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Subaru Launches the Exclusive 2019 WRX Raiu Edition in Canada

by Michel Deslauriers
Photo: Subaru Canada Inc.

A new, limited-edition variant of the sport sedan has been added to the Japanese brand’s line-up. As a matter of fact, the 2019 Subaru WRX Raiu Edition will be a Canadian exclusivity with only 100 units produced.

Based on the WRX Sport-tech RS, the Raiu Edition—which means thunderstorm in Japanese—gets a lip spoiler up front, side sills and a short-throw shifter, all part of the STI accessory catalogue. It also obtains black cockpit and exterior trim, 18-inch alloy wheels with a gunmetal finish and a paint colour that’s called Cool Grey Khaki.

That’s in addition to what the features of the Sport-tech RS, such as Jurid performance brake pads, leather and Ultrasuede upholstery, Recaro front seats with power adjustments for the driver, a 320-watt, nine-speaker sound system as well as an infotainment system with seven-inch touchscreen and Apple CarPlay / Android Auto integration.

Under the hood, nothing changes. We still get a turbocharged, 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that develops 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Like the Sport-tech RS, the Raiu Edition is only available with a six-speed manual transmission.

The 2019 Subaru WRX Raiu Edition will soon arrive in Canadian dealerships with an MSRP of $40,995 before freight and delivery charges. With only one hundred units to be produced, if this special-edition sports car sparks our interest, we should head down to a Subaru dealer sooner than later.

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