Hardcore 2025 Subaru WRX AWD tS Spec B Price and Specs Revealed

• Priced from AUD$61,490 plus on-road costs
• No changes to 202kW/350Nm turbocharged 2.4-litre Boxer engine
• Six-speed manual and adjustable suspension now available
• 6-piston front, 2-piston rear, Brembo brakes
• New 12.3-inch LCD cluster, Emergency Driving Stop System (EDSS) monitors driver input

Subaru has done everything it can to the new WRX AWD tS Spec B (from AUD$61,490 plus on-road costs) except give the turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine that produces up to 202kW and 350Nm more power and an STI badge on the back. Still, beggars can’t be choosers, and this is the highest-performance WRX in the line-up thanks to key changes.

This new model is filled to the brim with a suite of performance-focused enhancements that include, RECARO sports front bucket seats, Brembo high-performance brakes, 19-inch alloy wheels with Bridgestone Potenza S007 tyres, a new 12.3-inch full LCD instrument cluster, and most for the first time on a new WRX, a six-speed manual transmission paired with adjustable dampers that were previously reserved for the automatic GT model.

The brand has gradually shifted the focus of the WRX to a more comfortable middle-ground in recent years, but the WRX AWD tS Spec B is a welcome return to its untamed rally heritage. We can only imagine what would happen Subaru chose to put the 221kW and 375Nm engine from the Tokyo Auto Salon Subaru S210 Prototype into this model and called it an STI, but that seems like a fever dream for now.

The name ‘Spec B’ is a tribute to the gold-painted 6-piston front and 2-piston rear calliper Brembo brake system that’s fitted to the Subaru WRX AWD tS model. While these brakes are hidden behind a gorgeous set of 19-inch alloy wheels (finished in matte grey) that have been wrapped in a “specially selected” high-performance Bridgestone Potenza S007 tyre, we love the way the gold pops out from behind.

These wheels and tyres help send power to the ground through a six-speed manual transmission and Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system that provides a confidence-inspiring ride now made better with the addition of Drive Mode Select with electronically adjustable dampers (Comfort, Normal, Sport, Sport+ and Individual Mode). This system was previously reserved for the top-of-the-range GT model that was only available in automatic.

Next to the wheels, tyres, and brakes, other visual changes on the vehicle include a large rear spoiler and STI Performance Mufflers valued at around $2,500. Finally, there’s a new Galaxy Purple Pearl paint option that replaces the Solar Orange Pearl paint previously offered.

There are significant changes on the inside of the 2025 Subaru WRX AWD tS Spec B, including new RECARO sports bucket seats up front that are 8-way power-adjustable for the driver and 4-way manually adjustable for passengers. These seats are joined by new technology, including a 12.3-inch full LCD instrument cluster for the driver and a new Emergency Driving Stop System (EDSS) that monitors driver input, delivers alerts, and can even bring the vehicle to a controlled stop if necessary.

Under the bonnet is the same turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder boxer engine shared with every other model in the line-up. It produces up to 202kW of power and 350Nm of torque, and it has for what feels like decades. It’s showing it’s age at this point as most of the performance hatchbacks in the segment make significantly more power than this, including the cheaper Hyundai i30N which produces 206kW of power and 392 Nm of torque from it’s 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder petrol engine.

“The WRX AWD tS Spec B is where performance meets passion – a true celebration of everything that makes WRX iconic. It’s about that genuine, unfiltered connection between the driver and the road – a feeling that speaks to driving purists and goes beyond what specs can convey,” said Scott Lawrence, General Manager at Subaru Australia.

If you want to get your hands on the Subaru WRX AWD tS Spec B you can register your interest and place a pre-order for the vehicle at the Subaru website, linked below. It’s priced from AUD$61,490 plus on-road costs, and first customer deliveries are expected to hit showrooms in April 2025.