Subaru Promises WRX TR Will Be ‘Enthusiast-Focused’

Fans of the Exploding Galaxy will be interested to learn the company is bringing back a TR variant of its WRX. When last seen about 15 years ago, the TR stood for ‘tuner ready’ – essentially a base WRX with a few deleted features and lower price tag.

Will that be the same formula this time around? Hard to say. The teaser shot shows a Brembo-branded brake caliper peeking out from behind a wheel whose style does not match any currently on offer. This car’s red paint is available on all existing trims, so that detail doesn’t help. We will note the addition of Brembos runs anthetical to the original TR’s premise which was to provide WRX fans with a blank canvas on which to build their own track weapon. Perhaps TR will stand for ‘track ready’ this time around.

If yer curious, the ’07 WRX TR yanked several items from the base WRX including the upmarket radio and speakers. Auto climate control was replaced with standard air conditioning, rear cupholders and a few other storage places vanished, some exterior trim was left unfinished, and fog lamps disappeared (though they could be optioned back in). Seats were a bit different, as well. Sticker price was $24,620, exactly a grand less than the base WRX.

Today’s WRX starts at $30,605 which is well south of the ’07 price tag when adjusted for inflation. The last TR weighed about 3,200 pounds while a 2023 WRX bends the scales at roughly 3,300 pounds if you’re looking for ammo at your next pub quiz. 

Subaru says the 2024 WRX TR will debut on October 7 at Subiefest Florida in Daytona Beach. Travis Pastrana will apparently be on hand, as will Bucky Lasek who is known for skateboarding or rallycross depending and not optometry, despite his last name being suspiciously similar to a popular corrective eye surgery.

[Image: Subaru]

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