Subaru is making changes to its WRX lineup in Japan. The automaker's Japanese consumer website now indicates that orders for the WRX S4 — the only WRX variant sold there — will stop being accepted in May of this year. Additionally, the S4 STI Sport trim is being discontinued alongside the current model generation.
For context: the WRX S4 is the closest Japanese equivalent to the GT trim sold in the United States. It comes exclusively with a CVT gearbox and includes a range of additional equipment. Apart from the recently announced WRX STI S#, which is still listed as "coming soon" on the company's website, the CVT-equipped S4 has been the only WRX available in Japan. Road & Track reached out to Subaru to ask what this means for the American-market WRX, and a spokesperson said there is nothing to report at this time.
The S4 STI Sport is the second variant being cut in Japan. This is purely a trim level of the WRX S4 rather than a distinct model, so its discontinuation carries less weight. Subaru's official statement from its Japanese consumer website reads as follows:
"Regarding the current model, we will cease accepting new orders as of May 18, 2026, due to the end of production. Furthermore, the WRX S4 STI Sport grade will be discontinued with the current model."
Subaru has not said what will replace the WRX S4 in Japan once production ends, though it's worth noting that the new Trailseeker EV is being built at the same facility. Of greater interest to U.S. buyers is what, if anything, this means for the American WRX lineup — which includes manual-transmission models as well as the tS and GT trims. Subaru has no information to share on that front today.
Japanese automotive publication Creative Trend has reported that Subaru models using the WRX's turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four will need to exit the Japanese market this year to comply with local noise and emissions standards. No comparable restrictions apply in the U.S. Limited intelligence from Japanese sources suggests WRX ordering could resume there next year, potentially with a manual transmission option, though the exact future lineup is unclear. Fortunately, this disruption doesn't affect the WRX STI Sport# revealed at last year's Tokyo Auto Salon — all 600 of those cars will still be delivered.
