On April 27, the Subaru WRX tS was officially launched, introduced to the Chinese market via parallel import, priced at 394,800 yuan, and offered in three exterior colors: New Rally Blue, Light Dusk Mineral Gray, and Ceramic White.
In terms of exterior, the WRX tS retains the WRX series' hexagonal air intake grille and the intercooler air intake on the engine hood. On the side, it is equipped with 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels, and the braking system adopts the Brembo brand, with six-piston calipers at the front and two-piston calipers at the rear. At the rear, a large rear spoiler has been added, which is the most intuitive visual feature distinguishing the tS version from the standard WRX.
In terms of interior, the front row is equipped with RECARO seats bearing the STI logo, with relatively prominent lateral support. The center console area features an 11.6-inch vertical touchscreen and retains physical buttons and an intuitive control interface, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity.
In terms of power, the WRX tS is equipped with a 2.4-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder turbocharged engine, with a maximum power of 275 horsepower and a peak torque of 350 N·m, matched with a 6-speed manual transmission and a symmetrical all-wheel drive system.
Commentary: The full name of "tS" is "Tuned by STI." Its technical logic is not simply to increase engine output (the WRX tS's 275 horsepower is basically on par with the standard WRX), but rather for the STI team to carry out dedicated tuning of the chassis, electronically controlled dampers, and aerodynamics. The combination of the 2.4T horizontally opposed engine and 6-speed manual transmission in the WRX tS is already rare in the current domestic new car market. The electronically controlled dampers tuned by STI can automatically adjust damping according to road conditions and driving modes, providing a certain balance between daily commuting and spirited driving. The braking system adopts Brembo front six-piston and rear two-piston calipers, and together with the RECARO seats, the hardware configuration is closer to track use scenarios. Against the backdrop of an accelerating electrification trend, this car offers a concrete and clearly oriented choice for enthusiasts of traditional internal combustion engine performance cars.
