Subaru has long been the subject of fan wishes for a true BRZ STI, but that desire remains unfulfilled. While there’s no indication of a genuine BRZ STI on the horizon, at least not publicly, Italian Subaru enthusiasts are in for a treat with the new Subaru BRZ Touge Edition. This special edition captures the STI’s distinctive appearance, featuring elements like the blue paint, lower front lip, rear spoiler, side skirts, and eye-catching gold 18-inch O.Z. Ultraleggera wheels, plucked right from the STI playbook. Customers can even opt for dark gray 18-inch wheels, but they come with a weight penalty and switch out the O.Z.’s Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires for Yokohama BluEarth Winter tires. Nevertheless, when it comes to the mechanical side of things, the BRZ Touge Edition stays true to the standard BRZ. It retains the same 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, boasting 228 horsepower and 182 lb-ft of torque, along with a six-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential.
The BRZ Touge Edition is not the only recent special edition to make its debut. In the United States, Subaru unveiled the BRZ tS, which comes with enhanced suspension and Brembo brakes, offering some mechanical upgrades to complement its sporty appearance. However, while the Touge Edition is visually striking, it doesn’t feature any of these mechanical enhancements. Subaru also introduced the BRZ STI Sport, a Japanese-market-exclusive model that boasts improved suspension and brakes for enhanced performance.
Strangely, the BRZ Touge Edition, which is primarily an aesthetic upgrade, happens to be the most expensive among these three new special editions. With a limited production run of only 60 units, each one costs Italian buyers just over $52,000 (€49,500), which might seem steep, especially when compared to the BRZ STI Sport’s equivalent of around $25,370 and an expected mid-$30,000 range for the BRZ tS. However, considering that Subaru Italy’s website doesn’t list a standard BRZ for sale, some customers might view the Touge Edition as a unique opportunity to own one of the most enjoyable rear-wheel-drive cars in the market, even if it comes at a premium.
