Subaru Unveils WRX S4 In Japan With STI Sport R Flagship Trim Level

After a long teaser campaign, Subaru has officially unveiled the WRX S4 for the Japanese market, which is actually not that different from the US-spec Subaru WRX that was unveiled in September.

Visually, the WRX S4 can be distinguished by the different headlight graphics (no reflectors), the S4 badge on the tailgate, and the red STI badges on the grille and tailgate of the STI Sport R trim levels. The Japanese specification also gets a rear wiper despite being a four-door sedan.

Other than those minor details, the WRX S4 looks identical to the US-spec WRX, keeping the unpainted plastic cladding on the fenders, bumpers, and side sills for a crossover and rally-inspired look. The car is available in a variety of new colors including the Solar Orange Pearl, Sapphire Blue Pearl, Ignition Red, and Ceramic White.

The WRX S4 is available in four trim levels, GT-H, GT-H EX, STI Sport R, and STI Sport R EX. Inside, the STI-badged variants get Recaro front seats upholstered in Ultra Suede, patches of leather all around the cabin with red stitching, trim pieces with carbon-look, and aluminum pedals. In terms of technology, the STI trim gets an 11.6-inch touchscreen for the Starlink infotainment and a new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster which is unique to the Japanese market (GT-H trims have a significantly smaller screen for climate control and an analog instrument cluster). Equipment also includes the latest EyeSight X driving assistance tech with an array of sensors plus a driver-facing camera located on the center console.

The WRX S4 is based on the Subaru Global Platform with a sporty setup for the chassis and the suspension bringing added rigidity. According to Subaru, the car weighs 1,600 kg (3,527 lbs) which makes it heavier than its predecessor. Under the bonnet, the turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder boxer produces 271 hp (202 kW / 275 PS) and 375 Nm (276.6 lb-ft) of torque, which is 25 Nm (18.4 lb-ft) more than the US-spec. Unlike the latter that is also available with a six-speed manual, the JDM-spec is exclusively offered with a CVT transmission that comes with a virtual eight-speed manual mode.

All variants are equipped with Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive featuring Active Torque Vectoring. Additionally, the STI-badged models get a Drive Mode Select switch altering the driving characteristics of the car including the engine, AWD system, electronically controlled dampers, power steering, air-conditioning etc.

The Subaru WRX S4 is already available to order on the Japanese market with prices starting from ¥4,004,000 ($34,710) for the base GT-H, all the way up to ¥4,774,000 ($41,385) for the flagship STI Sport R EX. Subaru plans on manufacturing 500 units of the WRX S4 per month for the first year of production.