Subaru announced an updated BRZ for the Japanese market on July 30, and the real news is under the skin: EyeSight now runs a wide-angle mono camera alongside its stereo pair, and the manual gearbox gets a shift lever revised using knowledge from Subaru's Super Taikyu endurance racing program. STI Sport, the range-topping grade Subaru added back in 2023, carries over unchanged as the flagship above the R and S trims.
Chassis feel is still the reason people buy this car over a more powerful, less balanced alternative, so even a hardware update that doesn't touch the STI Sport spec sheet matters to the audience that cares. The BRZ and its Toyota twin, the GR86, have built their reputation on being an accessible, naturally aspirated, rear-wheel-drive route into a proper sports coupe. STI Sport remains Subaru's factory-built answer for buyers who want more than the standard chassis tune without going to the aftermarket.
What's actually new: EyeSight and shift feel
The BRZ's EyeSight system now uses a wide-angle mono camera on manual-transmission cars for the first time, working alongside the existing stereo camera to widen intersection collision-avoidance coverage. Subaru says the change applies across every grade, not just STI Sport. The automaker also revised the shift lever structure using knowledge gained from its Super Taikyu program, aiming for a smoother, more precise shift feel on manual cars.
STI Sport remains the range-topping grade
STI Sport has sat above the R and S grades since Subaru introduced it in September 2023, and this update doesn't change its spec sheet. The grade still rides on an STI-tuned front damper built by Astemo (SFRD spec) paired with an STI-tuned rear damper, under 18-inch aluminum wheels finished in dark metallic and wrapped in 215/40R18 high-performance tires. Buyers who want more stopping power can still step up to an optional Brembo setup — 17-inch ventilated discs front and rear with gold calipers — though Subaru notes on its STI Sport page that the option may be pulled from order sheets if parts supply runs short. None of this — the dampers, wheels, tires, or Brembo option — is shared with the R or S grades, which keep the standard BRZ's chassis tune.
Inside, STI Sport keeps its Ultrasuede-and-leather seats finished in black with bordeaux accents, red stitching, and an STI logo stitched into the upholstery. The instrument panel carries a bordeaux accent ring, and the push-button engine start switch is finished in red with its own STI mark. It's a more deliberate cabin than the standard car's — closer to what you'd expect from an STI-branded model than a simple trim step.
Grades and pricing
Subaru's BRZ lineup spans three grades, each available with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic:
| Grade | 6MT | 6AT |
|---|---|---|
| R | ¥3,377,000 | ¥3,410,000 |
| S | ¥3,564,000 | ¥3,597,000 |
| STI Sport | ¥3,839,000 | ¥3,872,000 |
Special body colors add to the price — Crystal White Pearl costs ¥33,000 extra, and Ignition Red adds ¥55,000. The full palette runs to seven colors: Crystal White Pearl, Ice Silver Metallic, Magnetite Gray Metallic, Crystal Black Silica, Ignition Red, Sapphire Blue Pearl, and WR Blue Pearl — a nod to Subaru's rally heritage. Subaru has set a sales target of 250 units a month.
How the update compares with the GR86
Toyota rolled out a closely parallel update to the GR86 a week later, on August 6 — the same wide-angle mono camera added to EyeSight, plus a Super Taikyu-informed shift lever for manual cars. As usual for this platform-sharing pair, the two cars move in step on safety and drivetrain feel, while STI Sport's dampers, wheels, and cabin remain BRZ-specific — the GR86 draws on its own separate options list for chassis and brake upgrades.
Subaru hasn't published an on-sale or order-start date alongside the announcement; buyers will need to check with dealers for delivery timing.