Subaru WRX S4 Guide: Production Has Ended, But a Manual Transmission Is Finally Coming

For nearly four years, the Subaru WRX S4 has been the CVT-only member of the WRX family — the enthusiast's manual gearbox lived only on the separate WRX STI. That's now changing, right as this specific generation winds down. Here's the complete story: what's happened, what's coming, and how the current lineup breaks down as last sold.

📅 2nd-generation WRX S4: Full model change November 25, 2021 · Orders and production ended May 18, 2026 🚗 Grades (as last sold): GT-H EX · STI Sport R EX · STI Sport R-Black Limited · STI Sport R-Black Limited Ⅱ 🇯🇵 Japan Domestic Market — CVT-Only for This Entire Generation 🔧 A Catalog 6-Speed Manual Is Reportedly Coming Within FY2026

Breaking: Orders Stopped May 18, 2026 — Here's What's Actually Happening

On May 18, 2026, Subaru ended new orders and production for the current WRX S4 — existing dealer stock is now the only way to get one. This isn't the end of the nameplate, though: according to Subaru dealer sources cited in Japanese automotive press, this order stoppage is specifically in preparation for a running update expected in autumn 2026, not a full discontinuation of WRX S4 itself. Two genuinely significant things are reportedly changing with that update:

• The STI Sport grade line is expected to end with the current generation — it may not return in the updated lineup.
• A 6-speed manual transmission is reportedly coming as a genuine catalog model within fiscal year 2026 (by March 2027) — the first time this specific WRX S4 nameplate has offered anything other than a CVT since its 2021 full model change.

As a preview of that manual-transmission direction, Subaru already launched a strictly limited-run special model, the WRX STI Sport♯ ("Sharp"), unveiled at Tokyo Auto Salon 2026 (January 9, 2026) and sold from April 2026 — a taste of the 6MT experience ahead of the broader catalog model expected later this fiscal year.

Why This Matters: WRX S4 Has Always Been the CVT Half of the Family

To understand why a manual transmission is genuinely big news here, it helps to know how Subaru historically split this nameplate. For years, Subaru sold two related but distinct sports sedans: WRX STI, built around the motorsport-proven EJ20 engine paired with a genuine manual transmission, and WRX S4, using the newer FA20 engine matched to a CVT and leaning toward more of a "sporty Levorg sedan" character. WRX STI was eventually discontinued, leaving WRX S4 as the sole surviving nameplate — but it inherited none of STI's manual-transmission tradition. Every WRX S4 sold since this current generation's 2021 launch has been CVT only. A genuine catalog 6MT model would be the first time this specific nameplate has offered that option at all.

The Current Generation's History

The second-generation WRX S4 had its full model change on November 25, 2021, moving to Subaru's SGP (Subaru Global Platform) with a full inner-frame structure for added rigidity, and enlarging the engine from the previous 2.0L to 2.4L. Curiously, peak output actually decreased with that bigger engine — from 300 PS/400 Nm to 275 PS/375 Nm — a rare case of a Subaru performance model losing headline numbers on a full redesign, driven by fuel economy and emissions considerations rather than a step backward in engineering. JC08 fuel economy improved from 11.8 km/L to 12.7 km/L as a result. VTD-AWD (Variable Torque Distribution all-wheel drive) carried over. A November 2022 "C-type" running update added auto-off headlight/interior-light functions, smart key sleep mode and motion-sensor anti-relay-attack protection, and a revised lighting switch, alongside a ¥55,000 price increase on STI Sport grades (GT-H pricing held flat). A subsequent "D-type" update brought back a large rear spoiler design reminiscent of earlier WRX styling. A limited-run S210 special edition, offering a genuinely higher 300 PS tune, was also sold during this generation before selling out.

Grade Lineup as Last Sold (Before May 2026 Order Stop)

All grades AWD only. Prices reflect Subaru's official pricing as it stood before the May 2026 order stoppage — this is what remaining dealer stock is priced at.

The Engine — Unchanged Across the Whole Range

Every WRX S4 grade shares the same powertrain:

• FA24-type 2.4L horizontally-opposed 4-cylinder, direct-injection turbo
• Output: 275 PS (202 kW) @ 5,600 rpm / 375 Nm (38.2 kgf·m) @ 2,000–4,800 rpm
• Subaru Performance Transmission (CVT) — the only transmission offered on this generation to date
• VTD-AWD, distributing torque between front and rear axles for genuine all-weather, all-condition performance
• 245/40R18 tires across every grade, though wheel finish and (on STI Sport grades) damper tuning differ

Full Grade Breakdown

GT-H EX — Entry Grade

¥4,477,000

• 245/40R18 tires with 18-inch aluminum wheels (dark gunmetallic paint)
• SI-DRIVE with 3 modes (Intelligent / Sport / Sport Sharp)
• Aluminum-pad sport pedals
• Array-type Adaptive Driving Beam
• 11.6-inch center information display and infotainment system
• 10-way power driver's seat, 8-way power passenger's seat
• Instrument panel ambient lighting
• Driver Monitoring System
• MySubaru Connect connected services
• Pedestrian protection airbag

STI Sport R EX — Upper Grade

¥5,027,000

Adds over GT-H EX:

• 18-inch aluminum wheels in black paint (versus GT-H's dark gunmetallic)
• Electronically controlled dampers (ZF-manufactured) — a genuine chassis-hardware difference, not just cosmetic
• Drive Mode Select
• STI emblem
• Harman Kardon sound system
• Large front and rear door pockets with bottle holders (felt-type lining)

STI Sport R-Black Limited — Special Model

¥5,302,000

Adds over STI Sport R EX:

• Ultrasuede® seats in black with red stitching, on RECARO® front seats with STI logo embroidery
• Black-painted door mirrors and roof antenna
• Driver's seat upgraded to 8-way power adjustment
• Suede-look instrument panel mid trim and door trim (red stitching)
• Black-skin center tray, floor console lid, and door armrest (red stitching)
• Optional large rear spoiler (manufacturer option)

STI Sport R-Black Limited Ⅱ — Special Model, Alternate Color Theme

¥5,302,000 (same price as Limited)

Same foundation as R-Black Limited, but with a distinct black-and-yellow theme:

• Ultrasuede® seats in black with black stitching and yellow perforation (RECARO® front seats, STI logo)
• 18-inch wheels in matte black (a different finish from standard Limited's gloss black)
• Full LED headlamps with a black bezel
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel (high-tactile leather, black stitching)
• Black-stitched shift boot

Limited and Limited Ⅱ are priced identically — the choice between them comes down entirely to which color and stitching theme (red-accented vs. black-and-yellow) you prefer.

Full Feature Comparison Table

✓ = Standard/Available | ✗ = Not offered. Features sourced directly from Subaru's official grade pages (subaru.jp/wrx-s4), reflecting the lineup as last sold before the May 2026 order stoppage.

Should You Buy Remaining Stock, or Wait?

Given the current situation, a few honest considerations:

• If you specifically want the current CVT-only generation's specific character and pricing, remaining dealer stock is your only route — this exact configuration won't be built again once inventory sells through.
• If you've been waiting specifically for a manual WRX S4, holding out for the reportedly upcoming catalog 6MT model (expected within FY2026, by March 2027) is the logical choice — though treat this as reported, not yet officially confirmed by Subaru.
• If STI Sport-level equipment and styling matter most to you, be aware that grade line is reportedly ending with this generation — a future 6MT model's exact grade structure and equipment level hasn't been confirmed, and may not directly replicate STI Sport's current specification.

Importing a Subaru WRX S4

For buyers sourcing a WRX S4 from Japanese auction, a few identification points matter:

• Every current-generation WRX S4 is CVT — a manual-transmission WRX S4 would necessarily be either the earlier, separately-named WRX STI (a mechanically different car with the EJ20 engine), the limited-run WRX STI Sport♯ preview model, or a future model not yet in full production as of this writing. Don't assume "WRX S4 with manual" refers to the mainstream car described in this guide.
• Electronically controlled ZF dampers, black wheels, and an STI emblem confirm STI Sport R EX or above — GT-H EX uses simpler suspension and gunmetallic wheels.
• RECARO® seats confirm STI Sport R-Black Limited or Limited Ⅱ — neither GT-H EX nor standard STI Sport R EX offers RECARO® seating.
• Red stitching (Limited) versus black stitching with yellow perforation (Limited Ⅱ) is the fastest way to distinguish the two special editions, since they're priced identically.
• Given production has ended, remaining new-car stock represents a fixed, non-renewable supply of this specific generation — factor this into timing if you're deciding between current stock and a future 6MT model.

Always confirm the exact grade, transmission, and accident/track-use history against the chassis number before bidding, since equipment details and even the fundamental transmission type may differ across this nameplate's transition period. If you're bidding from overseas, running the chassis number through a Japanese auction sheet and history check before you commit is the safest way to confirm the car in front of you actually matches the grade it's listed under — that's exactly the kind of check we built JPChecker to make simple.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Subaru WRX S4 still available to order new? Not currently. Subaru ended new orders and production on May 18, 2026. Existing dealer stock is the only remaining source, ahead of a reported running update expected in autumn 2026.

Will there be a manual transmission WRX S4? Reportedly yes — a 6-speed manual is expected to become a genuine catalog model within fiscal year 2026 (by March 2027), which would be the first manual transmission offered on this specific WRX S4 nameplate since its 2021 full model change. This has not been officially confirmed by Subaru as of this writing.

What is the WRX STI Sport♯? A strictly limited-run special model with a 6-speed manual transmission, unveiled at Tokyo Auto Salon 2026 and sold from April 2026 — widely seen as a preview of the manual-transmission direction expected for the broader catalog lineup later in the fiscal year.

Why did WRX S4's horsepower go down with its 2021 redesign? The engine grew from 2.0L to 2.4L, but peak output dropped from 300 PS/400 Nm to 275 PS/375 Nm, driven by fuel economy and emissions considerations rather than an engineering step backward — fuel economy improved from 11.8 km/L to 12.7 km/L (JC08) as a result.

What is the difference between WRX S4 and the older WRX STI? WRX STI used the motorsport-proven EJ20 engine paired with a manual transmission and was eventually discontinued. WRX S4 uses the newer FA20/FA24-family engine matched to a CVT, with a more everyday-usable sports-sedan character — until the reportedly upcoming manual-equipped update changes that CVT-only history.

Is the STI Sport grade going away? Reportedly yes, according to Japanese automotive press citing dealer sources — the STI Sport line is expected to end with the current generation, though exact details of any successor grade structure haven't been confirmed.

What is the cheapest WRX S4 grade? GT-H EX, priced at ¥4,477,000 (tax included) as last sold before the May 2026 order stoppage.