Subaru Model Lineup Update in Japan
Subaru is preparing to update its car lineup in the domestic Japanese market. The company has confirmed that the current generations of the WRX sedan, as well as the Levorg and Layback wagons, are nearing the end of their production cycle. While the model names themselves are expected to return, the WRX STI Sport version will be discontinued permanently.
According to official information, Subaru will stop taking orders for the Levorg and Layback on April 13, and for the WRX sedan on May 18. The automaker also warns that sales may cease before the specified dates if all available production capacity is filled. This means the cars will only be available while stocks last.
Final Point for STI Sport
The WRX S4 STI Sport was the top trim of the VBH generation in the Japanese market, equivalent to the WRX tS version in North America. Although it was not positioned as a successor to the discontinued WRX STI, it was still equipped with dampers tuned by STI engineers and bears the corresponding emblems.
The swan song for this sports sedan will be the special WRX STI Sport♯ version, unveiled at the 2026 Tokyo Motor Show. It received a six-speed manual transmission and a range of chassis improvements. As reported by local media, this special WRX will be officially launched on April 9 in a limited series of 600 units, which will be allocated via a lottery system.
Limited Series and Powertrains
The 2026 lineup also features the Subaru WRX Sport R-Black limited STI Performance Edition with an optional Sunrise Yellow paint, matte 18-inch wheels, and a large rear spoiler, the latter, however, is available exclusively with the CVT transmission.
All WRX versions for the Japanese market are equipped with the same turbocharged 2.4-liter boxer engine producing 271 hp. The exception was last year’s limited WRX STI S210 series, which produced 296 hp. Although the STI Sport trim will not return in 2027, Subaru is expected to present an updated version of the WRX sedan. There is hope that the updated lineup will still receive some of the STI magic.
Future of Levorg and Layback Models
While Subaru is preparing to bid farewell to the current Levorg and Layback wagons, recent spy photos of a camouflaged prototype have fueled intense rumors about their future replacement.
The prototype, which appears to be based on the Layback crossover wagon, was spotted without the characteristic hood scoop that has defined Subaru’s turbocharged models for decades. This may indicate the presence of a self-charging hybrid powertrain with a naturally aspirated engine, similar to the one installed in the Forester and Crosstrek.
It is reported that the electrified setup will replace the outdated turbocharged 1.8-liter engine of the current model, while the more powerful turbocharged 2.4-liter unit may remain available.
It is currently unclear whether the updated Levorg will receive significant exterior and interior changes in addition to the revised powertrain lineup. Previous reports suggested that Subaru might badge the model as a new generation, although it sounds more like a facelift. The original Levorg was introduced in 2014, followed by the current second generation in 2020 and the more adventurous bodystyle Levorg Layback in 2023.
These changes indicate a strategic shift for Subaru, combining the discontinuation of some traditional enthusiast-oriented variants, like the STI Sport, with the integration of more modern, environmentally focused technologies such as hybrid powertrains. Limited series like the WRX STI Sport♯ appear to be a way to honor the brand’s sporting heritage while paving the way for the future. The success of the updated lineup will largely depend on whether Subaru can find a balance between the emotional characteristics that made its cars famous and the modern market’s demands for efficiency and alternative energy sources.