Heck yeah, the Subaru WRX just got a whole lot better

Subaru’s trusty WRX is a real bash-it-and-thrash-it sport sedan, the kind of car you just wanna get sideways on a gravel road. And while we can’t quite forgive Subaru for discontinuing the winged-wonder WRX STI, we’re happy to report that our favorite road-legal rally car is getting a nice little tune-up. Meet the WRX TR.

Set to debut this weekend at Subiefest in – *shudder* – Florida, the TR has a bunch of mechanical tweaks that’ll give it an edge over lesser Rexes. Stiffer springs and recalibrated damping rates should make for a firmer but more planted ride, and Subaru adjusted the steering setup for better response. Larger 19-inch wheels look rad inside those cladded arches, and the TR rides on 245/35 Bridgestone Potenza summer tires, which are great for grip. Behind those new wheels, you'll find another TR exclusive: big Brembo brakes with six-piston front and two-piston rear calipers.

Other meaningful changes include Recaro front seats and a moonroof delete which saves a bit of weight. The WRX TR also has an upgraded version of Subaru's EyeSight driver-assistance suite that finally works with a manual transmission, bringing goodies like adaptive cruise control and lane-departure warning to cars with sticks.

Unfortunately, the TR doesn't have any more power than the standard WRX, its 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-4 making the same 271hp and 258lb ft of torque. Oh, and if you don't want the six-speed manual gearbox, you’re out of luck, pal. Subaru will exclusively offer the TR with a stick-shift, leaving the buzzkill-of-all-buzzkills CVT for lesser trims.

Following the TR’s debut this weekend, this top-trim WRX will go on sale early next year. Subaru won’t confirm pricing just yet, but we’re betting it’ll come in above the $44,415 WRX GT, so think something in the range of $50,000. That’s definitely not cheap, but hey, the TR is the closest we’ll get to a WRX STI for now.