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Subaru reveals the US-bound WRX STI Type RA and BRZ tS

Subaru has finally revealed the US-bound WRX STI Type RA and BRZ tS, a pair of redressed and slightly better performing versions of the standard models. Despite the big wing, lightweight wheels, and upgrades suspension, those hoping for changes under the hood will be severely disappointed. The WRX STI gets a slight bump to 310 horsepower while output on the BRZ remains unchanged. That should come as no surprise, as the car is essentially the same one we drove two years ago in Japan. The WRX STI Type RA stands for "record attempt." The first RA was named for a Subaru Legacy that broke the FIA World Speed Endurance Record by clocking over 62,000 miles in 18 days, setting a top speed of 138 mph. This new model is named for the upcoming WRX STI Type RA NBR Special race car that will attempt a Nurburgring record sometime this summer. The WRX STI Type RA is lighter and more robust than the standard model thanks to a host of upgrades. The car gets a carbon fiber roof, a carbon fiber rear spoiler, and lightweight BBS 19-inch forged alloy wheels with 245/35R19 Yokohama Advan Sports tires. The spare tire has also been removed. While the engine only gets a mild power bump thanks to a new cold air intake and new exhaust, a retuned ECU, new pistons, and a revised third-gear ratio and short shifter should make the car feel much quicker than before. Aside from the carbon fiber roof and rear wing, there are a number of visual upgrades that set the car apart. There are red Cherry Blossom accents all along the bottom and a plethora of STI badges on the wing, mirrors, and bumpers. More STI logos can be found inside on the new Recaro seats. A plaque inside shows only 500 Type RAs will be made. It's a similar story with the BRZ tS. The acronym stands for "tuned by STI," implying it's not the full treatment like the WRX STI. That still leaves us wondering about these spy photos that show a similar looking car with real STI logos. We'll have to wait and see if anything emerges from that. The BRZ tS gets front and rear SACHS dampers and coil springs and flexible V-braces in the engine compartment. For the first time, the BRZ will come with 18-inch wheels, ditching the low-rolling resistance tires for a set of sticky 215/40 R 18 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires, aided by Brembo brakes at all four corners. Visual upgrades are similar to the WRX STI Type RA.

Watch Subaru WRX STI's ripping record run at Nurburgring

As expected, Subaru had a bunch of cameras rolling when they gunned for a Nurburgring lap record attempt. The car they used was a specially honed (deep breath) WRX STI Type RA NBR Special, and it proved to be good for a 6:58.9 lap around the Nordschleife, in the hands of Richie Stanaway. Now, video material of the sedan car record run has been posted on Subaru's social media pages, and it includes a separate "Behind the Scenes" video. The record car was built by Prodrive, and it consists of a 2017 WRX STI with a full roll cage, fitted with a WRC specification two-liter turbo engine that produces more than 600 horsepower thanks to its 75mm intake and 25 psi of boost. The transmission is also a WRC item, and its hydraulic paddle-shift setup together with an automated clutch enables shift times of 20-25 milliseconds. The track time is quicker than a recent privateer attempt using a 2017 Dodge Viper ACR, which squeezed the time down to 7:01,3 until a tire failure caused it to crash. Of course, the Viper was classified as a production vehicle, unlike the Subaru. Here's the Behind the Scenes footage: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Chile is beautiful, and we drove there in a Subaru

For me, the most beautiful part of our recent Patagonia road trip was the two days spent inside the Torres del Paine national park in Chile. In terms of breathtaking vistas, this place has a ton. Everywhere you look, there's something beautiful to behold. And our merry band of Subarus had no trouble traversing the gravel, mountain roads that wind endlessly through the park. Because our trip to Patagonia was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, we played hookey for a day and went finishing in one of Torres del Paine's many rivers. Sure, the Subarus got us there without issue, but the main focus of this day was trying to catch one of the huge salmon swimming upstream. We failed, but still, if you're into fishing, Torres del Paine offers bucket-list quality stuff. Above, you'll see more of our sights from Chile's most beautiful park. We'll have the rest of our Patagonia impressions coming in the not-too-distant future. Subaru Videos chile patagonia autoblog in patagonia