Have you ever seen a light bar on a truck and thought, “That would look wild on a car?” That’s exactly what we did with this 2014 Subaru BRZ.
At first glance, it might seem unconventional. However, a high-powered off-road light actually fits the BRZ’s rally-inspired roots perfectly. As a result, this build blends sports car style with serious nighttime performance.
We installed a GTR Lighting 22-inch Tactical LED light bar, and the results speak for themselves.
Why Add a Light Bar to a BRZ?
Most people associate LED light bars with trucks and off-road rigs. However, nothing says you can’t mount one on a lightweight sports coupe.
In fact, the BRZ and FR-S platform already carry strong motorsports DNA. Therefore, adding aggressive auxiliary lighting enhances both form and function.
This particular light bar produces nearly 11,000 lumens while drawing 132 watts of power. That output dramatically improves visibility on dark roads, rural highways, or closed-course environments.
Even better, the Tactical series allows multiple lighting configurations:
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Outer sections only
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Center section only
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All sections together
Specifically, the center section uses six 10W LEDs. Meanwhile, the outer sections use twenty-four 5W LEDs. Because of this design, you can tailor the beam pattern to your needs.
Bumper Removal: Accessing the Mounting Area
Before mounting the light bar, we removed the front bumper. Although the process sounds intimidating, it remains straightforward.
First, remove the bolts along the top edge of the bumper. Next, pull the Phillips-head clips from each wheel well liner. Then, disconnect the lower engine tray from the bumper lip by removing the plastic clips underneath.
Once you complete those steps, the bumper slides off cleanly. At that point, you gain full access to the bumper support behind the grille.
Mounting the LED Light Bar
After removing the bumper, we positioned the light bar against the bumper support.
We carefully measured multiple times to ensure perfect centering. Accuracy matters here. If you drill once, you want it right the first time.
Next, we drilled mounting holes directly into the bumper support. We inserted bolts upward with spacers so the light bar would clear the front lip. Then, we secured everything with nuts on the front side.
Because we planned the placement carefully, the bar sits cleanly behind the grille without interfering with surrounding components.
Wiring the System Cleanly
A clean install requires clean wiring. Therefore, we routed the harness upward and underneath the headlight.
From there, we ran the relay harness directly to the battery. Then, we passed the wiring through a factory rubber grommet in the firewall. Fortunately, the BRZ includes a large pre-existing grommet with plenty of space.
Once inside the cabin, we installed GTR Lighting Halo Switches in the center console. This setup allows easy control of the light bar’s different output modes.
As a result, the system looks factory-integrated rather than aftermarket.
Final Result
The finished setup transforms the front end completely. Not only does the BRZ look more aggressive, but it also delivers serious forward lighting performance.
Moreover, the multi-zone output gives the driver flexibility. You can run a subtle setup or unleash the full 11,000 lumens when needed.
Because we measured carefully and routed wiring properly, the install remains clean, secure, and functional.
Important Legal Disclaimer
Street legal in the USA for fog light use only.
Not compliant with DOT / FMVSS108 and not street legal in the USA for headlight use.
Certain specialty vehicles strictly limited to off-street use and not having DOT registration or license plates may use these products exclusively off-street.
International street legality varies by country.
These regulations apply to all LED and HID bulbs used in halogen headlight housings in the USA, regardless of brand or marketing claims.
If you’re into high-performance lighting upgrades, make sure to follow our Facebook page for the latest installs, comparisons, and product releases. For in-depth guides, expert insights, and real-world testing, check out the Better Automotive Lighting Blog— your go-to source for serious illumination upgrades. Up Next: Tesla’s Latest Software Update: A Game Changer In Automotive Innovation
Meet the people behind Better Automotive Lighting
John Tobias, Headlight Junkie and Industry Veteran
Before managing pricing and product categories for the DLG brands, John worked directly with customers in customer service and tech support, then spent several years in marketing creating content like this and the videos published online. Today he takes more than ten years of aftermarket automotive lighting experience to events all over the USA, meeting customers and talking to real people about what they care about. He is focused on understanding the market, the trends, the big players, and what matters to lighting enthusiasts. John has tested thousands of lights, works directly with lighting engineers to evaluate the technical performance behind every recommendation, and is one of the foremost experts on everything happening in the world of aftermarket automotive lighting. LinkedIn
