Now, here's the (*) disclaimer: Subaru Italy prepared this limited series of 60 units, and it costs an arm and a leg compared to the regular US versions.
Over in America, the 2023 Subaru BRZ starts at just $28,595 without the destination and other fees. That's the Premium trim; if you want the Limited grade, that is just $31,095. As such, Toyota, with its GR86 sibling, and Subie, with its BRZ, are still among the automakers keeping the massive inflation in check and offering affordable sports car solutions in North America.
With that being said, all bets might be off with the upcoming 2024 Subaru BRZ tS coming sometime early next year. However, over in Italy, the folks who want their BRZ to look as close as possible to an STI better watch out for the new 'Touge' special edition that was just launched locally. It's an exclusive Subaru Italia affair, so don't count on seeing it in the United States, no matter how good the BRZ looks with an aerodynamic kit and gold wheels.
Also, I am not so sure anyone would shell out the price for one of the 60 units that were prepared by the Italian division – the BRZ Touge special edition retails there for no less than €49,500, which translates to $52,196 at the current exchange rate! For the money, Subaru explains, you don't have to "follow the right path" when the BRZ sends 234 horsepower and 250 Nm to the rear wheels via its manual transmission to sprint to 100 kph (62 mph) in just 6.3 seconds.
The performance isn't bad, indeed, but the Subaru BRZ Touge impresses mainly with the visuals. Aside from explaining that Touge means 'mountain pass' for Subie, the company has a set of details that we need to discover about the new special edition. As such, there are shiny black aero bits and pieces at the front, side, and rear (under-spoiler, door sills, rear bumper diffuser), a bespoke Supersprint Touge exhaust, plus 18-inch OZ racing wheels dressed in gold with red Touge hubcaps, among other subtle details like the numbered doorsteps or the blue-stitched BRZ floor mats.
Naturally, Subaru was considerate to showcase the new BRZ Touge in its natural environment – not just the cold venue of a studio. Thus, take a peek at the gallery above to muse about the little STi details here and there, then bask in the glory of seeing the BRZ Touge attack some winding Italian roads somewhere up a mountain pass. But we also have a proposition.
Embedded below are also a couple of fan-made Subaru BRZ videos doing some touge driving – both during the day with a little bit of fog as a mysterious side dish and also at night. Cool or not?
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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