Subaru’s manual transmission 2027 lineup is now official. While most of the industry keeps quietly phasing out the manual gearbox, Subaru just went the other direction. The automaker confirmed three new manual-transmission models for the Japanese market by 2027, announced around the Fuji 24 Hours race during Japan’s Super Taikyu endurance series — a fitting venue for the news.
What’s Coming
- A manual WRX sedan, becoming a permanent fixture in Subaru‘s Japanese lineup starting in 2027. It reportedly uses the heavier-duty TY85 gearbox from the previous-generation WRX STI, paired with the turbocharged 2.4-liter boxer engine — apparently without electrification.
- A BRZ “Complete Car,” built on the STI Sport Type RA special edition from late 2025, focused on shedding weight rather than adding power.
- An all-new five-door hatchback, aimed at affordability first, with room for performance variants down the line.
Why It Matters
Manual take rates have been sitting around 1% of new car sales for years, which makes most automakers treat the stick shift as a niche option at best. Subaru is doing the opposite: it created a dedicated Sports Vehicle Planning Office to oversee enthusiast-focused products going forward, with engineering input pulled directly from its motorsport programs. It’s part of a broader trend — manual transmissions are having a moment across the industry, even as most automakers quietly drop them.
That’s a meaningful signal. Pairing a heavier-duty gearbox with a non-hybrid turbo boxer in the WRX, in particular, suggests Subaru isn’t just keeping the manual around as a checkbox — it’s building these cars for people who’ll actually use it hard.
The Catch
All three have only been confirmed for Japan so far. Subaru hasn’t said whether any of them — the WRX sedan especially — will make it to North America, where manual take rates on cars like the WRX and BRZ have historically been far healthier than the global average. If you want one of these outside Japan, the next year or two of announcements is worth watching closely.