JDM 2022 Subaru BRZ Gets The Tiniest Model Year Update On The Lighting Switch

One year after the market launch of the new generation BRZ in Japan, Subaru announced model year updates for 2022. While it is not uncommon for automakers to upgrade their models in terms of color, trim, and equipment, what caught our eyes is that the changes in the Subaru BRZ are limited to a single element: the light switch.

We admit that we read the press release several times to understand the essence of the tiniest model year update we can recall. The bottom line is that Subaru added an extra position to the lighting switch. This change allows owners to turn on the taillights separately from the side lights, or keep both off (three settings). Tailights and side lights could only turn on/off together at the BRZ from the previous model year (two settings). If you are wondering about the headlights, you should know that in Japan, they operate automatically, as permitted by the law for all new vehicles sold since October 2021.

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Setting aside the lighting switch, everything else remains unchanged, in terms of exterior design, interior design, powertrain, equipment, trim levels, and optional accessories. And this is no problem at all since the BRZ didn’t really need anything else to be desirable as one of the few affordable ICE-powered RWD sportscars on sale. The only thing that was rumored but didn’t happen is a 10th-anniversary special edition similar to the one coming for the Toyota GR86 twin.

In Japan, the BRZ is available in S and R guises, alongside the market-specific Cup. The S comes standard with 17-inch wheels and fabric upholstery. The R brings a cooler set of dark-finished 18-inch wheels, suede / leather upholstery, nicer trim on details and heated seats. Finally, the Cup comes with 16-inch steelies, a roll-cage and other track-focused features since it is designed for competition.

All variants are fitted with the same naturally aspirated 2.4-liter boxer engine producing 232 hp (173 kW / 235 PS) and 250 Nm (184.4 lb-ft) in Japanese specification. Power is sent to the rear axle through either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission, with the Cup being manual-only.

The Subaru BRZ with the upgraded multi-level lighting switch is already available in Japan with prices starting from ¥3,080,000 ($24,197) for the S trim with the six-speed manual, up to ¥3,432,000 ($26,962) for the highest-spec R trim with the six-speed auto. The back-to-basics Cup is priced at ¥3,338,500 ($26,208).

For reference, in the US market, the 2023 BRZ starts at $28,595 for the manual Premium trim and tops out at $33,815 for the auto Limited flagship, although the available equipment is different for each market.