A raft of upgrades including a manual transmission, bigger brakes and larger STI wing for the flagship WRX have been confirmed by Subaru Australia.
The 2025 Subaru WRX tS is set to be offered with a manual transmission for the first time among a host of upgrades teased by Subaru Australia, and will be called the WRX tS Spec B as the successor to the Club Spec edition.
As confirmed by Subaru, a six-speed manual transmission will be fitted that “offers the purest connection between car and driver”, among a raft of new additions for enthusiasts.
Confirmed so far, specification extends to 19-inch matte grey alloy wheels, Brembo brakes with ventilated discs, and Recaro front sports seats.
However, STI diehards should take note of the large rear wing, which “further amplifies its aggressive stance” and makes “a bold statement even before it hits the road”, according to the brand.
MORE: Subaru WRX Club Spec upgrades tipped to return on permanent variant, STI rear wing and all
A 16-second teaser clip was also posted by the car maker showed a dimly light blue WRX tS Spec B, which is based on the the current tS flagship of the WRX line-up sold only with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) automatic.
The clip also reveals gold-painted Brembo brakes as well as STI-branded exhaust outlets and tS badging.
The updated model is expected to arrive as a full-time model closely related to the limited edition WRX Club Spec sold here in 2024, which was designed to at least partially fill the shoes of the now defunct Subaru WRX STI performance flagship.
A new STI-badged WRX was revealed in January 2025, however it is not destined for Australian showrooms and will be sold only in Japan.
MORE: Subaru WRX STI returns, almost: New powered-up S210 edition revealed for Japan
Subaru Australia – through importer Inchcape – has confirmed the new WRX flagship will arrive later this year.
Homologation documents viewed by Drive in early 2025 revealed plans for the WRX tS manual, which offers a different suite of performance upgrades to the auto.
They largely mirror the special-edition WRX Club Spec, which is used to illustrate the WRX tS manual in the homologation paperwork.
Limited to 150 units, the WRX Club Spec sedan came exclusively with a manual transmission, larger 19-inch alloy wheels with Bridgestone tyres, six-piston front and twin-piston rear red-painted (not gold) Brembo brakes and large STI-wing.
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At $52,590 before on-road costs – compared to the WRX tS’ sedan’s $57,990 list price – the Club Spec had no changes to the 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, remaining at 202kW/350Nm.
The only WRX versions in local showrooms currently available with a manual gearbox are the entry-level WRX, at $47,490 before on-roads, and the WRX RS, at $52,990 before on-road costs.
Despite a year-on-year decline, the WRX outsold the Subaru BRZ coupe in 2024, more than doubling sales of the two-door which is twinned with the Toyota GR86.
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