Subaru's refusing to bring the new WRX STI Sport# to the U.S. market, but enthusiasts shouldn't lose sleep—we're already getting functionally the same car as the WRX tS. It's the same story every generation: Subaru teases something, then settles for a half-measure that leaves everyone wondering what could've been.

Subaru rolled out four STI-badged models at Tokyo Auto Salon 2026, but only one actually carries the STI nameplate worth knowing about: the manual WRX STI Sport#. The rest are race cars and special editions designed to fill booth space. If you're hunting for a real driver, the manual is the last gasp before Subaru fully surrenders to CVTs.

After 28 years of the EJ20 flat-four running Super GT, Subaru's swapping in a new boxer six for the 2026 BRZ GT300. The move signals a serious commitment to staying competitive in Japan's premier racing series, though details on displacement and output are still locked down. This is the first major powertrain shift for Subaru's GT300 program since 1998.