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2018 Subaru BRZ tS Drivers' Notes | Wings and things

It's a little hard to believe the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 (formerly the Scion FR-S) are entering their seventh model year. Both cars debuted back in 2012 and, save for a minor update last year, the cars remain unchanged. Power still comes from a 205-horsepower naturally-aspirated flat-four. That's not a lot on paper, but it's decent enough for a car that comes in under 2,900 pounds. This particular test car is one of just 500 tS special editions coming to the U.S. In addition to the wing, side skirts and wheels, the tS gets Michelin Pilot Sport summer tires, Brembo brakes, Sachs dampers and STI strut braces. It makes the tS the sharpest and best-performing BRZ in the car's seven-year run. You do pay for the extra kit, and if it's not your thing, you can still get a pretty well-equipped car for around $30,000. Editor-in-chief Greg Migliore: I sought out errands on the other side of town during my weekend in the BRZ tS. It's a blast in a way only some enthusiasts will love. The heavy steering, the low-to-the-ground profile, the rock-hard chassis — take your protein pills, man. This isn't something you want to drive when your back hurts or you're slightly hungover. No it's not a '90s Viper, and you don't need goggles and gloves, but in this era of high-horsepower SUVs with sanitized comfort modes, you need to show up with your reflexes sharp to master the BRZ, especially in track-tuned tS trim. Not every enthusiast will want this. A muscled-up Mustang or Challenger might be a better bet for long commutes on straight roads, while this Subie demands you meet its needs on something open and with a twist. It's fun. But it's intense. Consumer Editor Jeremy Korzeniewski: Not surprisingly, a pair of braces to stiffen the chassis, stiffer springs over Sachs dampers, big Brembo brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires on lightweight 18-inch wheels all conspire to make the tS the best Subaru BRZ I've ever driven. There's an aggressive body kit, too, but my time with the tS was limited to some fun runs on public roads, so I never hit the speeds where you'd really experience the aero benefits. Thing is, boosting the car's at-the-limit handling abilities really serves as a reminder that the engine isn't all that powerful. It's the same exact 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer that powers every other BRZ. These days, 205 horsepower and 156 pound-feet of torque feels decidedly uninspired, particularly at the tS's asking price of $34,355.

2017 Los Angeles Auto Show Recap Livestream

Autoblog editors discuss the highlights of the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show. The Jeep Wrangler and Chevy Corvette ZR1, were huge stars, but more mainstream SUVs like the Hyundai Kona, Subaru Ascent, Nissan Kicks and Lincoln Nautilus were also significant. Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore and Senior Editor John Beltz Snyder discuss the latest from L.A. LA Auto Show Jeep Subaru SUV Videos 2017 LA Auto Show

Subaru WRX STI S209 is the most expensive production Subaru ever

We asked for it, and now we have it: The ultimate WRX STI. It’s called the STI S209, and we drove the extra-special Subaru just a few short weeks ago. Now we have a price, and itÂ’s officially the most expensive new Subaru ever. All 209 examples of the S209 will sell for $64,880. WeÂ’ll give you a second to process that, but a second most likely isnÂ’t long enough. Every one of the 209 cars will be headed to the U.S. starting in November this year — STIÂ’s shop is only able to produce 2-3 cars per day, so itÂ’ll be a slow trickle of cars being shipped over here. Previous to the S209, the Type RA was the top dog in the American WRX lineup. It cost $49,855, and offered a nice bump in performance over a regular STI. This S209 finally gives us the significant increase in power weÂ’ve been asking for all these years, but it also represents a massive effort at making the best-handling STI ever. Aftermarket modifications could get you partway there, but there will be no true equivalent to the S209 coming from somebodyÂ’s garage. We fully expect itÂ’ll be Subaru WRX STI enthusiasts who spring for the few available cars, as the $64,880 price will likely be a major roadblock for all but the true believers. At that price thereÂ’s a huge variety of other cars to choose from, many of them more desirable than an ultra-rare Subaru to some folks. Dealer markups could take this car to even greater heights, especially if a dealer finds some Subaru fanatics with money to burn. If the 341-horsepower S209 sounds like something you need to park in your garage, we suggest you get over to the nearest bank and Subaru dealer as soon as possible.