Subaru has unveiled the WRX STI Sport R for the Japanese market, a flagship trim that brings back the heavy-duty six-speed manual gearbox from the discontinued VA-generation WRX STI. Order books open on November 19, with a monthly sales target of 330 units and a starting price of ¥5,480,000 (about $34,300).
The car is the closest thing yet to a full STI version of the current VB-generation WRX, and it exists because Japanese buyers kept asking for a three-pedal option that the regular lineup did not offer.
How the manual came back
Until now, Japanese buyers who wanted a manual VB WRX were largely out of luck. The regular range was CVT-only, and the manual WRX STI Sport# was capped at 600 units sold through a lottery. Demand for the stick shift pushed Subaru to rethink its approach.
The project began when Subaru realised the production line for the gearbox from the long-discontinued VA WRX STI was still usable. A small skunkworks team was assembled and tasked with fitting the manual to the VB WRX as quickly as possible.
The unit in question is the TY85 six-speed, a stronger gearbox than the TY75 manual used in the STI Sport# and the US-market WRX tS. Subaru says it has evolved and optimised the transmission, cutting shift play by up to 60 percent, and its test drivers claim it changes the driving experience.
Same output, recalibrated response
Power is unchanged from the rest of the WRX line. The turbocharged 2.4-litre boxer produces 271 hp (202 kW / 275 PS) and 277 lb-ft (375 Nm) of torque, though Subaru has recalibrated the engine for sharper response.
Drive goes to all four wheels through Subaru's Symmetrical AWD system and a viscous limited-slip differential. The STI Sport R also gains Rev Sync rev-matching, a technology Subaru says was inspired by its involvement in the Super Taikyu racing series, and the EyeSight driver assistance suite has been adapted to work with the manual.
That matters because the car's appeal rests on the gearbox rather than extra power. Buyers comparing it with the CVT-equipped STI Sport are paying for the third pedal and the hardware that comes with it, not for a bigger output figure.
Chassis, equipment and weight
The STI Sport R rides on 19-inch matte grey alloy wheels wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza S007 tyres, matching the American WRX tS. It also shares that car's electronically controlled ZF dampers and Brembo braking system with drilled rotors, and adds gold Brembo calipers and dark-tinted tailpipes. A rear wing sized to carry the red STI badge is optional, and buyers can add a dealer-installed bodykit and alternative wheels.
Subaru's spec sheet lists a kerb weight of 3,439 lbs (1,560 kg), the same as the STI Sport# and 110 lbs (50 kg) lighter than the CVT-equipped STI Sport.
Inside there is Ultrasuede upholstery with red stitching, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, an 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen and heated seats as standard. STI-branded Recaro front seats and a Harman Kardon audio system are optional.
At ¥5,480,000, the Japanese car undercuts the US-spec WRX tS, which starts at $44,995. The gap reflects different market positioning and specification as much as the hardware itself, since the two cars share much of their chassis componentry.
No US decision yet
Subaru has not said whether the TY85 transmission or the Rev Sync software will reach the US lineup. The company is still experimenting with the current-generation sedan: spy photographers recently caught a mysterious longtail WRX prototype testing at the Nürburgring.
The STI Sport R is one of three manual Subaru models due to debut by next year, alongside a lightweight version of the BRZ with sharper aero and an as-yet-unnamed five-door hatchback.
For Japanese buyers, the practical result is straightforward: a showroom WRX with a proper manual and no lottery, at a lower price than the limited STI Sport# commanded in practice. For everyone else, the car is a demonstration that Subaru still has the tooling and the will to build manual performance models, even if it has not committed to selling them everywhere.
