Subaru Just Built a Manual WRX Special Most Buyers Won’t Even Be Able to Order

Subaru has rolled out the WRX STI Sport# in Japan, and it feels like a bit of a throwback in the best way. It showed up earlier at the Tokyo Auto Salon, but now it’s real, and limited to 600 cars. Getting one isn’t straightforward either, since buyers have to go through a lottery.

The highlight is obvious. A six-speed manual. In today’s lineup, that alone changes the whole vibe of the car.

Visually, it keeps things fairly restrained. You get 19-inch matte gray wheels, subtle STI badges, and a small lip spoiler instead of a big wing. It doesn’t shout for attention. If you want more presence, Subaru offers an STI aero kit with sharper bumpers and side skirts in black or cherry red.

There’s a bit of a trade-off, though. That aero kit can’t be paired with the STI Performance Muffler, so you’re choosing between a more aggressive look or a louder exhaust note.

The color choices are simple. WR Blue, white, or yellow, with the yellow costing extra.

Inside, it’s all about the driver. Recaro seats in Ultrasuede with yellow accents, STI logos on the headrests, and a clean, focused layout. Subaru also strips a few things out compared to the WRX S4. No EyeSight X, no seat memory, fewer extras. It’s all aimed at keeping it lighter and more direct.

Most of the changes are under the skin. It gets ZF adaptive dampers tuned by STI, plus extra bracing to stiffen things up. Braking is handled by Brembo, with six-piston calipers up front and two-piston at the rear, clamping drilled discs. It rides on Bridgestone Potenza S007 tires, so grip is clearly a priority.

Power stays the same on paper. The 2.4-liter turbo boxer still puts out 271 hp and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft). What’s different is how it feels. Subaru tightened up engine tolerances and balanced parts like the crankshaft and flywheel more carefully. The idea isn’t more speed, but a cleaner, sharper response.

Price comes in at ¥6,105,000, about $38,400, which is a noticeable step up over the STI Sport R-Black Limited. Orders run from April 9 to May 17, and after that, it’s down to a lottery.

Looking ahead, there’s talk of a simpler manual WRX in 2027, but it likely won’t have the same level of detail. Subaru has also confirmed the STI Sport line ends in 2026, so this feels like one of the last chances to get it in this form.