Subaru has made quite an effort to reach a new buyer demographic with the current WRX. To extend the car’s reach even further the WRX STI is about to receive an automatic transmission,

To be dubbed the WRX STI A-line, the new model will retain all of the oily bits purists love about the hard-core Rex, but adds a five-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters to make the car more accessible to a wider range of customers.

The WRX STI A-line will make its world debut at next month’s Geneva Motor Show but is already available in Japan.

As well as gaining a slushbox, the A-line also receives eight-way power adjustable front seats and can be ordered in a new Satin White Pearl hue.

Peak power from the 2.5 litre boxer four remains unchanged at 221 kW however torque drops from the manual’s 407 Nm to 350 Nm.

The ‘sportshift’ transmission, as Subaru has dubbed it, also brings throttle-blipping down-shifts to the party.

Although Subaru has made no official mention of it, it also appears the manual’s Brembo brake package has vanished.

Despite this the 17-inch front rotors and 16-inch rears that Subaru has specified instead, should still do a more than adequate job of pulling the A-line up.