2027 Subaru WRX and BRZ to continue to use manual transmission in refreshed push to rival Toyota Corolla GR and Mazda MX-5: report

Subaru has reportedly confirmed it plans to continue building comparatively affordable sports cars with manual transmissions in the future.

According to Japanese media, which was present at the NAPAC Fuji 24 Hour Race, Subaru held a press conference confirming its plans to forge ahead with affordable, manual versions of its next sports car offerings.

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According to Auto Sport Web Tetsuro Fujinuki, Executive Vice President and Chief Technical Officer of Subaru said the brand’s ‘TY85’ six-speed manual transmission, currently used in STI-branded performance models, would be revived in next-generation form, with the capability to "accommodate future increases in power output.”

The renewed manual transmission plans will also necessitate some upgrades to the centre differential and EyeSight safety systems, according to the publication. It was spurned on by 9000 expressions of interest in a limited-edition, manual-equipped version of the current car (dubbed the WRX STI Sport# in Japan), where only 600 units were available.

This new transmission will be deployed at very least in the next WRX and BRZ, although what will power the upcoming next-generation hatchback model is yet to be confirmed.

Subaru said the new models demonstrate a “desire to break down preconceived notions about the increasing price and emphasis on high-power in sports models, and offer cars that are more accessible and enjoyable”.

To that end, the brand said it was looking into weight reduction, simplified equipment, and different materials to increase agility and performance, rather than massive upgrades to power.

It is unclear how wide-reaching these new plans will be, but expect to learn more before next year, as the brand’s roll-out plans for the reveals of these cars will be before then.

Temper your expectations for an array of performance models for Australia, as Subaru is one of the brands most exposed to Australia’s recently-implemented new vehicle efficiency standards (NVES), which closes the vice on high-emitting vehicles over the coming years until 2030.

The brand’s signature flat ‘boxer’ engines have long been high-emitters, and have proven difficult to electrify. Early attempts didn’t reduce emissions or fuel consumption by a significant amount despite adding a significant sum to the price.

More recent hybrid offerings cut fuel consumption and subsequent emissions by a deeper amount, although it puts a Forester, for example, just on the line for attracting an NVES penalty, rather than well over for standard 2.5-litre variants.