While the Subaru BRZ and its counterpart, the Toyota GR86, are undoubtedly enjoyable vehicles—ranking among the best new car choices—recent updates to the Japan-only versions bring some interesting features. The introduction of a “Sport Mode” for the BRZ, which alters throttle response and amplifies the artificial engine noise, left me somewhat amused. There’s also some suspension tuning that could prove beneficial.
But the real question is: does a rear-wheel-drive sports car with roughly 230 horsepower even require a Sport Mode? The BRZ has been on the market for quite some time now—are there any owners demanding this feature? I would argue that most experienced drivers can manage the robust power of the BRZ’s throttle in everyday situations.
Subaru’s official description of the new Sport Mode, translated from Japanese via my web browser, is as follows:
This new enhancement offers a “SPORT mode” for manual transmission vehicles, developed from insights gained by Team SDA Engineering, which participates in the Super Taikyu Series. In SPORT mode, accelerator control is improved through a throttle setting that accurately responds to accelerator input across the entire RPM range. Additionally, the volume of the active sound control is increased to enhance the driver’s excitement.
In summary, Sport Mode is designed to provide a more linear throttle response and enhance the coupe’s “active sound control” when accelerating—something Subaru believes will increase driver enjoyment. The company also notes that damper settings throughout the model line are being adjusted, alongside changes to electric power steering, and the manual-shift mode on automatic models has been enhanced for more aggressive downshifting.
I reached out to my contact at Subaru regarding the availability of these features in the U.S. market, but I expect the usual response about future products. However, if you currently own a recent BRZ model, it could be worthwhile to look into whether the struts from these updated versions can be retrofitted. While the power steering modifications may be more complex to implement, it might still be feasible.
In addition, Toyota released a Japanese-language announcement about 2025 JDM GR86 upgrades. While it did not mention a Sport Mode, it noted that throttle-response adjustments and steering refinements are being made to improve the “turning performance and upper-limit handling, enhancing the unique driving experience.”
A new, appealing green color option, Ridge Green Limited, will be limited to just 200 units—in Japan. However, this attractive GR86 will also be available in the U.S., where Toyota North America has aptly named it the Hakone Special Edition, following in the footsteps of its predecessor, the 86. The U.S. market will see 860 examples for the upcoming model year, arriving at dealerships in the fall for an undisclosed price.
It’s likely that these updates will eventually be available in the West—especially for the Toyota models, based on current indications. Regardless, existing BRZ owners should not be overly concerned about missing out on the Sport Mode; after all, isn’t the gas pedal already the benchmark in these vehicles?
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