In the absence of offering an STI version of the new WRX, Subaru has still decided to introduce a version with sharper performance. It's the WRX RS, a new variant that will soon join the lineup of the Japanese sports sedan.
Interestingly, the chosen name is unique to Canada, as the same version will be called WRX TR in the United States. It's essentially the same car, except that the Canadian version will offer the sapphire blue pearl color in its catalog, which is not present in the WRX TR lineup. Subaru has not provided an explanation for this naming difference, but it can be assumed to be a marketing decision.
Itn't replace the STI
The first thing to know about the Subaru WRX RS is that it does not replace the STI version in any way. First and foremost, it features the same engine as the regular WRX version. This engine is a 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder, producing 271 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, impressive figures nonetheless. The WRX RS comes with a 6-speed manual transmission that delivers power to all four wheels through Subaru\'s most effective all-wheel-drive system on the market.
Where the RS version distinguishes itself from the rest of the lineup is in terms of equipment. It includes Recaro seats and a recalibrated suspension. To give you an idea, the car doesn't even have a sunroof because the goal here is to remove as much weight as possible.
To offer optimal performance, the Subaru WRX RS benefits from 19-inch bronze-painted wheels and 245mm-wide Bridgestone Potenza S007 tires. In terms of brakes, it features a 4-wheel Brembo system, of course.
The price range for this new version of the Subaru WRX has not been revealed yet, but we should learn more in the coming weeks. The last time Subaru introduced an RS model was in 2020, and that version was quite impressive at the time. So, you can expect a lot from this new variant, which holds a lot of promise.
Jean-Sébastien Poudrier
