Subaru has teased a new manual-transmission WRX for Japan, reviving the heavy-duty TY85 six-speed gearbox from the previous-generation WRX STI and confirming the three-pedal car will join the regular production lineup in Japan next month.
The move matters because Japanese buyers have largely been limited to the WRX S4 with a continuously variable transmission, apart from a limited run of 600 WRX STI Sport♯ cars that required buyers to win a lottery for the right to purchase one.
A permanent fixture, not a special edition
The upcoming model appears to make the manual a permanent part of the Japanese WRX range rather than a limited-run special. Subaru is not simply fitting the gearbox used elsewhere in the car: it is reviving the more robust TY85 transmission previously used in the old WRX STI.
The announcement comes with a development documentary explaining how the company brought the transmission back into production. The TY85 was on the verge of retirement as manufacturers phased out manual gearbox lines amid the industry's shift toward electrification. The project gained momentum after Subaru found that a supplier from a partner factory still had an operational transmission production line, and a small engineering team was assembled in early 2025 with a deadline of roughly one year to develop the new model.
Engine software revised, power unconfirmed
Beyond the gearbox, Subaru revised the engine control software to sharpen throttle response, aiming to make the turbocharged engine feel more like a naturally aspirated unit, with engineers drawing on knowledge from the company's racing programs. Development drivers reported that the manual, combined with the current WRX's stiffer chassis, delivers a noticeably different driving experience.
The TY85-equipped WRX is expected to retain Subaru's turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four engine. The company has not confirmed whether the revised engine management adds horsepower or torque, so a power increase should not be taken for granted. The current U.S.-spec WRX produces 271 horsepower from its boxer engine, but final Japanese-market specifications remain under wraps.
Subaru has also not revealed full specifications, pricing, or whether the car will receive additional suspension, brake or styling upgrades. For Australian buyers, there is no word either: Subaru has not announced whether this manual WRX, or the two other manual models it has planned, will be sold outside Japan.
Two more manual Subarus by 2027
The manual WRX is the first of three manual-equipped Subarus promised by the end of 2027. A new BRZ derivative will join it, building on last year's limited-run STI Sport Type RA and focusing on weight savings and sharper handling rather than outright power. An affordable five-door hatchback completes the trio; it could evolve from the Performance-B STI Concept unveiled in 2025, though Subaru has described it as an affordable entry-level model and has not confirmed it will be a hot hatch.
All three cars are part of the company's effort to make driving more engaging, but it is unclear whether any will be offered outside Japan. The contrast with Europe is stark: even as Subaru keeps the three-pedal experience alive at home, it is transitioning to an electric lineup in Europe from 2028. That split says as much about regulation as about enthusiasm. Japan's market and emissions rules leave room for a low-volume enthusiast model, while Europe's push Subaru toward battery-electric cars. For drivers, the practical consequence is that the manual WRX is likely to stay a Japan-only proposition unless Subaru says otherwise, and the sources give no indication that it will.
