2025 Subaru WRX tS Spec B answers some prayers

The hottest VB-series Subaru WRX yet has finally been detailed in full and will arrive Down Under next month priced from a heady $61,490 plus on-road costs.

There’s no two ways about it, the 2025 Subaru WRX tS Spec B is the most expensive iteration of the current-gen ‘Rex’ and for good reason – it’s got just about everything the aspiring purist could want outside of a power bump.

Retaining the same 202kW/350Nm 2.4-litre turbo-petrol flat four as its stablemates, the tS Spec B is all about enhancing the cornering fun with a raft of dynamic new upgrades over the mid-spec WRX RS, including but not limited to three-way adaptive dampers, gold six-piston Brembo front brakes, drilled rotors front and rear, lightweight 19-inch wheels and Recaro bucket seats.

The rest of the upgrades comprise the first manual application of Drive Mode Select (Comfort, Normal, Sport, Sport+, Individual), Bridgestone Potenza S007 tyres, eight-way powered seat adjustment for the driver, STI performance mufflers (no-cost option), a 12.3-inch full LCD instrument cluster and STI-spec rear wing.

A smattering of ‘tS’ and ‘STI’ logos can be found around the cabin along with the occasional red accent while the WRX’s active safety game has also been stepped up through the addition of Subaru’s latest emergency driving stop system.

Missing from the equation is the RS’ powered sunroof; a feature deleted in the name of weight-saving and structural rigidity.

No changes have been made to the standard symmetrical all-wheel-drive system or the six-speed manual transmission.

“The WRX AWD tS Spec B is where performance meets passion – a true celebration of everything that makes WRX iconic,” Subaru Australia general manager Scott Lawrence said.

“It’s about that genuine, unfiltered connection between the driver and the road – a feeling that that speaks to driving purists and goes beyond what specs can convey.

“Every feature, from the manual transmission to the exclusive additions, is designed for those who crave the thrill of pure, untamed driving.”

Underlining the model’s position at the top of the WRX tree is a new ‘Galaxy Purple Pearl’ paint finish that takes the place of the lesser grades’ ‘Solar Orange Pearl’ hue.

For the purists and factoid lovers, the Spec B nameplate was most famously applied to the penultimate Liberty GTs to denote the presence of Bilstein dampers in place of the standard GT’s already sporty set-up, but this time around, the iconic nomenclature is referencing the  Brembo braking package.

Many of the tS Spec B’s upgrades – but not the adaptive dampers, mufflers or drive modes – debuted last year on the limited-run Club Spec, but unlike the special edition, the tS Spec B is here to stay and in Subaru’s eyes, will fill the void left by the absence of a full-fat STI halo.

How much does the 2025 Subaru WRX cost?
Sedan
WRX (m) – $47,490
WRX – $49,990
RS (m) – $52,990
RS – $55,490
tS – $57,990
tS Spec B (m) – $61,490
Sportswagon
WRX – $51,790
GT – $57,290
tS – $59,790
* Prices exclude on-road costs

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