New Subaru WRX Club Spec Gives A Nod To The Past But It’s No STI

Subaru Australia is introducing another limited edition WRX, the 2024 WRX Club Spec. If you've been around the Subaru brand in Australia, you'll recognize the name. The first WRX Club Spec was offered down under in the late nineties, and it was a well-sought-after special performance model. 

It's No STI

It's back with the famous STI-style wing on the rear trunk lid. But that's the only thing that makes it like the discontinued STI. You'll have to act quickly because it will likely sell out fast.

It's A Sedan 

That's because Subaru Corporation will produce only 150 examples for the Australian market. Don't look for a hatchback; the WRX Club Spec will be available in a sedan-only body style with a six-speed manual transmission. 

The 2024 Subaru WRX Club Spec Includes These Features

• Brembo brakes - 6-piston front and 2-piston rear
• Drilled front and rear brake discs
• Recaro sports bucket seats - driver and front passenger
• Ultrasuede seat trim with leather look accents
• Tuned steering and suspension, exclusive to Club Spec
• Matte Grey 19" alloy wheels 
• High-performance Bridgestone Potenza S007 tires
• Club Spec internal badge - numbered
• Club Spec badge - rear
• Large STI-style rear spoiler

Like the U.S.-spec 2024 WRX TR, the WRX Club Spec comes with the automaker's EyeSight driver-assist safety technology, which was introduced to manual WRX sedan sports cars for the first time.

Related Story: New Subaru WRX TR Reveal - The Complete Details

New Safety Tech

The limited edition WRX will get key safety technology and convenience features including:

• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Emergency Lane Keep Assist
• Lane Centering Function
• Lane Departure Prevention
• Lane Departure Warning
• Lane Sway Warning
• Lead Vehicle Start Alert
• Pre-Collision Braking System
• Pre-Collision Brake Assist
• Autonomous Emergency Steering
• Brake Light Recognition
• Speed Sign Recognition

I've seen that the 2024 Subaru WRX Club Spec significantly upgrades the standard model, improving driving performance. You can check out my report here. 

Related Content: The New 2024 Subaru WRX TR Exposed In Italy

The WRX manual transmission with Eyesight is a good safety feature, but performance fans are unlike Outback customers looking for the safest model for the family. WRX fans are interested in one thing: performance. And there were no engine upgrades in the Club Spec.

However, the WRX Club Spec stays at the same 271 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque as the standard model. It won't get fans excited. 

Where's The WRX Hatch?

Sure, Australia has the WRX Sportwagon hatch, but as I've often said, it's time the WRX gets back to its Impreza roots and for Subaru Corporation to drop the WRX sedan and give it the hot hatchback body style.

This one change would catapult the WRX to another level. It's what performance enthusiasts want, so why doesn't Subaru give it to them? For now, performance enthusiasts must settle for the limited edition 2024 Subaru WRX Club Spec with a rear wing. But it's no STI.

I am Denis Flierl, a top Torque News and Subaru reporter since 2012. I’ve invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role, working with every major car brand. I am an experienced Rocky Mountain Automotive Press member. You'll find my expert Subaru analysis here. Follow me on my The Dirty Subaru website, Dirty Subaru blog, X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Subaru