Subaru Is Preparing A Surprise For WRX Fans
- 25.10.2026, 11:07
The sedan will be equipped with the legendary transmission.
Japanese Subaru fans who have been dreaming of a manual transmission in the current-generation WRX have finally received some good news: the company has announced the release of a production version equipped with a manual transmission. Unlike the previous limited-edition WRX STI Sport, this new variant will join the brand’s main lineup as a permanent model for the 2027 model year.
The biggest surprise is that the new WRX for the Japanese market will not come with the standard TY75 6-speed transmission (which is installed on U.S. versions), but rather the reinforced TY85 transmission from the previous-generation WRX STI. A teaser and a 15-minute documentary titled “The Road to Reviving the Production Model with a Manual Transmission” have already appeared on the brand’s official website, in which engineers discuss the development process, according to CarScoops.
Saving the "Manual"
As it turned out, the TY85 transmission was on the verge of extinction: production lines for manual transmissions had been dismantled to accelerate the transition to electrification. At first, Subaru believed it would be impossible to resume production, but it later turned out that one of its partners still had fully functional equipment at their plant. In early 2025, management formed a small, specialized team of engineers and tasked them with developing a vehicle as quickly as possible.
Using an approach typical of motorsports, the team completed the project in just one year. This wasn’t simply a matter of installing an old powertrain into a new body—extensive technical modifications were carried out:
Throttle response: The engine control unit (ECU) software was adapted from Subaru race cars. As a result, the 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer engine responds instantly—much like naturally aspirated engines.
A new driving experience: Test drivers note that the combination of the boxer engine, the reinforced TY85 manual transmission, and the WRX’s stiff, modern chassis creates a completely new driving experience.
Plans and Markets
The production version of the WRX with a manual transmission is set to debut in Japan in November 2026. To make room for this new model, Subaru is discontinuing sales of the WRX S4 STI Sport versions equipped with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) in the domestic market.
This sedan will be one of three models from the brand with a manual transmission set to debut by 2027. It will be joined by a lightweight version of the BRZ coupe—featuring more aggressive aerodynamic body kit—as well as a 5-door hatchback, the details of which are still under wraps.
At this time, the company has not announced any plans to sell a version with an STI-developed transmission outside of Japan. However, entering the North American market (as part of the 2027 or 2028 model year) would help better offset development costs. At the same time, a special limited-edition model has been prepared for the U.S. market—the 2027 WRX GD25 (limited to 350 units). It will feature a standard 271-l.s. engine, a classic TY75 manual transmission, gold-colored 19-inch wheels, and an upgraded braking system.