Subaru limited-edition WRX STI Type RA and BRZ tS pricing revealed

Back in June, Subaru announced that it was going to produce a limited edition of 500 higher-performance WRX STIs and BRZs. Now we know what they'll cost.

Let's take the WRX STI Type RA first. That's going to set you back $49,855, including destination and delivery. (As a frame of reference, a plain old STI lists for $36,995.)

The BRZ tS, on the other hand, will cost $34,355. (A base BRZ sells for $26,315.)

So the premiums for the limited-edition cars are $12,860 and $8,040, respectively.

What you get for the WRX STI Type RA's higher price, aside from more letters, is a roster of handling and enhancements and weight reduction measures (how much less, Subaru didn't say):

• Carbon fiber wing.
• Carbon fiber roof panel.
• Spare tire delete.
• Lightweight 19-inch alloy wheels.
• Revised third-gear ratio and shorter throw on the six-speed manual.
• Upgraded suspension with special Bilstein dampers.
• Modified vehicle dynamics control (VDC).
• All WRX STIs for 2018 get upgraded brakes, and the Type RA shares in that, getting stronger Brembo monoblock six-piston calipers in front. Two-piston calipers are in the rear, and it gets larger, cross-drilled rotors at all four corners. Brake pads have more surface area. The one difference in the Type RA: The calipers are painted an "exclusive" silver finish.
• All STIs also get a new all-electronically controlled limited-slip center differential AWD system.
• Horsepower gets a nudge to 310, from the regular STI's 305. Doesn't look like much on paper, but Subaru says the car will get a new cold-air intake, high-flow exhaust, retuned ECU and stronger pistons.
• Inside, it gets special Recaro seats, an Ultrasuede steering wheel, and each car will be individually numbered, with a plaque in the cabin.
• Finally, the Type RA gets "Cherry Blossom Red" accenting, RA badging, a front underspoiler and paint choices of blue, black and white.

In case you're wondering about the naming/numbering, the "RA" in WRX STI Type RA stands for "record attempt." In July, a WRX STI Type RA NBR Special — a specially built 600-horsepower racecar that is a far cry from the car going on sale — finished a lap of the Nurburgring in a blazing 6:57.5. That's just half a second behind the Porsche 918 Spyder hypercar.

The BRZ tS, meanwhile, gets:

• STI-tuned front and rear Sachs dampers and coil springs, and other steps to stiffen the suspension.
• Lightweight 18-inch wheels with Michelin Pilot Sports.
• Four-piston Brembos up front, twofers in the back.
• A carbon-fiber adjustable rear spoiler
• Underspoilers all around the car.
• A 4.2-inch screen next to the tach that shows vehicle performance data.
• And the same Cherry Blossom Red accents as the STI Type RA. Ditto the paint choices. Oh, and black-and-red leather and Alcantara upholstery.
• Engine performance is unchanged from the garden-variety BRZ.

Expect them at Subaru dealers in spring 2018.

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