2025 Subaru WRX tS: The Ultimate Guide to STI's Latest GT-Inspired Masterpiece
The iconic tS badge, traditionally seen on Subaru's BRZ, is now making its way to the WRX in 2025. For those uninitiated, tS stands for 'Tuned by STI,' and it promises to shake things up significantly for the WRX enthusiast. The newly introduced WRX tS is essentially an evolved form of the 2024 WRX TR, borrowing several high-performance features of the automatic WRX GT yet offering the engaging stick-shift that many purists crave.
While some may lament the absence of a power boost or fancy differential upgrades, the real story here lies in the dynamic enhancements and driving feel. Subaru has gone back to its drawing board, this time focusing on adaptive suspension taken from the automatic-only GT. Upgraded with STI-tuned dampers, this new suspension system is designed to throw a mean curve and adapt effortlessly to varying driving conditions. Moreover, Subaru's enhanced drive modes will now be featured, creating a tailored driving experience absent in the basic WRX manual.
Upgrades That Matter
The WRX tS doesn’t just stop at suspension upgrades. The package includes steering refinements, larger six-piston Brembo brakes in the front, and two-piston brakes at the rear. Retrofitting these larger brakes means an upgraded master cylinder and 19-inch wheels wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza S007 summer performance tires, creating an unyielding grip on the tarmac. And let's not forget those plush Recaro seats, which first saw light in the WRX TR and GT, now making their way to the tS for that understated sport-luxury feel all enthusiasts cherish.
When it comes to aesthetics, the WRX tS goes the extra mile. The vehicle flaunts STI and tS badging and even features a cherry-blossom tinged WRX badge up front. The interior gets a boost of sportiness, thanks to alluring blue accents on the door panels, steering wheel, and shifter trim, not to mention the prominent 'Recaro' embroidery on the seats.
Beyond the Spec Sheet
So, if this all sounds like Subaru just dialed the TR up a notch and switched out a letter, you're not far from the mark. A Subaru spokesperson revealed that the WRX tS would 'essentially replace the TR' when it hits the streets in 2025. While there's no hard confirmation, hints suggest that the fixed suspension setup of the TR could potentially find its way into other WRX models, albeit packaged with the TR’s tire and wheel configuration, since they were engineered in unison.
However, the story doesn't end here. The WRX tS is strategically posited between the WRX Limited and the WRX GT, effectively filling a $5,000 pricing gap. There’s a possibility it may eventually share the podium—and perhaps even the price tag—with the range-topping GT. With Subaru’s recent pace, one can only anticipate each small but notable upgrade, pointing us closer to that elusive new STI model.
In conclusion, the 2025 Subaru WRX tS is a testament to how performance enhancements, aesthetic tweaks, and strategic market positioning can renew interest in an already iconic model. As always, keep it locked here for the latest updates as Subaru continues to unveil one piece of the puzzle at a time.