2024 Subaru WRX TR photos and specs leaked, coming to Australia

The 2024 Subaru WRX TR special edition will revive the defunct WRX STI's signature design cue when it is unveiled this weekend – and comes to Australia at a later date – Drive can reveal.

Leaked images from government paperwork obtained by Drive show the new WRX TR – short for "Tuner Ready" – will stand out on the road in Australia with a large STI-style rear spoiler not available on any other new Subaru WRX locally.

But there will not be any more power from the 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder 'boxer' engine, which will retain its outputs of 202kW and 350Nm – at least in Australia.

It will be matched exclusively in the TR with a six-speed manual transmission locally, and symmetrical all-wheel drive.

Plans for a new Subaru WRX STI – supposedly intended to be a 300kW AMG A45 S rival, according to Japanese reports at the time – were scrapped in early 2022, and Subaru says it has no plans for a STI version of the latest WRX.

The new TR edition has been approved for sale in Australian showrooms, the documents confirm, though it may be sold locally as the SE, or 'Special Edition', rather than adopt the WRX TR name confirmed for the US.

It could be positioned as a 30th anniversary celebration for the Subaru WRX in Australia, which marks the milestone next year as it was introduced locally in 1994 – following its Japanese launch in 1992.

MORE: Subaru WRX 30th anniversary special edition in the works for next year

In addition to the spoiler, upgrades planned for the WRX TR include larger 19-inch wheels wrapped in 245/35 R19 Bridgestone Potenza S007 tyres – compared to the standard WRX's 18-inch wheels and 245/40 R18 Dunlop SP Sport Maxx rubber.

There are upgraded, red-painted Brembo brake calipers clamping 340x30mm front and 326x30mm rear ventilated discs (up from 316x28mm front and 290x18mm rear brakes on the standard model).

The suspension appears to be the same as the regular manual WRX sedan, and it misses out on the adaptive dampers available in the CVT automatic-only WRX tS flagship.

Inside, Subaru USA has confirmed Recaro sports bucket seats from the flagship tS will be available. A sunroof is not available on the new variant in Australia.

According to the documents seen by Drive, the TR (at 1519kg tare) will be 2kg lighter than Australia's WRX RS manual sedan with a sunroof – but 37kg heavier than the base WRX, which does not have a sunroof.

The original WRX 'Tuner Ready' sold in the US in 2006 was a stripped-out special edition with fewer luxury features and a lower price, intended for buyers planning to upgrade the car with 'aftermarket' parts.

It is unclear if the TR benefits from autonomous emergency braking technology planned to be added to the manual WRX sedan in the next 12 months, after it was exclusive to automatic models at the WRX sedan and wagon range's launch last year.

The 2024 Subaru WRX TR is due to be unveiled on October 7, US time. Australian arrival timing is yet to be announced.

This story was originally published at 8:56pm on October 4.