Today’s new-car market is awash in a murky sea of bland SUVs and rubber-bumpered EVs. Most manufacturers are playing it safe, serving up interchangeable appliances with grilles. Subaru is no exception, with a lineup heavy on Crosstrek, Outback, and Forester. But these are the same people that perfected the AWD hot-hatch with the old WRX. Surely auto enthusiasts on the board have something to say!
On Subaru’s own website, Chief Technology Officer Tetsuro Fujinuki stated that the company intends to introduce three new manual-transmission models by 2027. In an age of auto-pilot numbness, Subaru seems to remember that enthusiasts still want to feel connected to their cars through the good old stick shift.
The comments were picked up by Japanese media, spread through enthusiast sites worldwide, and now the gearheads at Demaras Racing are cheering, scheming, and mentally clearing garage space.
More Powerful WRX + Stick
The first model mentioned is a “WRX with TY85 manual transmission,” referring to the stout 6-speed gearbox last used in the 2021 WRX STI. It is a serious piece of hardware, built to handle real power, and it lines up perfectly with Fujinuki’s promise to “revive” the WRX.
Turbo BRZ + Stick
The second is the Subaru BRZ. Yes, the BRZ already offers a manual, but it currently uses an Aisin TL70-series 6-speed rather than Subaru’s heavy-duty STI gearbox. Looks like they’re planning a production models of the BRZ STI Sport TYPE RA shown in Japan, with its turbocharged FA24F boxer engine from the current-gen WRX, pumping out 271 HP. Whether Subaru really gives the BRZ all that extra power is still a mystery.
Hot Hatch WRX
But the big news for Subaru fans is the mention of a “5-door hatchback” with a manual gearbox. Fujinuki stated that Subaru is developing a production version of the Performance-B STI Concept shown at the Japan Mobility Show 2025, promising “a model with a new personality that is different from the WRX and BRZ.”
After watching Toyota eat their lunch with the GR Corolla, it sounds like Subaru may finally be clawing its way back into the performance car game, including an AWD hot-hatch just like the early WRX models. Will any of these exciting new machines make it across the ocean to local dealerships? Stay tuned.