The 2026 Subaru WRX tS is the highest-performance configuration in the standard WRX lineup — the trim where STI (Subaru Tecnica International) calibration, Brembo braking hardware, and the 6-speed manual gearbox converge in one package. The tS is not a cosmetic upgrade or a trim-level marketing designation; it is a mechanically distinct specification with braking, suspension, seating, and exterior hardware that no other WRX trim offers simultaneously. For Nassau County buyers who want the WRX’s maximum hardware specification — and who are choosing the manual gearbox — the tS is the only configuration that delivers it.
Bottom Line: The tS is the WRX’s performance flagship: 6MT, Brembo 6-piston/2-piston gold-finish calipers, STI-tuned electronic dampers, Recaro 8-way power seats with blue bolsters, 19-inch alloy wheels, Drive Mode Select, Full LCD gauge cluster, and a complete set of blacked-out exterior trim elements. The moonroof is intentionally deleted.
- Brembo 6-piston front / 2-piston rear calipers with gold finish — exclusive to tS and Series.Yellow
- STI-tuned electronic dampers — different calibration from GT’s standard electronic dampers
- 6-speed manual only — SPT is not available on tS
- Blue interior accents throughout — unique to tS (Series.Yellow has yellow accents)
- Moonroof Delete: intentional weight reduction and structural improvement
What Makes the tS Different from Every Other WRX
The tS is defined by a specific combination of hardware that cannot be assembled from any other WRX trim or option package:
1. Brembo Braking System The tS uses Brembo 6-piston calipers in front and 2-piston calipers in the rear, finished in gold. This is not a badge upgrade — Brembo is an independent brake manufacturer that supplies hardware to performance and sports car manufacturers. The 6-piston front caliper provides more clamping force than the conventional caliper it replaces, allowing shorter stopping distances and more consistent brake performance under sustained use. The gold finish is a visual indicator on the wheel face — visible through the spokes of the 19-inch alloy wheels — that communicates the tS’s braking specification.
For Nassau County buyers who take the WRX on track days, drive spiritedly in the Catskills, or simply want the confidence of maximum braking hardware in their daily commuter, the Brembo system is a meaningful performance upgrade. No other WRX trim except Series.Yellow has the Brembo hardware.
2. STI-Tuned Electronic Dampers The tS has electronically adjustable dampers calibrated by Subaru Tecnica International. This is a different suspension tune than the GT’s standard electronic dampers — the STI calibration prioritizes flatter cornering behavior, more immediate body control, and a performance-oriented ride-handling balance. The STI tune accepts a firmer ride on rough road surfaces in exchange for more precise cornering response.
In practical terms: the tS feels differently in corners and on transitions than the GT, even though both have adjustable dampers. The STI-tuned setup is more aggressive. For buyers who want the sharper end of what the WRX’s chassis can deliver, the tS’s damper calibration is the specification to seek.
3. 6-Speed Manual Transmission The tS is 6MT only. The Sport Lineartronic CVT is not available. This is a deliberate specification choice: the tS combines the maximum braking and suspension hardware with the manual gearbox — pairing the most driver-engaged transmission with the most performance-focused chassis.
Buyers who want the Brembo brakes and STI dampers but prefer the CVT cannot have both simultaneously in the 2026 WRX lineup. The performance hardware package and the manual gearbox are tied together in the tS specification.
4. Recaro 8-Way Power Seats with Blue Bolsters The tS seats are Recaro units — a performance seating manufacturer — with 8-way power adjustment. The bolsters are blue, which is the tS’s defining interior accent color. Blue bolsters, blue stitching throughout the cabin, and the Red STI Start Button constitute the tS’s complete interior identity.
The lateral bolstering on the Recaro seats works with the STI-tuned suspension: when the car is responding precisely to cornering inputs, the Recaro bolsters maintain the driver’s body position in the seat, preventing the sliding that undermines the connection between driver and car in aggressively-driven corners.
5. 19-Inch Alloy Wheels The tS moves from the 18-inch alloys standard across most of the lineup to 19-inch alloy wheels. Larger wheels fill the WRX’s wheel arches more fully and provide a different visual proportion. They also accommodate the Brembo calipers, which require wheel clearance that 18-inch wheels may not provide.
The 19-inch wheels are standard silver finish on the tS (the Series.Yellow gets 19-inch black finish wheels).
Complete tS Feature List
Inherited from the lineup:
- 2.4L DIT FA24 BOXER Engine (271 HP)
- Subaru Symmetrical AWD
- EyeSight Driver Assist Technology
- DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System
- Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control
- Harman Kardon Speaker System (standard)
- 11.6-inch LCD HD CID with Navigation
- Keyless Access with Push-Button Start
- All-Weather Package (heated front seats, heated mirrors, wiper de-icer)
- Hill Start Assist (6MT models)
- Blind-Spot Detection / Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
- LED Steering Responsive Headlights
- Auto Up-Down: All Windows
- MySubaru Connected Services (Gen 3)
tS-Exclusive and Performance Specifications:
- Brembo® Braking System — 6-Piston Front / 2-Piston Rear Calipers, Gold Finish
- 19-inch Alloy Wheels
- Recaro 8-Way Power Ultrasuede® and Leather-Trimmed Seats w/ Blue Bolsters
- STI-Tuned Electronic Dampers
- Drive Mode Select
- Full LCD Digital Gauge Cluster
- Blue Interior Stitching and Accents
- Moonroof Delete
- Red STI Start Button
- Black-Finish Exterior Mirrors
- Black-Finish Shark-fin Antenna
- Black-Finish Rear Lip Spoiler
- tS Exterior Badging
tS Exterior: The Black-Finish Treatment
The tS exterior is distinguished from the rest of the WRX lineup by the deliberate application of black finish trim to elements that are body-color or chrome-finished on other trims:
- Black-Finish Exterior Mirrors: The side mirror housings are black finish rather than body-color — a visual detail that gives the tS a more aggressive, intentional appearance.
- Black-Finish Shark-fin Antenna: The rooftop antenna is black-finished.
- Black-Finish Rear Lip Spoiler: The rear deck spoiler is black finish rather than body-color-matched.
- tS Exterior Badging: Specific tS badging on the exterior identifies the trim visually from outside.
The combination of black-finish exterior elements with the gold Brembo calipers visible through the 19-inch wheels — and the absence of a moonroof — creates an exterior that reads differently from other WRX trims at close inspection.
The black exterior accents pair particularly well with Crystal Black Silica (creating a fully blacked-out exterior treatment) and with WR Blue Pearl (creating a high-contrast blue-and-black combination).
The Moonroof Delete: Intentional, Not an Omission
One of the most common questions about the tS is about the absent moonroof. Every WRX from Limited through GT includes a Power Moonroof as standard equipment. The tS removes it.
This is not an oversight or cost reduction — it is a performance specification:
- Weight reduction: The moonroof assembly adds mass to the upper portion of the vehicle. Removing it lowers both the total vehicle weight and the center of gravity.
- Structural: A moonroof requires a cutout in the roof structure. Without it, the roof panel is fully intact, contributing to torsional stiffness.
For buyers who value the open-roof experience and use the moonroof regularly, the tS is not the right WRX — the Limited or GT with moonroof are the appropriate choices. For buyers who view the tS as a performance-priority purchase and accept the moonroof’s absence as consistent with that specification, the delete is a feature rather than a missing item.
"The tS is the WRX for drivers who know exactly what they want. The Brembo brakes, the STI suspension, the manual, the Recaro seats with blue bolsters — this is a specific machine. It's not a do-everything compromise; it's a car that's been built around one priority. The moonroof delete gets questions but makes sense the moment you understand the philosophy: every specification on the tS points toward the same goal. If you want the best-driving WRX money can buy in this lineup, the tS is it."
General Manager, Grand Prix Subaru
Safety data sourced from NHTSA vehicle ratings and IIHS crash test results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tS available with automatic transmission? No. The tS is exclusively available with the 6-speed manual transmission.
Does the tS have the same engine as other WRX trims? Yes. The FA24 2.4-liter direct-injection turbocharged BOXER engine producing 271 horsepower is standard across all WRX trims, including the tS. The performance differences on the tS come from the braking, suspension, and seating hardware, not the engine output.
What colors are available on the tS? The tS is available in eight colors: WR Blue Pearl, Crystal Black Silica, Ceramic White, Galaxy Purple Pearl, Ignition Red, Ice Silver Metallic, Magnetite Gray Metallic, and Sapphire Blue Pearl. Sunrise Yellow is exclusive to the Series.Yellow and is not available on the tS.
How does the STI-tuned suspension differ from the GT’s? Both GT and tS have electronically adjustable dampers. The STI calibration on the tS prioritizes sharper body control and performance-oriented ride-handling balance, accepting a firmer ride on imperfect road surfaces. The GT’s dampers offer a broader comfort-to-sport range. The tS tuning is more committed to performance.
Find the WRX tS at Grand Prix Subaru
Browse current WRX tS inventory at Grand Prix Subaru or contact the team to ask about incoming tS stock at 500 S Broadway in Hicksville.