Subaru Bringing a Trio of New Manual Models by '27Courtesy Subaru (Courtesy Subaru)There's no getting around the fact that enthusiasts are becoming more and more limited in their choice of car year after year. That's particularly true for those of us with mortal bank accounts, as the affordable performance machine has become a truly endangered species these days. After years of pressure from fans and buyers alike, it appears that Subaru is finally ready to try and fill the gap with a trio of new cars slated to arrive by 2027—each offered with a proper three-pedal layout. Here's everything we know about these new manual offerings coming from Japan.The news itself comes by way of Subaru's executive vice president and CTO Tetsuro Fujinuki, who spoke to the media during the third round of the 2026 ENEOS Super Taikyu Series at Fuji Speedway in Shizuoka Prefecture. During the press conference, the executive highlighted the brand's upcoming trio, while also detailing the company's viewpoint on their development."We aim to create cars that can be enjoyed more casually, without being bound by existing values," Fujinuki said according to an Auto Sport Web report.Patrick Ernzen (Patrick Ernzen)The first of the three cars slated to arrive ahead of 2027 is a manual variant of the WRX, which is currently only offered in regular series production with a CVT for the Japanese market. Last year, the automaker released a limited-run of WRX STI Sport# models equipped with the stick, but demand far surpassed initial expectations; Subaru received over 9000 applications for a run of just 600 cars. As such, the brand is reviving the fan-favorite TY85 transmission for the WRX, a gearbox previously reserved for the STI. For reference, American models use the automaker's TY75 gearbox, which isn't quite as beefy as YT85, and lacks the Driver Controlled Center Differential features of the STI. The latter could also make a return to the WRX in some form, though production of its processors has long ended.The second car from Subaru is set to be based on the BRZ, specifically targeting the dynamics and feel of the STI Sport Type RA model that debuted last year. That's a good thing, as the honed sports coupe is simply one of the coolest BRZ variants we've seen yet. The new car won't necessarily be more powerful than the BRZ on which it is based, but it will lean even further into the tenants of good dynamics and engaging inputs. Whether or not this machine will find its way to the States will have to be seen, but given the car's strong fan base here in the U.S., we'd be shocked if it remained a Japan exclusive.Courtesy of Subaru (Courtesy of Subaru)Last but not least, Fujinuki and Subaru have also confirmed plans for a five-door hatchback that is completely separate from the existing WRX. In fact, the automaker sees the car as a new stepping stone for the brand, which will prioritize keeping the price down in base spec. The brand is reportedly looking heavily into its lightweight material selection, and even content reduction, which seems like a recipe for a simple but effective car. Given that the automaker says that its motorsports knowledge will play a role in all three models, I'd imagine there will be at least a little rally DNA stuffed into the hatch.AdvertisementAdvertisementNow, Subaru tends to keep its best stuff for the Japanese domestic market; That said, given the wide-open nature of the performance segment here in the USA, it doesn't seem impossible for the latter two machines to find their way to our dealer showrooms. We're just happy to hear that an automaker is taking affordable performance seriously, even if it isn't going to make much of a dent in our problem over here.You Might Also LikeIf You Can Only Own One Car, Make It One of TheseThese Are the Most Popular Cars by State