A boxer engine paired with turbocharging sounds like a match made in heaven, and for decades, that formula has defined Subaru’s performance cars. But the latest spy shots of the next-generation WRX Wagon suggest Subaru could be preparing to change that formula.
Subaru’s existing hybrid systems typically pair naturally aspirated boxer engines with electric motors rather than turbocharged units. Japanese media have pointed to the prototype’s smooth hood design as a possible sign of a hybrid shift.
According to Australian outlet Drive, Subaru could ditch turbocharging in favor of hybrid power if the latest Levorg prototypes are anything to go by.
The WRX Wagon, known as the Levorg in Japan, has proudly carried Subaru’s turbocharged boxer legacy, from the EJ-series engines of the 1990s Outback wagons to today’s FA24-powered WRX lineup. The current generation offers either a 1.8-liter CB18 with 174 hp and 300 Nm, or a more potent 2.4-liter FA24 with 256 hp and 350 Nm.
However, recent spy shots of the next-generation Levorg show one notable omission: the hood scoop. On the current WRX Wagon, the scoop feeds air into a top-mounted intercooler for its turbocharged engine. Its absence could suggest Subaru is moving away from turbocharging in favor of a hybrid powertrain.
Subaru has already moved in this direction with the latest Forester. It pairs a 2.5-liter FB25 boxer engine with an electric motor and battery developed alongside Toyota, producing a combined 194 hp and 290 Nm of torque. Fuel consumption is rated at 6.2 L/100 km, compared to the WRX Wagon’s 8.5 L/100 km.
The Levorg’s successor is expected to debut in Japan as early as late 2026, with a wider global rollout likely by 2027, in line with Subaru’s typical six-year product cycle.
When it arrived in the Philippines, the Levorg joined Subaru’s lineup as the “WRX Wagon,” becoming part of the brand’s WRX family.
With increasingly stringent emissions regulations worldwide, this could mark the end of turbocharging for base Levorg variants in favor of hybrid electrification. Whether Subaru retains turbo power for higher-performance versions, however, remains to be seen.
