Subaru’s BRZ Finally Has A Turbo And AWD, Just Not In A Version You Can Buy

Subaru is back in the spotlight of the Japanese Rally Championship with something that feels like a tuner’s dream come true. Instead of defaulting to another WRX-based rally car, it has turned to the BRZ coupe, reworking it into an AWD weapon.

The Boxer Rally Spec.Z is a purpose-built competition animal that gives the BRZ the hardware enthusiasts have been begging for since its debut. Unfortunately, JRC doesn’t require companies to offer homologation specials, so we don’t expect the rally machine to inspire a limited-production offering

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Visually, the two-door coupe is dressed in a custom bodykit including a redesigned front bumper with a larger grille, a vented hood, high-clearance front and rear fenders, and a fixed rear wing. It also gets lexan windows, smaller mirrors, a roof-mounted scoop and a racing livery. Naturally, the interior has been stripped out and features a FIA-compliant roll cage.

The rally car is wider than the roadgoing BRZ, stretching to 1,820 mm (71.7 inches), while retaining the 4,265 mm (167.9-inch) length and the 2,575 mm (101.4-inch) wheelbase.

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While the rally spec looks cool, the highlight is what lies under the hood. The turbocharged 2.4-liter Boxer engine (FA24) is borrowed from the WRX, representing a significant step up compared to the naturally-aspirated mill of the production BRZ. The powertrain has been tuned to produce over 276 hp (206 kW / 280 PS) and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of torque.

Crucially, unlike the road-going BRZ that remains a purist’s rear-wheel-drive coupe, the Boxer Rally Spec.Z sends power to all four wheels via a six-speed sequential transmission. The direct-drive AWD system allows it tackle the grueling stages of the JRC along with the overhauled chassis setup.

The model rides on 18-inch Work aluminum wheels shod in Advan tires, with braking handled by four-piston calipers. The suspension geometry and steering rack layout are unique to the rally car, using the experience accumulated from its WRX S4 predecessor. Subaru engineers claim they have achieved a balance between “sharp corning performance and high-speed stability”.

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Weight is just as critical here as power or traction. Under JP4 regulations, the minimum sits at 1,300 kg (2,866 lbs). The WRX S4 has historically struggled to get down to that figure, but the BRZ slips beneath it. That margin gives Subaru room to fine-tune ballast placement, chasing a more favorable weight distribution while benefiting from the coupe’s inherently lower center of gravity.

Subaru has confirmed the Boxer Rally Spec.Z will make its competition debut at the Yuho Rally Asuka, held May 8 to 10, running under Subaru Team Arai. Driving duties fall to veteran Toshihiro Arai, who said:

“My first impression of driving the new vehicle was that almost all of the issues we had been struggling with have been resolved. We still have to do some testing simulating actual races, but I have a strong feeling that the overall balance of the car has improved by two or three levels compared to the previous machine.”

“The engine is responsive, the brakes work well, and I feel that the cornering speed is very fast. This is a result of the size and low center of gravity of the base vehicle, the Subaru BRZ, and the low yaw inertia moment due to the optimal placement of components, which are major strengths. In addition, the adjustments to the suspension geometry that we have been working on since the second half of the 2025 season have paid off, and the result is very good. In the tests, I could feel that the quality of the driving improved even with minor adjustments, so there seems to be plenty of room for improvement.”