Subaru WRX STI gets power boost for 2019

If you were not able to buy the limited run Subaru Type RA when it came out, there is no reason for you to feel bad as the automaker is coming out with a slightly more powerful version of the said model. In fact, the 2019 Subaru WRX STI will be getting an extra 5 horsepower, now totaling up to 310 horsepower, from the 2.5 liter turbocharged engine. Essentially, it now matches the output of the special edition. Torque, on the other hand, will remain the same at 290 pound feet (393 Newton metres).

According to automotive blog, The Truth About Cars, they were able to get a hold of a VIN decoder document for the 2019 Subaru WRX STI sent to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In that same document, you will find the 310 horsepower model with the four cylinder engine. Along with this is also the regular WRX with its 2.0 liter flat four engine that produces 268 horsepower, which is what came out before.

If you feel like the current WRX / WRX STI has become outdated, don’t you worry, as the wait for the next generation isn’t too long. According to our sources, the said model should come out sometime in 2020. That’s not all. Subaru also has plans to keep the manual gearbox alive to keep purists happy.

We’ve also heard that Subaru is also considering a hybrid powertrain. In fact, one of the company’s executives mentioned that it seems like the STI’s engine will not have a future, while also hinting at plans of downsizing the mill, which probably will be the 2.0 liter unit that delivers power to the front axle while an electric motor drives the rear wheels.

Subaru’s plan for the next generation WRX, as well as the hotter STI, is to build them on the new Subaru Global Platform, just like the latest Impreza. With the new underpinnings, the said models should cut down on their overall weight. But since the STI will be getting extra hardware due to its hybrid setup, then its weight might still remain the same.

The previous generation, Impreza-based model was very popular but it appears that buyers of the soon to be released 2019 WRX Impreza will gain a lot more than what was offered in the limited edition 2018 model year. As for the price, Subaru has yet to release details.