Subaru has given performance car fans more than they've had to work with in years. At Japan's Super Taikyu Fuji 24-Hour endurance race, the brand teased three manual-transmission models, including a five-door performance hatch it describes as a production version of a concept it showed at last year's Tokyo Motor Show.
For Australian buyers who've been waiting for a spiritual successor to the old Impreza WRX STI hatch, this is the most relevant Subaru announcement in at least a decade. The caveats are significant, but the direction is clear.
What Subaru Is Actually Teasing
The headline car is a five-door hatchback Subaru describes as a production version of the Performance-B STI concept. That concept was based on the current Impreza platform, but powered by the FA24 turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder boxer engine from the WRX. In race-spec Super Taikyu form, the car runs at a level that sits above any road-going Impreza Subaru currently sells.
The teased production version features large wheel-arch extensions, a vented bonnet with Subaru's traditional scoop, a serious rear wing, 18-inch alloy wheels, ventilated brake discs, and STI-branded silver brake callipers. Subaru hasn't confirmed power outputs for the road car, but the FA24 in the WRX delivers 202kW, the race-spec car runs retuned for power-emissions balance. The road car will almost certainly be different.
Critically, Subaru says it intends to "create a model with a new personality that is different from the WRX and BRZ." It may not carry Impreza or WRX badging at all. A new name is on the table.
The WRX Gets the STI's Legendary Gearbox
The second car is arguably the one that will excite the existing WRX buyer base more directly. Subaru has confirmed a version of the current VB WRX will receive the TY85 six-speed manual transmission, the same gearbox that was exclusive to the VA WRX STI produced between 2014 and 2021.
That transmission built a reputation for durability and precision over seven years of STI production. It has not appeared in any Subaru model since the VA STI ended production. Pairing it with the FA24 engine is new territory, the gearbox was previously mated to the EJ257 2.5-litre motor in STI form.
Subaru isn't confirming a full STI designation for this car. The brand aims to "revive Subaru's WRX", its words, and the TY85 manual will join the WRX range as a catalogue model rather than a limited production run. Whether it comes with the VA STI's driver-controlled centre differential is uncertain; Subaru has said it's unlikely to include that system.
The BRZ Gets a Sharper Setup
The third car is based on last year's limited BRZ STI Sport Type RA, already a Japan-only model. Subaru says it will offer a refined driving experience compared to the already-excellent standard BRZ, lighter, more responsive, better at being thrown around at will.
The BRZ is already available in Australia with a six-speed manual and has been consistently praised as one of the most satisfying driver's cars in its price bracket. An improved version is welcome, but the Type RA precedent suggests it won't cross the Pacific.
The Australia Question
Here's the honest answer: all three cars are almost certainly Japan-only at launch, and it's possible some will remain that way.
Subaru's track record with domestic performance specials supports that caution. The WRX STI Sport#, a manual-gearbox variant, was Japan-only. The BRZ STI Sport Type RA that forms the basis of the third teased car was Japan-only. The brand's performance halo products in recent years have been domestic market experiments rather than global launches.
The current VB WRX has been sold in Australia with a manual gearbox since its launch in 2022, but that's the standard six-speed, not the TY85 derived from the STI. That distinction matters to enthusiasts who know exactly which gearbox they want.
What Australia has going for it is a long history of buying manual Subarus in numbers that justify continued supply. The WRX manual has always outsold the CVT version here. If Subaru looks at global demand for the TY85-equipped WRX and sees Australian buyers showing strong interest, a local launch becomes more likely.
What This Signals for the STI Brand
Subaru has been quiet about the future of its STI performance sub-brand since the VA WRX STI ended production. The last performance hatch sold in Australia was in 2013. That's a thirteen-year gap, during which Subaru's performance identity has been primarily carried by the WRX sedan and the BRZ.
These three teased cars suggest the brand intends to rebuild that identity systematically. The announcement came alongside the Super Taikyu race campaign, which itself serves as both engineering development and a message to enthusiasts that Subaru's motorsport DNA is still active.
The language is also pointed. Subaru specifically mentions "technology and knowledge cultivated through our motorsports activities." That's the brand connecting its racing program directly to road car development, which is exactly what STI historically represented.
What Buyers Should Do Now
If you're in the market for a performance Subaru now, the current WRX in six-speed manual form is a strong buy. Pricing is competitive, the FA24 engine is proven and reliable, and Australian supply is solid. Waiting for a TY85-equipped local version is a reasonable strategy if you specifically want that gearbox, but you may be waiting 12 to 24 months from announcement to delivery, and that's if it arrives at all.
The BRZ remains the benchmark for naturally-aspirated sports car value in Australia. The teased sharper variant would be an improvement on an already excellent product, but the standard car is worth buying now rather than holding out for a Japan-only special edition.
For the hatchback, the genuinely exciting one, patience is required. Subaru hasn't confirmed a price, market scope, or even a name. What it has confirmed is intent: the brand wants to build a distinct performance hatch, and it has a running example in Super Taikyu competition as proof of concept.
Watch the next 12 months closely. Subaru says all three cars launch before 2027, and the details will sharpen quickly. Carseekers will track any Australian launch confirmation as it comes.
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The finer details
Your questions answered.
Is Subaru making a new WRX STI hatch for Australia?
Subaru has teased a performance hatch based on the Performance-B STI concept, using the WRX's FA24 turbocharged engine. Whether it comes to Australia isn't confirmed, Subaru's recent performance specials have been Japan-only. All three teased manual cars are due before 2027, and Australian confirmation will depend on demand signals from local buyers.
What is the TY85 gearbox and why does it matter?
The TY85 is a six-speed manual transmission used exclusively in the WRX STI from 2014 to 2021. It earned a strong reputation for durability and precision feel and was absent from any Subaru model after the VA STI ended production. A WRX equipped with the TY85 is essentially a partial STI revival, the powertrain DNA without the full STI chassis package.
What's the difference between the Subaru WRX manual and the teased TY85 version?
The current VB WRX sold in Australia uses a standard six-speed manual, which is unrelated to the TY85 STI-derived gearbox. The TY85 is stronger, specifically engineered for performance use, and carries the heritage of the WRX STI lineage. It has not been paired with the current FA24 engine before, making this a genuinely new mechanical combination.
When was the last Subaru performance hatch sold in Australia?
The last performance hatch Subaru sold in Australia was the third-generation Impreza WRX STI hatch, discontinued in 2013. Subaru sold both a hatch and sedan version of that car, but dropped the hatch when the VA WRX launched. That means Australia has been without a Subaru performance hatch for over 13 years.
Should I buy a Subaru WRX now or wait for the new STI?
Buy now if the current WRX meets your needs. The FA24-powered manual WRX is an excellent car at a competitive price, and Australian supply is reliable. If you specifically want the TY85 gearbox or the new hatch, waiting 12 to 24 months is realistic, but neither car has confirmed Australian pricing, timing, or market allocation yet.
Is the Subaru BRZ still a good buy in 2026?
Yes. The current BRZ is widely considered one of the best-value sports cars in Australia for the money. A sharper variant is being teased, but it's likely Japan-only. The standard BRZ with the six-speed manual is a strong buy now rather than waiting for a limited-run special that may not arrive here.
