Best Power Upgrades for 2022-2024 Toyota GR86 & BRZ

The best power upgrades for the 2022–2024 Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ start with the HKS GT2 supercharger and build outward through intake, exhaust and tuning. The second-generation twins run the naturally aspirated 2.4L FA24 flat-four rated at 228 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, and while that engine finally killed the old 2.0L torque dip, enthusiasts still want more. In this guide our team at NLP Performance in Tampa, FL breaks down the exact parts — with real specs, prices and horsepower expectations — that turn a stock FA24 into a genuinely quick, well-balanced sports car.

What Makes the FA24 GR86 & BRZ So Upgradeable?

The 2022–2024 GR86 and BRZ share the Subaru-built FA24 engine: a 2.4L naturally aspirated boxer four producing 228 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 184 lb-ft of torque at 3,700 rpm, spinning to a 7,500 rpm redline. That is a 23 hp bump over the first-generation 2.0L FA20, and the extra 400cc of displacement all but eliminated the notorious 4,000–5,000 rpm torque dip that plagued the earlier car. The result is a flatter, more usable powerband straight from the factory.

Here is the catch for tuners: because the FA24 is already efficiently calibrated from the factory, a tune alone nets modest gains — typically 15–20 wheel horsepower on 91 octane. The engine simply is not leaving big power on the table in stock trim. To make a GR86 or BRZ genuinely fast, you need to change how much air it moves, which is why forced induction sits at the top of every serious build. At NLP Performance we group FA24 upgrades into three buckets: add air (supercharger, intake, exhaust), unlock it (ECU tune), and control it (coilovers and brakes).

Best GR86 & BRZ Power Upgrades at a Glance

The table below compares the five core upgrades we install most often on second-gen cars, from the full supercharger kit down to the ECU flash. Every part fits 2022–2024 GR86 and BRZ models. Prices are current NLP Performance listings.

HKS GT2 Supercharger: The Ultimate FA24 Power Upgrade

The HKS GT2 Supercharger Complete Kit is a bolt-on centrifugal-style forced-induction system that raises a US-spec FA24 to roughly 270 crank horsepower on pump gas — a gain of about 42 horsepower over stock — while remaining street-friendly. It is the most significant single upgrade you can make to a naturally aspirated GR86 or BRZ. HKS revised the GT2 head unit for the 2.4L with a larger rotor than the earlier FA20 version to match the engine’s higher airflow demand, and the kit runs roughly 7–9 psi at the standard pulley ratio, calibrated for the FA24’s 7,500 rpm redline.

What makes this kit stand out is how complete it is. The box includes the GT2 supercharger unit, mounting brackets, all charge piping, an air-to-air intercooler and traction fluid, and it is engineered to work with the factory intake box to keep intake noise and heat in check. That means fewer surprises during installation and a car that still drives like a factory GR86 around town — until you open the throttle. In our Tampa shop, this is the kit we recommend to drivers who want a permanent, reliable jump in power rather than a chase of small bolt-on gains.

Bolt-On Power: Intake, Exhaust and Tune

Not every build starts with a supercharger. For drivers chasing sharper throttle response, a better exhaust note and small but real gains, the classic intake-exhaust-tune trio is where most FA24 owners begin — and every one of these parts stacks under a supercharger later. Here are the three bolt-ons we fit most often.

HKS Cold Air Intake Full Kit

The HKS ZN8/ZD8 Cold Air Intake Full Kit is a complete replacement induction system with a reusable filter and a sealed housing that draws cooler air than the restrictive factory setup. It improves high-rpm airflow and adds an audible induction growl, and at $1,705 it is a full kit rather than a drop-in filter. On a naturally aspirated FA24 the intake alone is worth a few horsepower with a supporting tune; its bigger role is feeding a forced-induction build down the road.

HKS Hi-Power SPEC-L2 Cat-Back Exhaust

The HKS Hi-Power SPEC-L2 is a stainless-steel cat-back exhaust tuned for a deeper flat-four note without the drone that makes some GR86 systems tiring on the highway. The SPEC-L branding is HKS’s quieter, street-focused sound level, so you get a richer tone at wide-open throttle and civilized volume at a steady cruise. At $2,190 it is a premium cat-back, and it frees up exhaust flow that pays off most once a supercharger or tune is added.

Prefer a louder, more budget-friendly cat-back? The Borla ATAK cat-back with black chrome tips ($1,114.99) is a T-304 stainless system with Borla’s aggressive ATAK sound level, and the AWE Track Edition cat-back ($1,095) is another popular choice. Both bolt on to the same FA24 exhaust flange.

COBB Flash Kit Pro & Calibrations

The COBB Flash Kit Pro is the tuning foundation for a second-gen GR86 or BRZ, unlocking the ECU with off-the-shelf and custom calibrations for AT and MT cars. On the FA24, COBB and other tuners see roughly +15 to +20 wheel horsepower on 91 octane, with larger gains on E85 or once forced induction is added. Because the second-gen twins use an EcuTek-based flash rather than the classic Accessport hardware, the Flash Kit Pro is the correct gateway product — and at $725 it is the cheapest real power upgrade in this guide. It is also what lets your supercharger, intake and exhaust actually work together safely.

Putting the Power Down: Suspension, Brakes and Weight

Adding horsepower is only half of a fast GR86 or BRZ — the chassis has to use it. The stock suspension is soft and the brakes fade under repeated hard stops, so the smartest builds pair power with control. Our top handling upgrade is the Ohlins Road & Track coilover system.

Ohlins Road & Track Coilover System

The Ohlins Road & Track coilover system is a ride-height-adjustable damper set built around Ohlins’ DFV (Dual Flow Valve) technology, which delivers taut body control on track without punishing you on rough Florida streets. At $2,700 it is a premium, dual-purpose setup that transforms turn-in and mid-corner composure while remaining genuinely street-usable — the reason it is the coilover we fit most on second-gen cars.

If you plan to track a supercharged car, upgrade the brakes too. The Alcon 4-piston 332x32mm front big brake kit ($3,717) adds serious rotor mass and fade resistance for repeated hard stops. And because the FA24 rewards low weight, a lightweight panel such as the Seibon TS-style carbon fiber hood ($1,440) trims mass over the front axle to keep the balance the twins are famous for.

How Much Horsepower Can You Add to a GR86 or BRZ?

A naturally aspirated FA24 build realistically gains 15–25 wheel horsepower from an intake, exhaust and tune combined, taking a stock 228-horsepower car to roughly 250 crank horsepower. That is a noticeable improvement in throttle response and sound, but it will not fundamentally change the car’s straight-line pace. The big jump comes from boost.

With the HKS GT2 supercharger, a US-spec GR86 or BRZ reaches roughly 270 crank horsepower on pump gas at the standard pulley — and tuned setups on E85 have been shown to push well beyond 280 wheel horsepower. That is the difference between a fun car and a fast one. For most drivers, our recommended path is to start with the COBB Flash Kit Pro and a cat-back exhaust for immediate sound and response, then commit to the supercharger when the budget allows, tuning everything together as a package. Alternative forced-induction routes, such as the Jackson Racing FA24 supercharger, exist, but the HKS GT2 remains our top pick for its completeness and street manners.