Tag Archives: Subaru

News

Subaru Doubles Down on Three Pedals: WRX, BRZ, and a Mystery Hatchback Get Manual Transmissions by 2027

Leave a comment

In an era where dual-clutch gearboxes shift faster than any human ever could and electrification continues its relentless march, Subaru has decided to throw enthusiasts a lifeline. Better yet, it’s a lifeline with three pedals attached.

During a media roundtable at Japan’s Fuji 24 Hours race, Subaru confirmed that three new manual-transmission models are headed for showrooms by 2027. The lineup includes a WRX sedan, a hotter BRZ coupe, and perhaps most intriguingly, an all-new five-door hatchback that promises to carve out its own identity within Subaru’s performance family.

It’s the clearest signal yet that Subaru still sees value in driver engagement, even as much of the industry moves in the opposite direction.

The Return of the Manual WRX

For many enthusiasts, the biggest news is the WRX.

While Subaru recently offered a manual-equipped WRX STI Sport♯ in Japan, that model was limited to just 600 examples distributed through a lottery system. Now the manual is set to return permanently to the WRX range, and Subaru isn’t taking shortcuts.

Rather than using the TY75 gearbox found in the current WRX tS and STI Sport♯, the company is resurrecting the tougher TY85 six-speed manual from the previous-generation WRX STI. Subaru says the transmission was chosen specifically for its durability and reliability, suggesting the engineers expect drivers to use it exactly as intended.

The teaser image accompanying the announcement also reveals a familiar hood scoop, strongly hinting that the WRX will continue to rely on Subaru’s turbocharged 2.4-liter boxer four without any form of electrification. For purists worried about hybrid assistance diluting the WRX formula, that’s welcome news.

A New Hot Hatch Emerges

The most fascinating member of the trio isn’t the WRX or the BRZ—it’s the mysterious five-door hatchback.

Subaru confirmed the newcomer will evolve from the Performance-B STI Concept shown at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show, but company executives suggest it won’t simply be a hatchback version of the WRX.

Chief Technology Officer Tetsuro Fujinuki described the project as an “affordable base car” designed to give Subaru’s enthusiast-minded engineers room to experiment while leveraging existing components and technology. Reading between the lines, that sounds like a recipe for something enthusiasts have been requesting for years: an Impreza-sized hatch infused with WRX hardware.

The concept’s proportions, along with the closely related High Performance X Version II race car, point toward a vehicle that could eventually spawn a full-fledged WRX STI flagship. A turbocharged boxer engine, all-wheel drive, sharper suspension tuning, and more aggressive aerodynamics all seem likely ingredients.

Interestingly, the latest teaser image shows a more restrained body shape than the original concept, lacking its exaggerated wide fenders. That could indicate Subaru is positioning the hatchback as a more accessible enthusiast model before potentially expanding the lineup with even hotter variants.

Whatever form it takes, the company insists the hatchback will bring a personality distinct from both the WRX and BRZ.

The BRZ Gets Sharper

The third manual model may be the least surprising, but it could end up being the most rewarding to drive.

Subaru says a new BRZ “Complete Car” is in development, based on the BRZ STI Sport Type RA that debuted in late 2025. The company promises a lighter, more engaging driving experience, which is exactly what BRZ fans want to hear.

The limited-run Type RA already came equipped with aerodynamic enhancements, ZF dampers, and Brembo brakes, creating one of the most focused versions of Subaru’s rear-drive sports coupe. Unlike that 300-unit special edition, however, the new model appears destined to become a permanent member of the lineup.

Don’t expect a dramatic power increase. Subaru has offered no indication that the turbocharged boxer engine from its BRZ race car will make the leap to the street. Instead, the emphasis appears to be on reducing weight, sharpening chassis responses, and enhancing the connection between driver and machine.

Frankly, that’s probably the right approach.

Subaru’s Enthusiast Revival

All three vehicles will be developed under Subaru’s newly created Sports Vehicle Planning Office, a division tasked with translating lessons learned from the company’s motorsports activities into road-going products.

That mission statement may sound familiar, but Subaru’s actions are speaking louder than its press releases. At a time when manual transmissions are disappearing across the industry, the company is investing resources into not one, but three enthusiast-focused models built around driver involvement.

Whether these cars remain exclusive to Japan is the million-dollar question. Subaru has yet to confirm any export plans, leaving enthusiasts in North America and Europe cautiously optimistic.

Still, the message coming from Fuji Speedway is difficult to ignore: Subaru believes there’s still a place for manual gearboxes, turbocharged boxer engines, and cars designed primarily for people who enjoy driving.

And in 2026, that’s becoming an increasingly rare thing.

Source: Subaru

News

Subaru’s Next EV Won’t Be Small—and It Won’t Be Alone

Subaru is about to get a lot more serious about electric family hauling. After dipping its toe into the EV world with the compact Solterra, the brand is preparing to add something much bigger, bolder, and more suburban-friendly: a three-row electric SUV aimed squarely at the heart of today’s electric crossover boom.

And no, Subaru isn’t developing it from scratch.

Just like the Solterra is essentially a Toyota bZ4X in hiking boots, Subaru’s upcoming three-row EV will be a rebadged version of Toyota’s new all-electric Highlander-sized SUV. Toyota and Subaru first confirmed the shared project back in 2023, promising production would begin in 2025. That timeline has slipped, but Subaru of America COO Jeff Walters recently reassured Automotive News that the project is very much alive—and due to hit showrooms later this year.

Subaru is positioning the new EV as a second car for households that already have a garage and a charger. In other words, this isn’t meant to replace your Outback just yet—it’s meant to park next to it. It will slot above the Solterra and alongside Subaru’s other Toyota-derived EVs, the Uncharted and Trailseeker, forming the backbone of Subaru’s still-nascent U.S. electric lineup.

A Highlander in Subaru Clothing

If you’re expecting Subaru to dramatically rework Toyota’s design, don’t. History suggests we’ll see the usual playbook: a unique front and rear fascia, Subaru-specific trim pieces, and some brand-appropriate badges, but otherwise the same vehicle underneath. That’s been the story with the Solterra and Toyota bZ4X, and it’s how the Uncharted borrows heavily from the Toyota C-HR.

That said, Subaru could give this new three-row EV a slightly tougher look. The company has made a habit of leaning into its outdoorsy image when given the chance, and the Uncharted already wears more rugged styling than its Toyota counterpart. Expect plastic cladding, roof rails, and just enough visual muscle to convince buyers this thing might actually see a gravel road.

Underneath, though, it will be Toyota’s SUV through and through.

Toyota Finally Enters the Big-EV Fight

Toyota’s new three-row electric SUV is expected to closely follow the bZ Large concept it previewed a few years ago. If that show car was any indication, the production version will look like a stretched and slightly bulked-up version of the current Toyota bZ, with a clean, futuristic design and the proportions needed to challenge the big dogs of the segment.

And it needs to. The electric three-row SUV market is no longer empty. The Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9 have already planted their flags, offering real space, real range, and real family-friendly features. Toyota’s entry—along with Subaru’s clone—finally gives the Japanese brands something to fight back with.

A Lexus Version Is Probably Coming Too

Toyota won’t be the only one spinning this platform into something new. Reports suggest Lexus is also preparing a premium version of the same electric three-row SUV, likely called the TZ. It would serve as the electric counterpart to the gas-powered Lexus TX, further spreading Toyota’s EV architecture across multiple brands.

So from one electric SUV platform, Toyota will get a mainstream family hauler, Subaru will get a ruggedized version, and Lexus will get a luxury one. That’s modern automotive efficiency at work.

For Subaru, this three-row EV could be a turning point. The Solterra has struggled to stand out, but a practical, family-sized electric SUV—especially one that doesn’t cost luxury-car money—could be exactly what the brand needs to finally gain traction in the EV space.

And if nothing else, it proves one thing: Subaru’s electric future will be built not alone, but side-by-side with Toyota.

Source: Subaru

NEW CARS

Subaru WRX STI Sport# Prototype: Close Enough to Dream, Too Far to Care

Subaru has never been shy about rolling concepts onto brightly lit auto-show turntables, especially when three little letters—S, T, and I—are involved. The latest to wear that promise is the awkwardly titled WRX STI Sport# Prototype, a car that sounds like a limited-edition keyboard shortcut and drives expectations straight into a wall.

After weeks of teasing that strongly hinted at a proper Impreza-based STI revival, Subaru instead unveiled this prototype at the Tokyo Auto Salon, and the collective enthusiasm of rally faithful immediately dropped a gear. What stood before them wasn’t the long-awaited return of a fire-breathing STI, but rather a mildly sharpened WRX wearing a name that implies more ambition than execution.

That disappointment stings more sharply when you consider the WRX’s current status. Subaru quietly pulled the plug on the model in the UK back in 2017, but the rally-bred sedan has soldiered on elsewhere, reaching its sixth generation in 2023. The bones are still there: symmetrical all-wheel drive, boxer power, and a chassis that wants to be driven hard. What’s missing, once again, is the sense of escalation that made past STIs legends rather than trim levels.

Subaru is being characteristically vague about the mechanical specifics of the STI Sport# Prototype, which usually means there’s nothing particularly exciting to report. Under the hood sits the familiar turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four, shared with the standard WRX and producing around 270 horsepower. That output would’ve impressed us a decade ago; today, it barely raises an eyebrow in a segment crowded with turbo fours pushing well north of 300 horses. Power is routed to all four wheels—because of course it is—through a six-speed transmission, but Subaru hasn’t suggested any meaningful drivetrain upgrades beyond that.

Visually, the prototype sticks close to the existing WRX playbook. You get the same wide bodywork, aggressive bumpers, quad exhaust tips, and lip spoiler. Subaru spices things up with red-accented extended side skirts, 19-inch wheels, gold Brembo brakes, and Recaro bucket seats inside. It looks purposeful enough, but it’s also unmistakably familiar—more “special edition” than “engineering statement.”

And that’s the core problem. Historically, the STI badge meant more than bolt-on aggression. It stood for harder suspension tuning, sharper steering, beefier diffs, and an engine that made a clear case for its existence. The STI Sport# Prototype doesn’t appear to deliver any of that. There’s no bump in power worth mentioning, no talk of chassis reengineering, and no visual cues bold enough to separate it meaningfully from a well-optioned WRX.

This is especially frustrating given that Subaru clearly knows how to do better. Just a few months earlier, at the Japan Mobility Show, the company showed off far more compelling performance concepts. The Performance-B STI, based on the current WRX, looked like a proper heir to the badge, while the all-electric Performance-E STI suggested a future where Subaru performance might evolve rather than stall. Subaru even claimed the latter “represents the future of the Performance Scene,” which makes this prototype feel even more like a placeholder.

For diehard fans, the STI Sport# Prototype lands in an uncomfortable middle ground. It’s not offensive, but it’s not inspiring either. It wears the uniform, carries the name, and checks the marketing boxes—but it never quite earns its badge. In a world where competitors are pushing boundaries with hybrid assist, adaptive chassis tech, and serious power gains, Subaru’s latest STI tease feels like a reminder of what once was, not a preview of what’s coming.

If this is Subaru testing the waters for an STI comeback, let’s hope the final version dives deeper. Because right now, the WRX STI Sport# Prototype doesn’t so much light the fuse as it gently taps the match against the box—and walks away.

Source: Subaru