Subaru has hinted at the return of a turbocharged Impreza with a manual transmission.
Subaru has filed a trademark application for the Impreza TX in North America, immediately sparking speculation about a new performance version of the popular hatchback. According to Japanese media reports, the model could become a spiritual successor to the classic turbocharged Impreza and WRX.
The Subaru Impreza debuted in 1992, while the WRX and WRX STI performance models became some of the brand's best-known vehicles thanks to their success in the World Rally Championship. Their combination of all-wheel drive, a turbocharged engine, and a manual transmission helped make them icons among performance car enthusiasts.
Subaru recently registered the Impreza TX trademark in North America. Although the automaker has not commented on the filing, it has already sparked widespread discussion online.
There is a strong possibility the new name could be used for a performance-oriented Impreza variant, bringing a more engaging driving character back to the lineup.
But what does the TX badge mean? Many believe it could point to a model powered by a turbocharged engine paired with a manual transmission—a combination long associated with Subaru's most celebrated performance cars.
Subaru has not released any official technical details. However, insiders suggest the Impreza TX could serve as a spiritual successor to the early WRX models, retaining a compact hatchback body style and a focus on driver engagement.
If such a version reaches production, it could slot between the standard Impreza and the more expensive WRX, giving Subaru fans a more affordable performance model.
It is worth noting that all of the current speculation is based solely on the trademark filing. Such applications do not always lead to production models, although they often provide the first indication of future vehicles.
If the rumors prove accurate, Subaru could once again offer enthusiasts a compact performance hatchback with a turbocharged engine, a manual transmission, and its signature all-wheel-drive system—the formula that helped make the Japanese brand famous around the world.