Japan just got two of the brightest sports cars you will see this year. Subaru and Toyota have each rolled out limited editions of their twin coupes, both dipped in a colour called Sunrise Yellow. The catch? You cannot just walk into a showroom and buy one.
Subaru’s version is the BRZ STI Sport Yellow Edition. Toyota counters with the GR86 RZ Yellow Limited. Each is capped at 300 units. And if you want one, you need to enter a lottery at a local dealer.
Winning the chance to purchase means paying the equivalent of around 28,400 dollars for the Subaru or 26,500 dollars for the Toyota.
The Subaru comes dressed with black 18 inch wheels, darkened exterior badges, and gold brake calipers peeking through. Inside, black Ultrasuede and leather are stitched with yellow thread, with “BRZ Yellow Edition” logos embroidered on the doors. It is essentially the Japanese market STI Sport, complete with Brembo brakes and firmer suspension, wrapped in a brighter suit.
Toyota’s GR86 RZ Yellow Limited mirrors much of that recipe. It skips a body kit but wears dark grey 18 inch wheels and has the same yellow contrast stitching through the cabin.
The upgrades under the skin are new to Toyota’s coupe though. Brembo brakes with red calipers and Sachs dampers sharpen the chassis. In other words, Toyota had to build a hotter version from scratch, while Subaru already had an STI Sport waiting in the wings.
Both cars keep the familiar 2.4 litre boxer four. That means 228 horsepower and 184 pound feet of torque, sent to the rear wheels through either a six speed manual or automatic. Performance numbers remain unchanged, but that was never the point. These editions are all about colour, scarcity, and small but meaningful hardware tweaks.
For American fans, it is not quite a case of missing out.
Toyota already sells the GR86 Yuzu Edition, which offers almost the same package without the lottery system, albeit at a higher price of 37,560 dollars. Subaru, meanwhile, has not confirmed a yellow BRZ for the US market, though history suggests it could happen.
The brand ran a Series Yellow back in 2017 and just released a Series Purple in 2025.
Whether or not they come west, these two Japanese specials prove one thing. Sports cars do not always need more horsepower to stay exciting. Sometimes all it takes is fresh paint, sharper brakes, and the thrill of knowing you are driving one of only a few hundred in existence.
