Fifth-gen WRX teased in Subaru promo video – UPDATE

UPDATE, August 20: Subaru has released a teaser video on social media confirming the fifth-generation WRX will be available as a manual – keeping the performance sedan as an enthusiast's machine.

After announcing the official reveal would be delayed due to the cancellation of the New York International Auto Show, Subaru provided a closer tease of the WRX, including showing off its black arch surrounds which stand out when paired with the orange paint featured.

Sticking with tradition, the WRX's bonnet scoop remains to feed air into the top-mounted intercooler on top of the new FA24 turbocharged engine – while the inclusion of a three-pedal option will be sure to please those who have invested in the brand over the years.

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The story to here

JUNE 30: A new Subaru WRX is on the horizon, with the release today of a first new teaser image confirming the fifth generation of the rally-bred performance sedan will be revealed soon.

Replacing the current WRX – which has been in production since 2014 – the 2022 WRX is tipped to be powered by the 2.4-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder FA24 engine found in the North America-only Subaru Ascent SUV, making 194kW and 376Nm in its current guise.

While this is a 3kW drop from the MY21 WRX, it represents a 20Nm increase over the current model and could still increase with the WRX potentially receiving a hotter tune than the Ascent.

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We've made modifications to Subaru's official pic to try and reveal more detail

As with every other WRX, fans can expect all-wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission, though two-pedal buyers will likely have to make do with the constantly variable transmission (CVT) as found in the current WRX.

It's expected the new WRX will reflect the latest Subaru design themes revealed with the updated Japanese-spec Levorg wagon in 2020, possibly even having the Levorg renamed to WRX as a wagon variant with the 2022 release of the model.

Subaru Australia's public relations manager, David Rowley, told Wheels there is no confirmed date for the local launch of the new WRX.

"We don’t currently have a confirmed launch timing for WRX in Australia, but at this stage anticipate early 2022," said Rowley.

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2022 Subaru WRX speculative rendering based on the new Levorg, commissioned by Russian website Kolesa

The high-performance STI variant is expected to finally ditch the EJ engine after over 25 years of service, adopting a modified version of the FB to develop around 300kW.

Subaru Australia recently celebrated 50,000 WRX sales Down Under since the model's debut in 1994, coming off the back of 10,000 local sales of the WRX STi at the back end of 2020.

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2022 Subaru Levorg