Subaru Teases Japan’s 2022 WRX S4 Wearing The STI Badge

[AVANTI R5]

Subaru Teases Japan’s 2022 WRX S4 Wearing The STI Badge

Subaru published a short teaser video with the upcoming WRX S4 for Japan. While the US-spec Subaru WRX made its official debut earlier this month, the Japanese version is yet to be unveiled.

As we can see from the video, the JDM WRX S4 is wearing the same bright orange paint as the US-spec model and has an identical body kit with the same crossover-style wheel arch extensions, sporty bumpers, and a wingless tail. The only difference is the S4 badge under the WRX, and of course the red STI emblem on both the grille and the tailgate.

The latter might trick some people into thinking that this is the full-blown WRX STI but this is not the case. In Japan, the WRX S4 is offered in the STI Sport trim level that is sitting at the top of the range. Judging from the previous generation, the STI Sport should come with a series of STI components and feature more equipment.

Under the bonnet, we expect a slightly different variant of the turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine which in the US-spec model produces 271 hp (202 kW / 275 PS) and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels through either a 6-speed manual or a “Subaru Performance Transmission” CVT and Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive with Active Torque Vectoring.
Japanese media suggest that the official debut of the model will take place in late October, with the “Coming Soon” tag on the official video preparing us for the reveal.

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[AVANTI R5]

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[fredzy]

Will prob have like 400hp

[thill]

Originally Posted by fredzy

Will prob have like 400hp

My wager is 305hp and CVT only.

[SCRAPPYDO]

LOLOLOL... black wilderness plastic on an STI..

LOLOL.. OH Subaru you have failed on so many levels

[heavyD]

Are the Japanese SUV crazy like North Americans? Is the CUV look with all the black plastic going to fly there?

[ajsti24]

Give us the rear wiper and rear fogs standard too...to complete the crossover look!

[J_C_O]

1: It's a WRX with an STI line trim level, not "THE STI"
2: Did we need anoooother 2022 WRX thread?

[Masterauto]

Girlie skirt fenders
Plastic fantastic lovers
ahh the good old days when fenders were wide //M E30 and Coupe Quattro

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[JustyWRC]

Originally Posted by heavyD

Are the Japanese SUV crazy like North Americans? Is the CUV look with all the black plastic going to fly there?

That's what I was wondering. Japanese folks are certainly different. What's their take on all the plastic and that rear end?

[chanomatik]

Originally Posted by SCRAPPYDO

LOLOLOL... black wilderness plastic on an STI..

LOLOL.. OH Subaru you have failed on so many levels

Originally Posted by J_C_O

1: It's a WRX with an STI line trim level, not "THE STI"
2: Did we need anoooother 2022 WRX thread?

This.

WRX S4 in Japan has always been the commuter vehicle. It's when the STI is more car than you need, but the Impreza isn't enough. People in Japan seem fine with the options they have. We'd like to think it's because their STI was the EJ20 with the higher redline, but members from Japan have noted that the Japanese tend to prefer our EJ25 because of the torque, IIRC.

I've long suggested a similar path for North America, but I know Americans are too cheap. If the STI began at $30k and had the same transmission, but no DCCD or Brembos, I think people would go for it. And the WRX was CVT-only, as it is in Japan. So if you wanted a manual, you'd have to get the STI.

But then we'd still have the BRZ that's pretty much $30k, so I have no clue what's going on. I'm not sure how they're priced in Japan either so that they don't step on eachother's toes.

[SCRAPPYDO]

I will take it further Chano,

I say drop the STI all together, its is a useless nameplate that does not mean anything anymore. It is a dinosaur. Just make the WRX and let people STI it up as much as they want to with additional parts.

[fredzy]

Originally Posted by thill

My wager is 305hp and CVT only.

Kidding aside, I am very interested to see the hp. I also expect it to be right around 300 again, maybe more. It will inform us as to how much we're missing out due to either Subaru's non-willingness to spec the WRX with a capable 6MT (something I don't really buy) or the propensity of our lowest common denominator fuel to destroy their engines. CVT was a foregone conclusion.

[chanomatik]

Originally Posted by SCRAPPYDO

I will take it further Chano,

I say drop the STI all together, its is a useless nameplate that does not mean anything anymore. It is a dinosaur. Just make the WRX and let people STI it up as much as they want to with additional parts.

I think you or I suggested that in prior posts. I wouldn't be heartbroken.

My other idea was give the STI transmission to the WRX, add about $500-$1000, and make everything else an "STI Package", as you suggest. Get your Brembos, Recaros, DCCD, stiffening, etc as options. It'd basically be an "STI Trim", kinda like how it almost was before, except this time the WRX really is a barebones "STI Lite". Subaru would have less warranty hassle by just putting in the beloved Aisin-designed transmission. Keep the power below 300 HP if they're so determined, but at least give a transmission that can handle power mods.

[JustyWRC]

Originally Posted by SCRAPPYDO

I will take it further Chano,

I say drop the STI all together, its is a useless nameplate that does not mean anything anymore. It is a dinosaur. Just make the WRX and let people STI it up as much as they want to with additional parts.

I'm guessing you mean it means nothing to us. Japanese clearly love it. And, from what I had seen in the past and started to learn not long ago, STI doesn't just do "STI". They work on other things as well. Let me clarify. I've seen much more than "STI"s in photos of the STI location. When I asked about it, they wouldn't confirm anything; but, also didn't deny the vehicles I saw weren't being "worked on" by STI. And I'm not talking power increases for sporty driving. It could be suspension tuning for the specific application of those vehicles or whatever. That is my new goal. To find out more about the STI facility now.

[Scooby-Doode]

Yall are crazssssiiii. That's like saying we are dropping the M brand and going only M bits, alas M340I, X3 M40i, M550i.

I am looking forward to the emergency redesign and some good news that the STI will get full painted fenders. This S4 thing is a bad joke, poor JDM buyers.

[AVANTI R5]

Japan's 2022 Subaru WRX S4 Is Arriving This Month

Subaru has released a second teaser video of the 2022 WRX S4 it will soon unveil for the Japanese market.

The car featured in this teaser has the same orange paint scheme as the U.S.-spec model that was unveiled a few months ago. It also sports the same black wheel arch extensions, beefed-up bumpers, and tailgate lip spoiler.

If you pay attention, you may also notice that the WRX S4 featured in the short video has a number of red STI badges. Sadly, this isn’t because this is the latest-generation WRX STI; it is instead the STI Sport trim variant that will sit at the top of the WRX range in Japan. It may feature some minor mechanical upgrades, but most of its changes will be visual in nature.


The all-new Subaru WRX unveiled for the U.S. market in September is powered by a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder boxer engine with 271 hp and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) of torque. However, Japanese performance cars sold in the Land of the Rising Sun typically pack a little more punch than they do in overseas markets, so the Japan-spec WRX S4 might have a few extra ponies.

Japanese customers are expected to be offered the WRX S4 with the same six-speed manual and CVT as offered in other markets.

No other details about the model are known at this stage, but Subaru has confirmed it will be unveiled later this month.

Need5

[nashcarr]

I bet the black, plastic fender molding is still black. What a fail all the way around.