by Subaru confirms release of three new models with manual transmission by 2027
Subaru has given driving enthusiasts in Japan a new reason to rejoice. The automaker confirmed that it will release three new models with manual transmission by 2027: the WRX sedan, a special BRZ coupe, and a new five-door hatchback. This became known during a media roundtable at the Fuji 24 Hours Race, the third round of the Super Taikyu series in Japan.
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According to Subaru, these three models will “embody the technologies and knowledge gained through our motorsports activities” and promise to “make driving more enjoyable and accessible.” All three models will be developed by the company’s newly created sports car planning department.
A new “affordable” hatchback
The most intriguing and mysterious member of the trio is the “five-door hatchback,” which will become the production version of the Performance-B STI Concept from the 2025 Japan Mobility Show. Subaru claims the new model will have a “new individuality, distinct from the WRX and BRZ.”
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While we assumed the Performance-B STI Concept would transform into a new WRX STI hot hatch, it appears the story has more nuance. Tetsuro Fujinuki, Subaru’s Chief Technical Officer and Executive Vice President, described the future manual hatchback as an “affordable base vehicle” being developed to allow enthusiast engineers to realize their own “ideas” using existing developments.
This hints at a combination of the humble Impreza hatchback and the sporty WRX sedan, tuned for driving enthusiasts. Judging by the Performance-B STI Concept and the High Performance X Version II race car, it could serve as the basis for a flagship WRX STI with a non-electrified boxer engine, sharper chassis, and improved aerodynamics. This theory could also explain why the model in the teaser image lost the wide fenders from the previous concept.
WRX sedan with STI manual gearbox
Earlier this year, Subaru launched the WRX STI Sport♯ in Japan with an upgraded engine, STI-tuned chassis, optional aerodynamics, and a manual transmission. The downside was that production was limited to just 600 units, distributed via lottery.
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Fortunately for fans of three-pedal sports sedans, the manual transmission will return as a permanent element of the WRX lineup in 2027. However, this time it will not use the TY75 gearbox fitted to the Japanese WRX STI Sport♯ and the American WRX tS. Instead, Subaru will equip the car with the heavy-duty TY85 manual gearbox from the previous generation WRX STI, which, the company promises, will ensure “high durability and reliability.”
The company did not go into details regarding the powertrains of the future models, but the hood scoops on the WRX and hatchback suggest they will be equipped with a non-electrified turbocharged 2.4-liter boxer engine.
Lighter BRZ with STI parts
Last but not least, the teaser image features a “full vehicle” BRZ with a manual transmission in the center. It will be based on the limited STI Sport TYPE RA version, which debuted in November 2025, and promises to be “lighter and more enjoyable to drive.”
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The BRZ STI Sport Type RA (Record Attempt) received aggressive aerodynamics, ZF shock absorbers, and Brembo brakes, but its production was limited to 300 units. Reading between the lines, the new manual BRZ should feature similar updates and weight reduction measures while remaining a permanent element of the local lineup. Unfortunately, there is no talk of a power increase, so do not expect a turbocharged boxer engine from the new BRZ race car under the hood.
Subaru will announce the debut dates for all three manual transmission models in the coming months. Whether the launch in the Japanese market will lead to a wider global rollout remains to be seen.
Subaru
Interestingly, Subaru, traditionally associated with all-wheel drive and reliability, is betting on the return of the manual transmission, which is gradually disappearing even from sports models in the modern world. This move could be aimed at attracting a narrow but dedicated audience of enthusiasts who value direct control over the vehicle. Particularly notable is the company’s plan to release an “affordable” hatchback, which may indicate an attempt to make sporty driving more democratic, rather than just the prerogative of expensive limited series. At the same time, the lack of information about the global expansion of the lineup leaves the question of whether customers outside Japan will see these models, especially in markets where demand for “manual” is rapidly declining.
