Subaru Tecnica International (STI) has built a new limited-run WRX-based performance car: the Japan-market S210. The catch for fans hoping for a traditional STI is that it has a two-pedal CVT, not a six-speed manual. Calling it “ruined” is a matter of taste, but the transmission—and the car’s limited availability—make the criticism understandable.
What is the Subaru WRX STI S210?
The S210 is an STI complete car based on the Japanese-market Subaru WRX S4 STI Sport R EX. STI describes it as a derivative of its WRX NBR CHALLENGE race car, incorporating knowledge from Nürburgring 24-hour racing. STI says the model is limited to 500 units, built and sold to order. STI’s S210 model page lists the car’s specifications; its history page describes the order-based production.
That makes the S210 a genuine STI-developed complete car, rather than a regular WRX wearing a badge alone. It does not, however, establish a current retail purchase route in the United States.
Why are some enthusiasts calling it “ruined”?
It does not have a manual gearbox
The clearest reason is the transmission. STI specifies a Subaru Performance Transmission with manual mode and a forward CVT. It is a two-pedal car, not a six-speed manual. STI’s January 2025 announcement called it the first S-series car to feature the Subaru Performance Transmission. The announcement also said the S210 was limited to 500 units.
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Manual gearboxes have been central to the appeal of many enthusiast-focused STI models. For drivers who consider a manual part of what makes an STI an STI, the S210’s CVT is a fundamental compromise, regardless of its chassis or equipment.
It is a limited Japan-market car, not a broadly available new STI
The S210’s 500-unit run is intended for Japan. The sources available do not establish a U.S. retail purchase route, so its announcement is not the same as Subaru bringing a new STI to American showrooms. That matters to fans who have waited for a successor they can actually buy in their market.
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Comparisons with older special editions need care
SlashGear compared its reported S210 output with the older S209, citing 296 hp and 276 lb-ft for the S210 against 341 hp and 330 lb-ft for the S209. Those figures are SlashGear’s reporting, not the current figures on STI’s model page. STI now lists 300 HP tested by STI and 375 Nm maximum torque for the S210. The comparison helps explain the disappointment some fans feel, but it should not be treated as a like-for-like official specification table. SlashGear’s 2025 report provides that comparison.
What does STI say the S210 delivers?
STI’s current S210 page lists a turbocharged 2.4-liter FA24 horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine, with maximum output of 300 HP tested by STI and maximum torque of 375 Nm. The distinction in timing matters: STI’s January 10, 2025 prototype announcement described 300 hp and 375 Nm as development targets; the current model page presents 300 HP as STI-tested output. STI’s model page is the current source for the published specification.
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- Transmission: Subaru Performance Transmission, with manual mode and a forward CVT.
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Those parts point to a carefully specified performance car. They do not change the central objection for manual-first buyers: the S210 pairs its hardware with a CVT.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why is a new gas-powered STI such a big deal?
The S210 arrives against a longer-running question about whether Subaru would build another internal-combustion WRX STI on the newer WRX platform. SlashGear reported that Subaru said in 2022 it would not produce a next-generation gas-powered WRX STI based on that platform, while exploring possibilities including electrification. The publication also quoted Subaru communications director Dominick Infante saying that rapidly changing regulations made a new gas-powered STI difficult to justify. These statements are reproduced by SlashGear, rather than cited here from the original press release or interview. SlashGear’s account gives the context.
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So, is the S210 actually ruined?
Not as an objective verdict. The S210 is a real, scarce STI performance model with STI-tested output of 300 HP, 375 Nm of torque, and substantial chassis and equipment upgrades. But it is not the answer every STI fan wanted: it has a CVT rather than a manual, is limited to 500 units, and is intended for Japan. “Ruined” captures the reaction of enthusiasts who prioritize a manual and broad availability; it does not describe the car’s specifications by itself.
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