Subaru BRZ STI Sport Type RA Unveiled in Japan as a 300-Unit-Only Special

The Subaru BRZ STI Sport Type RA debuts in Japan, featuring handling and engine upgrades, with only 300 units available.

The Subaru BRZ coupe has just gained a sporty, limited-edition variant in Japan, known as the Subaru BRZ STI Sport Type RA. This special BRZ is developed with knowledge gained from Subaru’s participation in the Super Taikyu racing series, featuring significant performance upgrades over the already sporty STI Sport edition.

The first significant upgrade lies under the bonnet, where the Type RA gets the same 2.4-litre 4-cyl nat-asp FA24 ‘Boxer’ engine used in the Team SDA Engineering BRZ CNF Concept for Super Taikyu. Rather than extracting more power, Subaru engineers instead focused on improving the balance of the Boxer mill to make it smoother.

Still rated at 235 PS and 250 Nm as the stock BRZ STI Sport, this engine has benefited from new pistons and connecting rods with a 50% reduction in weight tolerance and an 80% reduction in rotational balance tolerance for the crankshaft, while both the flywheel and clutch are 67% and 50% lighter, respectively.

To help the engine roar louder and drivers shift better, the BRZ Type RA also comes with both the STI performance muffler and the rev-matching with flat-foot shifting function, while the rear differential case now features cooling fins to prevent overheating. Not to forget, this special BRZ only comes with a six-speed manual transmission option that drives the rear wheels (RWD).

As for the handling upgrades, this special BRZ is now equipped with bespoke ZF dampers plus flexible V-bands and a new sway bar to stiffen up the chassis, while the gold-hued Brembo brake callipers provide the stopping power for this sporty coupe.

On the visual front, buyers in Japan can get the BRZ Type RA either with or without the aggressive dry carbon rear spoiler. That said, both versions share several similar design bits, including the 18-inch BBS aluminium wheels, STI front and rear lips finished in gloss black, a slew of black ornaments, and two exterior colour options—WR Blue Pearl and Crystal White Pearl. While no interior photos were shown, we’ve been told that the Type RA will get an all-black cabin setup, featuring black fabric upholstery with contrasting red stitching for the seats.

Last but not least, only 300 examples of the BRZ STI Sport Type RA will be made, with 200 of them being the wingless version and only 100 of them being the sporty rear-winged version. Prices start at JPY 4.972 million (RM133,414) for the wingless version and JPY 5.478 million (RM146,991) for the winged version, and all 300 units will be allocated via a special lottery system.