Subaru Says The First-Ever BRZ Manual With EyeSight Is Coming, WRX To Follow?

We knew it was coming, and Subaru Corporation just made it official. The Japanese automaker has developed EyeSight compatibility for its manual transmission vehicles. Subaru announced that the first manual transmission vehicle to get EyeSight would be the new 2023 BRZ sport coupe, which arrives in Japan this fall.

Subaru says the next-generation EyeSight will be available for its manual transmission vehicles. The BRZ is the first to get the new manual-compatible technology, and the WRX should follow.

The BRZ and WRX are the only two Subaru models left with a manual gearbox starting with the 2024 model year. Subaru dropped the manual transmission in the all-new 2024 Impreza compact hatchback and the next-generation 2024 Crosstrek subcompact SUV. Subaru did not reveal if they would return the manual in the two new models now that EyeSight is compatible with the 5-speed and 6-speed manual shifter.

2023 Subaru BRZ 6-speed manual now comes with EyeSight technology.

The first 2023 Subaru BRZ 6-speed manual sports car with Eyesight offers pre-collision braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure and sway warning, lead vehicle start alert, and rear sonar warning.

Subaru says, "While retaining its high performance in collision avoidance, collision damage mitigation, and reducing the driver's workload, the new EyeSight system is now combined with control tailored to manual transmission vehicles' driving and operating characteristics. This allows the system to operate in a wide range of real-world situations, providing a high level of driving enjoyment and peace of mind."

Until now, Subaru Corporation has not fitted the WRX or BRZ manual transmission models with EyeSight safety technology because they weren't willing to invest the resources to make the driver-assist system work with a manual gearbox. But that changed with the new Subaru Corporation announcement.

The EyeSight autonomous braking technology has been developed so that the first-ever BRZ manual shifter can come standard with the driver-assist safety technology. We expect the WRX performance sedan with a 6-speed manual gearbox will be the next to get the new EyeSight technology.

Manual transmission versions of the Subaru WRX performance sedan and Subaru BRZ sport coupe account for most of the sales, and it's a significant improvement for Subaru to invest in the new technology.

Subaru is committed to making EyeSight with automatic emergency braking standard across all BRZ and WRX trim levels. Subaru states, "Through these efforts, we aim to achieve zero fatal road accidents in 2030." Subaru says this involves zero fatal road accidents among occupants of Subaru vehicles and people involved in collisions with Subaru vehicles, including pedestrians and cyclists.

Subaru wants every WRX performance sedan and BRZ sport coupe trim level to achieve the highest safety scores. Subaru has confirmed they have now developed the technology to make it happen. As a result, the entire Subaru lineup of cars and SUVs will earn the highest safety ratings, the automaker's primary goal.

Subaru Corporation makes it official, the first-ever 2023 Subaru BRZ with a 6-speed manual with EyeSight arrives this fall in Japan. We expect the Subaru WRX 6-speed manual will follow. Stay tuned.

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report, where he covers the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Photo credit: Subaru