What’s it going to take for Subaru to bring out another full-fat STI performance model? Clearly, whatever it is hasn’t happened yet, because the new Subaru WRX tS – despite chassis tweaks, that deep blue paint and a pinky-red grille badge that could easily mislead from a distance – still doesn’t revive the hallowed badge, nor does it get any extra shove.
Unveiled this week ahead of US deliveries beginning early next year, the tS is the latest performance-oriented version of the North America and Japan-exclusive WRX. ‘tS’ actually stands for ‘tuned by STI’, but that tuning doesn’t extend to the powertrain.
Subaru WRX tS – interior
It gets the same 2.4-litre turbocharged boxer four as the base car, making an unchanged 271bhp and driving all four wheels via a six-speed manual (the regular WRX’s CVT isn’t an option here, it seems). Subaru hasn’t confirmed performance numbers, but we wouldn’t expect them to change from the regular manual WRX’s 5.5-second 0-60mph run and 134mph top speed.
There’s better news in the chassis department, where the tS has a set of electronically adjustable dampers with a unique STI tune. Also fitted is a new set of Brembo brakes with enlarged pads and rotors, and a set of racy Bridgestone Potenza S007 tyres. Subaru’s Active Torque Vectoring system comes as standard, too.
Subaru WRX tS – interior detail
Things are even more STI-ish inside, with bright blue flashes all over the interior, including on the chunky Recaro bucket seats. New to the tS is a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster.
Pricing is yet to be announced and is entirely inconsequential to those of us in Europe, where the new WRX isn’t sold. Even then, it’s still a little disappointing to see yet another not-an-STi arrive. All this one needs is a big wing, some gold wheels and a bit of a tickle in the powertrain department. So close, yet so far.
