity. It also gets a remapped engine with reinforced pistons and optimized airflow that together up the power going to all four wheels to 310hp.
Thankfully there are heavy-duty Brembo brakes all around to keep that performance in check, while a set of Bilstein dampers and springs will keep the car flat through the corners. There are also a host of cosmetic changes including a unique front grille treatment, a new front spoiler and an exposed carbon fiber rear wing, while the cabin gets STI-logo-embossed Recaro bucket seats for the driver and front passenger.
For the BRZ tS, Subaru has decided to focus on driver involvement rather than simply upping the engine's output. So, each of the 500 planned examples will still come with that great little 2-liter, 205hp boxer engine, but thanks to a carbon fiber roof dropping the center of gravity, plus SACHS dampers and coil springs, a draw stiffener for the front suspension and a V-shaped engine bay brace, it should handle like it's a magnet and the road is made of metal. And even though the BRZ is not as potent as the WRX, it will get Brembo brakes, too, complete with eye-catching red calipers.
Just like the special-edition WRX, the rear-wheel-drive coupe gets a host of external differentiators including an oversized rear wing formed from carbon fiber, exclusive front and rear bumpers, plus 18-inch aluminum wheels finished in black and wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires.
