Subaru’s moves on from ‘boring’ old ways to new performance focus
Less than two months ago, Subaru teased a trio of new performance manual models, something one executive said couldn’t happen if it stuck to its ways.
Subaru has been the target of criticism from the performance vehicle community in recent years, having shelved its iconic WRX STI and leaned into the EV space.
That all appears to be unravelling, after Subaru established a new Sports Vehicle Planning Office earlier this year, which has already made an all-wheel drive, turbocharged BRZ rally car.
In June, it shared a teaser image of three cars covered in sheets, previewing a tougher WRX sedan, a hotter BRZ coupe, and what is widely expected to be the returning WRX hatchback.
Speaking to Japanese publication Best Car, Subaru’s chief technical officer Tetsuro Fujinuki said the creation of the planning office allowed such vehicles to be created, and brought an end to the brand’s “boring” way of operating.
“Subaru's development system has changed dramatically recently. We've created a Product Innovation Headquarters and established a Sports Vehicle Planning Office specialising in sports models,” Fujinuki said.
“We decided to abandon the old way of doing things. Because it's boring. We'd have a confirmation meeting, then another meeting, and they'd bring out similar materials again.
“So we tried developing it entirely digitally. And it turned out we could do quite a lot. As a result, our development speed increased, and we were able to do more daring things.”
The executive said plans for the three new cars are confidential, and only hinted at the power outputs to expect from the more potent of the WRXs.
“I didn't say we were aiming for 400 horsepower (298kW),” he said when asked if the new WRX sedan could produce that much.
“But the FA24 we're developing for Super Taikyu already exceeds 350 horsepower (240kW). I wonder why it's so powerful. Subaru can do it if they put their minds to it. I'm sure of it!”
Subaru is competing in Japan’s Super Taikyu series with the WRX STI HiPerfX2, powered by a turbocharged 2.4-litre boxer engine (shared with the current WRX), but with more performance parts and in a hatchback body.
It’s expected this will influence the returning WRX hatch.
Jordan Mulach
For the WRX sedan, the performance will move from the ‘TY75’ six-speed manual which has been available for the WRX since 2014, and adopt the stronger ‘TY85’ from the previous-generation WRX STI.
Designed to handle more power and torque as well as added abuse, the TY85 transmission was previously discontinued following the end of production for the ‘VA’-generation WRX STI, however it’s now coming back for the standard WRX.
Currently Japan has no manual-equipped WRXs in local showrooms, though earlier this year it announced the manual would come in the form of the WRX STI Sport#.
In the case of the BRZ, the sports coupe will get a series production variant influenced by the BRZ STI Sport Type RA, previously limited to 300 units in Japan.
All three vehicles are due to launch in their home market by 2027, though whether they’ll be sold elsewhere remains to be seen.
