[Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the October 2013 issue of Grassroots Motorsports. Text has been left as it originally appeared in print.]
The new Subaru BRZ and its near twin, the Scion FR-S, have reignited our love affair with the sporty coupe. And fortunately, the aftermarket has been quick to respond. Here’s a sample of the go-fast parts …
Upgrading to KONIS doesn’t have to require a full coil-over conversion, as the shock absorber maker offers front strut inserts and rear replacement units. Both come with Koni’s Sport valving.
BREMBO lists their GT, GT-R and race-ready big-brake kits for the FR-S/BRZ. Both four- and six-piston caliper setups are available for the fronts; upsized rears are for sale, too. Fronts start at $3595.
GROUND CONTROL has already added several upgraded FR-S/BRZ suspension parts to their catalog, including street and race coil-over kits, adjustable anti-roll bar links, camber and caster plates, upper-front strut bars, and upper-rear shock mounts. Their custom front strut housings increase shock travel by an inch, and the dampers come from a trusted source: Koni.
ENERGY SUSPENSION showed a complete high-performance bushing set for the FR-S and BRZ at the SEMA Show: anti-roll bar mounts, steering rack, control arms, manual shifter mount and more. Choose from racy red or stealth black.
Be safe: AUTO POWER offers a bolt-together roll cage for the car.
DEATHSCHWERKS has added high-flow fuel injectors and fuel pumps to their catalog.
The force-fed FR-S and BRZ may not yet be available, but you can still build your own. INNOVATE MOTORSPORTS offers a bolt-on, twin-screw supercharger kit. Four different setups are available: with or without intercooler and with or without the reflashed ECU. Setups start at $3195.
WILWOOD offers big brakes for the BRZ and FR-S: six-piston calipers up front and four-piston units out back. Both ends get 12.88-inch rotors, and all the calipers are formed in forged aluminum. Choose red or black calipers as well as drilled and slotted or just drilled rotors. The fronts start at $1674.36.
The WHITELINE catalog features lots of upgraded suspension parts for the FR-S and BRZ: upsized front and rear anti-roll bars with both fixed and adjustable mounting points, upper strut bars, adjustable camber bolts and front anti-roll bar end links. Then there’s a full line of stiffer bushings covering control arms, strut mounts, steering racks, differential mounts, rear crossmembers and more–lots more.
HOTCHKIS SPORT SUSPENSION already has stiffer springs plus adjustable anti-roll bars for the FR-S and BRZ. The front bar measures an inch in diameter and features two settings; Hotchkis says roll stiffness is increased by 170 and 245 percent in the front and rear, respectively. Their 3/4-inch, blade-style rear bar can increase stiffness from 200 to 550 percent. The springs can also be bundled with the company’s coil springs to form a Stage1 Total Vehicle System.
ELEMENT TUNING and HYDRA EMS have developed a plug-and-play, stand-alone ECU for the car. “What makes this computer unique is that it’s the only full-replacement ECU for the FR-S/BRZ that retains the direct injection and the simultaneous port injection along with being fully CAN Bus compatible,” explains Element Tuning’s Phil Grabow. “This means the dash, ABS, electric power steering, and other factory functions remain functional and happy.” Introductory pricing will be $1899.
This one may not make your car any faster, but GRIMMSPEED calls their license plate relocation kit a very popular first mod. Basically, it moves the plate to the side so it’s no so distracting. MSRP: $79.99.
No matter how much power you’re making, you need to put it all to the pavement. OS GIKEN already offers one of their Super Lock limited-slip differentials for the car.