For five years, there’s been an all-wheel-drive rift in the Japanese performance car market. The 2021 model year marked the final time any of us could get a Subaru WRX STI, the last of the old-school rally-bred all-wheel-drive sedans. Since then, it’s been a stream of capable WRXs, but nothing to hold a candle to the apex predator of the Subaru range. That changes soon, as the marque just teased three new stick-shift high-performance models coming by 2027. Maybe miracles do exist.
As competitors grew quicker, a big part of what made the WRX STI unique was its transmission and all-wheel-drive system. The TY85 six-speed manual was famously strong, capable of handling far more than the old STI’s standard output of 310 horsepower. What’s more, it came attached to a driver controlled center differential, which could vary its lockup automatically or be dialled in a via a center console-mounted switch.
That particular six-speed gearbox is a hugely popular swap in high-horsepower Subaru builds, and while we haven’t seen it in a new car for quite some time, it’s coming back from the dead. According to Subaru’s Japanese website, at least when run through Google Translate, a WRX with this legendary transmission is on its way for 2027.
WRX with TY85 Transmission
It is currently under development as a catalog model equipped with the “TY85” type transmission, which was also used in the previous WRX STI and boasts high durability and reliability. As the name suggests, it aims to revive Subaru’s “WRX”.
Well, that certainly sounds tantalizing. Keep in mind, there’s no word one way or another whether this new WRX variant will feature the driver-controlled center differential, but a gearbox this strong is at the very minimum, a nod for tuners to go wild with wastegate settings. Oh, and if that seems a bit anticlimactic, wait until you hear what Subaru has up its other sleeve.
Yes, the worst-kept Subaru secret is officially happening. Under the cover sits an Impreza hatchback with a hood scoop, and these days, that can only mean one thing. Remember the “Performance-B STI” concept from last year? Well, here’s what Subaru has to say now:
We are currently developing a production version of the “Performance-B STI concept” that was exhibited at Japan Mobility Show 2025. We plan to create a model with a new personality that is different from the WRX and BRZ.
Oh snap. Again, by 2027, Subaru plans to launch a manual hot hatch based on a concept with “STI” in its name. What does that actually mean? Well, it’s tough to say right now, but it should be at least moderately fun. The teaser photo doesn’t show any huge spoilers, but even a WRX-ified hatchback would go a long way towards satiating Subaru loyalists. The factory-modified BRZ sitting in between the hatch and sedan is also promising, as Subaru claims it will be “even lighter and more enjoyable to drive.”
In the meantime, maybe it’s best to temper expectations. The old EJ engine is out of production, and while the 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-four in the current WRX has plenty of headroom, emissions regulations make playing with states of factory tune expensive. At the same time, it’s worth noting that none of these teased models are officially STI vehicles. Still, who’d have thought that Subaru would be coming out with some shock-and-awe? We should get a much better look at these sport compacts soon, and all we can do now is keep our fingers crossed for a Stateside arrival.
Top graphic image: Subaru
well being we already have a 5 door wrx here is AU (and my wife has one) eh
brz either way too slow
WRX with a decent transmission is only a good thing, I test drove the current one and the gearbox was just way too vague. Thus went with the Nissan Z.