2024 Subaru WRX TR aims for AWD Sport Sedan Crown

• Subaru may have lost its famous WRX STI nameplate, but the company continues to invest in producing a true AWD sports sedan.
• The VB-generation WRX has made a number of modern powertrain improvements, but Subaru is now introducing a further refined version.
• With a revised suspension tune, larger and stronger brakes, and a variety of weight-reduction features, the 2024 Subaru WRX TR continues the modernization of the WRX lineup.

When the Subaru WRX STI died in 2021, sadness and mourning followed, but the previous model wasn’t exactly fresh either. With a tired EJ257 2.5-liter turbocharged boxer engine and a six-year-old chassis, the STI held on to its rally heritage.

That all changed when the new VB generation WRX was introduced in 2022. With an updated suspension and an all-new 2.4-liter boxer engine with twin-scroll turbocharging, electronic wastegate control, and direct injection, the 2022 Subaru WRX was a… An improvement almost everywhere, depending on how you look at the plastic look.

Subaru equips the WRX TR with model-specific 19-inch wheels.

Subaru

And it could get even better, as Subaru is expanding its model lineup with an ultra-high-performance version for 2024. Known as the 2024 Subaru WRX TR, Subaru is pushing the performance limits of the newer WRX platform, but not in the name of additional power, especially. From the standard WRX comes 271 horsepower and a broad torque curve with a peak of 258 lb-ft.

Rather, the focus of the WRX TR is on its performance parts on the racetrack and off-road. The WRX TR’s claim to an improved driving experience lies particularly in its improved braking system and suspension improvements.

An integrated trunk lid and the flat rear spoiler are painted in the vehicle color.

Subaru

Equipped with Brembo six-piston front calipers, two-piston rear calipers, larger pads and rotors, and a larger master cylinder, the WRX TR features two additional front pistons compared to the conventional WRX and is designed to limit brake fade and improve pedal feel. Braking performance is also boosted by some sticky 245mm Bridgestone Potenza S007 tires.

Stiffer springs, revised damping rates and a retuned steering rack are also standard and are intended to reduce body roll on the WRX TR. Active Torque Vectoring remains an integral part of the WRX’s handling characteristics and is also standard on the WRX TR. In addition, the electric sunroof was removed to save weight and make room for the racing helmet at the top.

The Recaro seats will be eight-way electrically adjustable.

Subaru

The Subaru WRX TR’s interior is largely identical to the current WRX and other Subaru models, particularly with its 11.6-inch center information display. However, the seats in the WRX TR are special, as the Recaro-made black and gray Ultrasuede shells feature Ignition Red stitching to match the exterior color. Sporty, they say.

As much fun as the all-wheel-drive, low-torque performance sedan can be, Subaru also places great importance on safety. To make this consistent across the lineup, the WRX TR will be the first application of Subaru’s EyeSight ADAS technology in a manual WRX. This system includes adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking and lane departure warnings.

Pricing for the WRX TR hasn’t been announced yet, but we expect it to command a premium of a few thousand dollars over the traditional WRX. As the fuel-efficient but heavily modified Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness shows, Subaru’s performance models continue to focus primarily on value.

For potentially interested buyers, Subaru says this special edition will arrive at Subaru dealers in early 2024. Additionally, Subaru hasn’t yet announced a production limit for the WRX TR, meaning it may not be as hard to come by as a Toyota GR Corolla. In any case, the emphasis on drivability improvements is a welcome move from Subaru.

Would you rather modify a stock WRX yourself with these parts? Or is the flare of an OEM modified car more reassuring? Please share your thoughts below.

Co-editor

Emmet White, a New Yorker who hails from the Pacific Northwest, has a passion for everything: cars, bikes, planes and motorcycles. After learning to drive at 17, Emmet worked in the motorcycle industry before joining Autoweek in 2022. Parking issues on the other hand have kept his fleet moderate, with a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta GLI and a 2003 Honda Nighthawk 750 Street parked in his South Brooklyn community.