Subaru WRX Returning To Its Roots With New TR Trim

Subaru is set to unveil a new variant of the WRX at Subiefest Florida on Saturday, October 7.

Named the WRX TR, the company has released no information regarding the vehicle besides a close-up of the sedan's front wheels. We do know the car will be unveiled with the help of racing and Gymkhana legend Travis Pastrana and skateboarding legend and rallycross racer Bucky Lasek. Lasek is a well-known Subie fan and owns a highly modified WRX STI.

This will be the second vehicle the company has unveiled at a Subiefest this year, with the BRZ tS making its debut at Subiefest California this past July. With tS standing for "tuned by STI," the BRZ features an STI-tuned suspension, a Brembo brake kit, and a few aesthetic enhancements, but no additional power.

We figure this new WRX will be something similar, which may be seen as disappointing to some.

This isn't Subaru's first use of the TR designation on a WRX. The nomenclature dates back to the 2006 and 2007 model years. Back then, TR stood for "Tuner Ready," and it was used on models stripped of many creature comforts and aesthetic features in the name of cost savings. With the introduction of the new generation in 2008, the models were dropped so that this upcoming variant will be the first one in well over a decade.

So does this mean we'll get a stripped-down version of a WRX? It's difficult to guess. It shows a new wheel design for the WRX and a massive red Brembo brake caliper. It appears to be a six-piston setup, which is a considerable step up from the two-piston calipers currently used on the regular WRX.

It's possible the model will get some of the same features as the BRZ tS, including an STI-tuned suspension and aesthetic upgrades. If Subie goes this way, the TR will likely be the new range-topper. But it might still be a stripped-out entry-level model, with the most important upgrade already included. While most people want more power, improved brakes and tires are always a good starting point.

We don't expect a bump in power. As you might have heard, Subie will not build a full-fat STI version of the current WRX. Many fans were left disappointed, and we can't blame them. That's perhaps why sales have been sluggish since its introduction in 2022. There are far better rally-based machines out there, and the GR Corolla is the current king of the crop.

It is refreshing to see Subaru possibly return to its roots. We know from various modded examples that the 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-four can safely produce up to 450 horsepower.