Boring cars no more - Subaru to return to sporty car roots, FA24 to produce more power?

Subaru could be preparing a major comeback for driving enthusiasts, as the Japanese automaker has revealed plans that point towards three new manual transmission sports models, alongside a more powerful version of its FA24 turbocharged boxer engine.

The revelation came during an interview between BestCarWeb and Subaru Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Tetsuro Fujinuki, where he outlined the company's renewed focus on performance vehicles following changes to its product development strategy.

According to Fujinuki, Subaru has established a new Product Innovation Division, which includes a dedicated Sports Vehicle Planning Office tasked with developing models that stay true to the brand's enthusiast-focused heritage, including manual transmissions and turbocharged engines.

Three manual sports cars teased

Earlier this year, Subaru surprised fans by teasing the silhouettes of three upcoming performance models during the Super Taikyu Fuji 24 Hours race. While Subaru stopped short of confirming their identities, the silhouettes appear to resemble a sedan, a coupe, and a five-door hatchback.

Although the company remains tight-lipped about the models themselves, Fujinuki acknowledged that manual transmission variants are part of the plan, marking a significant shift after years of prioritising fuel economy and emissions regulations.

Strong hybrid sales give Subaru more flexibility

For years, Subaru had cited increasingly stringent Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations as one of the reasons it could not continue developing higher-output turbocharged models.

However, Fujinuki explained that the strong market reception for Subaru's latest strong hybrid models, coupled with growing BEV sales, has significantly improved the company's fleet-average emissions performance.

This, in turn, gives Subaru greater freedom to introduce enthusiast-oriented models without compromising regulatory targets.

High-capacity manual gearbox returns

One of the more interesting revelations concerns Subaru's heavy-duty TY85 six-speed manual transmission.

Previously fitted to high-performance WRX STI models, the gearbox was discontinued after Subaru shifted away from high-output performance cars. However, Fujinuki revealed that the production equipment for the transmission still exists, allowing the company to bring it back for future sports models.

Unlike Subaru's current CVT, which is limited in torque handling, the TY85 is capable of handling up to 600 Nm, making it suitable for significantly more powerful engines.

FA24 turbo has even more potential

Subaru also hinted that the FA24 2.4-litre turbocharged boxer engine has considerably more performance to offer.

While the road-going version currently produces around 275 PS in models such as the WRX, Fujinuki revealed that the race-developed version used in the Super Taikyu championship already exceeds 350 PS. He stopped short of confirming production figures but suggested the engine has no trouble surpassing the 300 PS mark.

Combined with the return of a stronger manual gearbox, the setup could pave the way for Subaru's most powerful manual sports cars in years.

Digital development speeding up future products

Beyond the hardware, Subaru says it has also overhauled its vehicle development process by adopting a more digital-first approach.

According to Fujinuki, reducing reliance on lengthy approval meetings and embracing digital engineering has significantly accelerated development, enabling the company to bring exciting new products to market faster than before.

While Subaru has yet to officially confirm what the three teased sports models will be, the company's latest comments suggest enthusiasts can look forward to a new generation of manual performance cars powered by an even more potent FA24 turbo engine.