Subaru brought the STI badge back to the WRX at the Tokyo Auto Salon, and it comes with a six-speed manual. The WRX STI Sport# (pronounced "Sport Sharp") is a limited-production prototype powered by a turbocharged 2.4-liter boxer-four producing 271 hp, paired with Subaru's symmetrical AWD system, a viscous LSD, center differential, and Brembo brakes with gold calipers.
The 271 hp figure is the same as the standard WRX. This isn't the 400+ hp monster that STI fans have been demanding since Subaru killed the previous generation. Instead, the Sport# focuses on chassis tuning: STI-tuned electronically controlled dampers by ZF, Bridgestone Potenza S007 tires, and an aero package with splitter, side skirts, rear bumper extensions, and a quad-exhaust diffuser. No fixed rear wing. The restraint is deliberate.
Manual or Nothing
The six-speed manual is the only transmission available. No CVT option. No automatic alternative. For a car wearing the STI badge, this is the correct decision, and the fact that it needs to be stated says something about the current state of the industry.
Inside, Ultrasuede seats with black stitching and yellow perforations set the cabin apart from the standard WRX. The shift knob and handbrake lever get leather wrapping. The STI emblems are everywhere, because Subaru knows exactly who's buying this car and what they want to see.
Japan Only, Limited Numbers
The WRX STI Sport# launches in spring 2026 exclusively for the Japanese market, in limited numbers. Pricing hasn't been announced. There's no confirmation of a global release, which will frustrate the considerable WRX community in North America, Australia, and Europe.
Whether this is the start of a broader STI revival or a Japan-exclusive special depends on market response. Subaru teased additional mystery models at the Tokyo Auto Salon alongside the Sport#, suggesting the STI program has more planned. For now, 271 hp through a manual gearbox, Brembo brakes, and ZF dampers is a strong opening statement. The hp wars can wait.
