Subaru Teases Japan’s 2022 WRX S4 Wearing The STI Badge

Subaru published a short teaser video with the upcoming WRX S4 for Japan. While the US-spec Subaru WRX made its official debut earlier this month, the Japanese version is yet to be unveiled.

As we can see from the video, the JDM WRX S4 is wearing the same bright orange paint as the US-spec model and has an identical body kit with the same crossover-style wheel arch extensions, sporty bumpers, and a wingless tail. The only difference is the S4 badge under the WRX, and of course the red STI emblem on both the grille and the tailgate.

The latter might trick some people into thinking that this is the full-blown WRX STI but this is not the case. In Japan, the WRX S4 is offered in the STI Sport trim level that is sitting at the top of the range. Judging from the previous generation, the STI Sport should come with a series of STI components and feature more equipment.

Under the bonnet, we expect a slightly different variant of the turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine which in the US-spec model produces 271 hp (202 kW / 275 PS) and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels through either a 6-speed manual or a “Subaru Performance Transmission” CVT and Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive with Active Torque Vectoring.

Japanese media suggest that the official debut of the model will take place in late October, with the “Coming Soon” tag on the official video preparing us for the reveal.