Subaru Announces TAS 2026 Lineup, Teases Manual WRX STI S4

Subaru’s lineup for the upcoming Tokyo Auto Salon 2026 will include a special WRX STI S4, possibly with a manual gearbox.

Besides Honda, Nissan, and Suzuki, Subaru is also heading to the Tokyo Auto Salon (TAS) 2026 show with a series of sporty builds and racing concepts. But what might draw attention to Subaru's foyer at Makuhari Messe next week is the mysterious WRX model shown in a short video teaser.

Subaru WRX & Levorg STI Sport R-Black Limited II STI Performance Edition

We’ll start with the six confirmed vehicles first, with both the bright yellow-hued WRX and Levorg STI Sport R-Black Limited II STI Performance Edition headlining the brand’s lineup this year. The standout feature for both these WRX and Levorg specials is the new Sunrise Yellow paint they come standard with, which is then paired with 18-inch matte black aluminium wheels and a slew of blacked-out details around the exterior.

Inside, the STI Sport R-Black Limited II STI Performance Edition duo is dressed with Recaro sporty seats with yellow perforated upholstery, black stitching, and suede-like inserts. That said, there are no confirmed mechanical changes, but Subaru did note that both of them will be equipped with a selection of genuine accessories and STI Performance parts.

Subaru Impreza ST-H STI Performance Edition

Next in line is yet another mouthful model, namely the Impreza ST-H STI Performance Edition with the Plus Package, which is essentially a souped-up version of the sixth-gen Impreza hatch. Based on the ST-H trim, this special model has been enhanced with several STI Performance parts to make it look more aggressive and, at the same time, increase handling performance.

Although the official press photo showcased the special Impreza in the classic Subaru blue, the actual model that will be displayed at TAS 2026 will be dressed in a special black hue instead, featuring contrasting red hues and accents on the inside.

Subaru BRZ GT300 (left) & Subaru WRX VBH rally car (right)

The lineup continues with several racing cars, with the most prominent one being Subaru’s new model for the upcoming 2026 Super Taikyu Series that will run on carbon-neutral fuels. The mystery racer will be joined by two existing racecars, namely the updated BRZ GT300 that will compete in the Super GT Championship, alongside the upgraded WRX VBH rally car that has been tuned for the JN-1 class of the All Japan Rally Championship.

Last but not least, TAS 2026 will also witness the debut of a mysterious model shown in two short teaser videos. From those, we can tell that the model will be based on the current WRX STI S4 performance sedan, possibly with a manual gearbox over the standard CVT.

The first video showcases a blue-coloured WRX STI S4 driving with the distinct sound of a manual transmission, while the second video shows parts of the car’s interior, where the CVT’s paddle shifters are gone.

As of now, the WRX STI S4 is sold with the CVT automatic as standard for the Japanese market, with the manual option only available in markets like the US, Canada, and Australia. That said, it won’t be long before we get to see this mysterious model in the flesh, as it will debut next week on Jan 9, 2026, in conjunction with the upcoming Tokyo Auto Salon 2026 show.