After a one-year gap, the Subaru BRZ tS has returned to the United States market for the sports car’s 2020 model year, with the only other trim level being the Limited (the Premium has been dropped). Prices start at US$28,845 (RM120,269), and before you ask, all the running gear is the same as before.

Under the bonnet, the familiar FA20 2.0 litre flat-four continues to be paired with either a six-speed automatic or manual transmission. With the latter, the mill serves up 205 hp and 212 Nm of torque, while the automatic option makes do with 200 hp and 205 Nm.

The STI-tuned BRZ tS is limited to just 300 units, and will retail at US$31,495 (RM131,277) as a manual only. It comes with a number of upgrades over the Limited like Sachs dampers and a flexible V-brace in the engine compartment, while draw stiffeners added to the chassis and subframe help to improve steering response. There’s also a Brembo brake system here, with four-piston front and two-piston rear calipers.

On the exterior, the model is finished in an exclusive Ceramic White paint with Cherry Blossom Red accents. There’s also a set of 18-inch wheels in matte bronze paired with 215/40 Michelin Pilot Sport tyres, while the low-profile rear spoiler is smaller compared to the 2018 model year car.

In other areas, a BRZ tS badge in chrome and red is mounted on the front grille and rear decklid, the front fog lights have been removed and replaced with black fog light insert covers (there are retained on the Limited), plus the side mirrors, shark fin antenna and BRZ badging all have a black finish.

Moving inside, there’s black leather and Alcantara upholstery with contrast stitching, along with plenty of red accents. These can be found on the steering wheel, door and dash panels, knee pads, gear shifter and cowl over the gauge cluster. The seats also boast red leather bolsters and are embroidered with the tS logo. Other items are a black cast finish for the centre console, red front seat belts and a frameless rearview mirror.

All variants come with keyless entry and start, dual-zone automatic climate control, LED headlamps, a reverse camera and a Subaru StarLink seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The Limited gets black upholstery with contrasting red stitching, while the front seats are trimmed in Alcantara and leather, with a heater function and BRZ logo embroidered in red on the seatbacks.

A Performance Package available for the Limited for an extra US$1,195 (RM4,981) gets you the same Sachs suspension goodies as the BRZ tS, as well as 17-inch aluminium alloy wheels finished in dark grey.

Subaru of America also announced changes for the WRX and WRX STI, with both now benefitting from keyless entry and start. The optional Performance Package for the WRX also includes a Brembo braking system on top of the eight-way powered driver seat and moonroof delete, but is offered only with the manual WRX Premium. The EyeSight suite of system is also now standard on WRX models with the Sport Lineartronic CVT.

Meanwhile, the WRX STI comes with redesigned engine bay cooling ducts in the front bumper, 19-inch aluminium alloy wheels in a dark grey machine finish, and a more subtle lip spoiler instead of a wing upon request.

-paultan