Subaru will add a permanently available manual-transmission WRX to its Japanese lineup for 2027, giving enthusiasts an alternative to the current CVT-equipped models. The new performance sedan is scheduled to debut in Japan in November 2026, although Subaru has not announced wider availability.

The Japanese-market WRX will use a six-speed TY85 manual transmission sourced from the previous-generation WRX STI. That makes it notably different from the TY75 gearbox used in the U.S.-specification WRX and the limited-production WRX STI Sport♯ sold in Japan.

A manual transmission returns to regular production

Japanese buyers seeking a manual latest-generation WRX were previously limited to the WRX STI Sport♯. Only 600 examples were offered through a lottery system, leaving the model unavailable to most customers.

Subaru’s new production model is being developed as a permanent addition to the standard catalog. To make room for it in the Japanese lineup, production of the current CVT-equipped WRX S4 STI Sport grades will end locally.

The return of the TY85 is documented in a 15-minute development film titled “The path to the revival of a mass-produced MT model.” The documentary describes how Subaru engineers brought the gearbox back at a time when manual-transmission production lines were being dismantled as the industry moved toward electrification.

The development team initially believed the TY85 could no longer be manufactured. It later found that production at a partner factory remained operational. Subaru management subsequently formed a small skunkworks group in early 2025 and gave it the task of creating the new model on an accelerated schedule.

Race-derived software and chassis development

According to the development documentary, the project was completed in approximately one year using a motorsport-inspired approach. Subaru did more than install the older gearbox in the current WRX, with additional technical work intended to enhance the car’s driving character.

The engine-control mapping is derived from Subaru race cars. Engineers involved in development said the software is intended to give the turbocharged 2.4-liter boxer engine a direct, immediate throttle response resembling that of a naturally aspirated engine.

Engineers who drove the car during development also described a distinct driving feel created by the combination of the boxer engine, TY85 manual transmission and the rigidity of the latest WRX chassis. Subaru has not yet detailed whether the new variant will receive corresponding exterior or chassis changes.

North American availability remains unconfirmed

Subaru has not disclosed plans to offer the TY85-equipped WRX outside Japan. A wider rollout could help support the development investment, but the possibility of North American availability for the 2027 or 2028 model years remains unconfirmed.

The Japanese WRX will be one of three manual-transmission Subaru models expected to debut by 2027. The other two are a lightweight BRZ variant with more aggressive aerodynamic components and an unnamed five-door hatchback.

For U.S. buyers, Subaru’s near-term manual offering is the 2027 WRX GD25 special edition. Limited to 350 units, it includes distinctive exterior and interior details, gold-finished 19-inch wheels and upgraded brakes, while retaining the TY75 manual transmission and the standard 271-horsepower 2.4-liter boxer engine.