Official: STI Releases SUBARU BRZ tS in Japan [w/ Gallery]

[krayzie]

I finally have time to read thru this entire thread. It's funny how a lot of people outside of Japan (primarily in North America, you have SOA and their marketing to blame for) have the misconception of STI and "tuned by STI". Nothing really changed for like 2 decades. The "STI" in the name "WRX STI" is just a trim level for the Impreza made by FHI, while "tuned by STI" is a limited production model by STI themselves (outside of FHI) that is equipped with most of their aftermarket products pre-installed plus some bespoked parts / tuning (I think this can be traced all the way back to the first gen Legacy RS STI Limited).

You can buy a "WRX STI" in Japan and still have STI aftermarket parts to buy for it, same goes for their other models in the line-up. There is actually an Impreza WRX STI tS in Japan lol!!

I think they came up with the "WRX STI" trim back when the STI aftermarket catalog was pretty much non-existent, and they tried to relate it to their world rallying efforts for homologation / marketing purposes. Isn't that how for example the BMW E30 M3 came about originally as well?

STI has always been famous for suspension and chassis tuning, not really about adding a turbo. Here are some of their marketing material in English:

http://www.sti.jp/e/parts/eye/index.html

http://www.sti.jp/e/parts/eye/parts_menu.html

http://www.sti.jp/e/parts/catalogue/index.html

http://www.sti.jp/e/product/previousmodel/index.html

BTW I think this BRZ with the limited power and acceleration it have is perfect for driving it all out on the streets from time to time. I've always wanted to buy something like a Honda Beat or Mazda Miata to roam around town. The BRZ is just that made for chubby people like me, plus it can merge into highways no problem. Perfect!

[chanomatik]

If you guys wanna see the tS in blue, black, red or white, here's the Subaru.jp configuration, click the 2nd tab.

http://members.subaru.jp/purchase/si...gi=415&ci=4S20

[Coheed]

Originally Posted by ihaskrayon

Recaro seats, fender trim and STi push start are things I want. But the TRD vents are high on my list. The seats are probably too much and I already like my seats.

Originally Posted by idanvan

I need me those seats! And that fender garnish looks pretty bangin.

Originally Posted by Trashed675

Those seats are totally win.

Is anybody else pissed they are putting an STI badge on something with an automatic? That just seams wrong to me.

I know everyone seems to universally love the Recaros, but have you guys driven a car with them? I recently drove a Nismo Juke with seats almost identical. The plastic used in the seats feels really cheap and flimsy, I'm a small guy and the plastic on the side-bolsters I didn't like too much.

I think they would be great on the track, but for me I wear a helmet and it interferes with the head-rest and makes the seating position kinda uncomfortable. I love the stock seats because I can take off the head rest and flip it around and it gives ample helmet clearance and is really comfortable.

I love the stock seats for that reason. To each their own.

[tahdizzle]

The Recaro seats are a bit different. I don't think comparing them to standard aftermarket Recaro is fair.

[JS + BRZ]

Oh, I didn't know it comes with the front lip only.

[ToyoTires86]

Like the recaros.

[DSOmegaX]

Originally Posted by krayzie

I finally have time to read thru this entire thread. It's funny how a lot of people outside of Japan (primarily in North America, you have SOA and their marketing to blame for) have the misconception of STI and "tuned by STI". Nothing really changed for like 2 decades. The "STI" in the name "WRX STI" is just a trim level for the Impreza made by FHI, while "tuned by STI" is a limited production model by STI themselves (outside of FHI) that is equipped with most of their aftermarket products pre-installed plus some bespoked parts / tuning (I think this can be traced all the way back to the first gen Legacy RS STI Limited).

You can buy a "WRX STI" in Japan and still have STI aftermarket parts to buy for it, same goes for their other models in the line-up. There is actually an Impreza WRX STI tS in Japan lol!!

I think they came up with the "WRX STI" trim back when the STI aftermarket catalog was pretty much non-existent, and they tried to relate it to their world rallying efforts for homologation / marketing purposes. Isn't that how for example the BMW E30 M3 came about originally as well?

STI has always been famous for suspension and chassis tuning, not really about adding a turbo. Here are some of their marketing material in English:

http://www.sti.jp/e/parts/eye/index.html

http://www.sti.jp/e/parts/eye/parts_menu.html

http://www.sti.jp/e/parts/catalogue/index.html

http://www.sti.jp/e/product/previousmodel/index.html

BTW I think this BRZ with the limited power and acceleration it have is perfect for driving it all out on the streets from time to time. I've always wanted to buy something like a Honda Beat or Mazda Miata to roam around town. The BRZ is just that made for chubby people like me, plus it can merge into highways no problem. Perfect!

To add to this, tS cars are personally tuned and tested by STi's chief test driver, hideharu tatsumi, who always puts priority on improving handling and smoothness over power. He is one of the most respected drivers on the nurburgring and internally, "ts" is also referred to as tatsumi's spirit or setup (this is why you saw all those spy photos of the BRZ tS on the nurburgring). If anything, tS cars embody far more of what "STi" stands for then just the regular WRX STI model that Subaru builds as a trim.



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[krayzie]

Originally Posted by DSOmegaX

To add to this, tS cars are personally tuned and tested by STi's chief test driver, hideharu tatsumi, who always puts priority on improving handling and smoothness over power. He is one of the most respected drivers on the nurburgring and internally, "ts" is also referred to as tatsumi's spirit or setup (this is why you saw all those spy photos of the BRZ tS on the nurburgring). If anything, tS cars embody far more of what "STi" stands for then just the regular WRX STI model that Subaru builds as a trim.



Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

That's why when GT Channel asked the STI boss if the WRX STI tS is faster around the ring than the standard car, he said they don't have numbers to show for it, but they think the tS model could be faster because it inspires more confidence.

On their English marketing literature, they mention their parts are tuned according to handling feel, not actual performance figures.

I find it interesting after reading comments on the forum that some people would not buy into their parts because they adapt the same type of tuning parts to almost the entire Subaru line up, which does not translate to uniqueness to that specific model. As if putting STI parts on the BRZ would instantly turn it into having the same handling characteristics as an Impreza with STI parts lol! I think it's far from being just a fast food menu where it's just the same shit in a different form factor with the same taste (wouldn't this instead be actually very hard to engineer with cars?).

[ucsmfu]

Originally Posted by tahdizzle

The Recaro seats are a bit different. I don't think comparing them to standard aftermarket Recaro is fair.

does the seats have the heated option ?

[tahdizzle]

Originally Posted by ucsmfu

does the seats have the heated option ?

Don't know. But they have the bolster airbags

[t.chk]

Oh look they created a shopping cart for me. No research required to determine the differences.

[sato]

Originally Posted by t.chk

Oh look they created a shopping cart for me. No research required to determine the differences.

Shopping cart link?

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[t.chk]

Originally Posted by sato

Shopping cart link?

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That would be the first page...It was a joke.

[sato]

Originally Posted by t.chk

That would be the first page...It was a joke.

:-S

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