Subaru reveals limited edition WRX for New Zealand

There’s been plenty of change over at Subaru in recent months. It brought its new Forester into the line-up last year, recently launched a heavily revised Outback, and will soon bring an updated Solterra EV to market. 

And the Japanese brand has now added another new variant to its range, the limited edition WRX 2.4T Senkō.

The Senkō, its name derived from the Japanese kanji script meaning ‘Flash of Light’, is a one-of-10 limited edition variant targeting the brand’s most die hard WRX enthusiasts. 

Subaru New Zealand has made quite the business out of launching limited edition versions of its quintessential all-wheel drive performance car. It launched the Spec B limited edition last year, and has previously offered the AKA, Tatsu, and Todoroki. 

Like these previous limited editions, the Senkō represents a largely cosmetic upgrade over a standard WRX. Its 2.4-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder still produces 202kW of power and 350Nm of torque. This powertrain is paired exclusively to a 6-speed manual. 

The Senkō is priced at $74,990 plus on-road costs — a few grand more than the $72,490 WRX tS manual sedan. 

In terms of aesthetics, the Senkō’s most obvious new feature is its bright Sunrise Yellow bodywork. The Senkō is essentially a sister model to the equally limited BRZ Kiiro, which landed earlier this year in the same shade of yellow.

Other changes include Senkō script badging on the tailgate, 19-inch matte black wheels, Ultrasuede Recaro bucket seats with yellow and black trim, gold painted Brembo brakes, a large rear spoiler, and a presentation box for the car’s key. 

The icing on the cake? Each customer also gets an STI wrist watch. 

“Our recently released WRX limited editions the AKA, Tatsu and Todoroki, which were only available in very restricted numbers, have all gone on to be highly prized collectors’ models in New Zealand. They have had great resale value and are extremely sought after, even on the second-hand market,” said Inchcape New Zealand general manager Jerry Delaney.

“Like its limited-edition counterparts, the Senkō comes solely in a manual-only configuration, delivering a more focused and distinctive driving experience for passionate fans of the brand.

“Its aggressive rear wing, combined with the exclusive Sunrise Yellow finish and distinctive design details, all herald the Senkō as a blazing bright model created for the Subaru enthusiasts who have loved and supported WRX for generations.”